A Male Perspective on Menstruation.
This entry was written for Cunning Linguist, as a part of her call for menstrually-oriented entries.
Sometime in utero, I was female. We all were, really. And then the hormone wash came. The genital slit fused to form my scrotum, and lots of crazy things happened downstairs. And since then I have effectively been male, and menstrually inoperative.
Not that I’m complaining, mind you.
I remember that day in 5th grade, when they gathered all the girls in one of the classrooms to talk to them about girl-stuff. It was very hush-hush. Shades were closed. I can only guess what went on in there. And then they gathered the guys in that room. Shades open. They probably had that stereotypical “This is the penis and this is where your testicles are” picture up, but I don’t remember a damn thing.
I forget what grade I saw that stereotypical drawing of the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, and the Vagina. Maybe 6th grade. I remember thinking to myself, “What the hell is this? Is this an alien? Where does this fit in her body?”
I should back up for a moment. I had a crazy conception of girl’s nether region when I was little. My sister and I used to take baths together. You know what I saw? Nothing. So you know what I assumed girls had between their legs? Nothing. See, the Vagina is more under. So when you’re sitting in a bathtub with your sister, you’re not going to see anything. As opposed to her perpective of her little brother’s tiny penis.
No, the concept of reproduction hadn’t occurred to me at all. I had no theories. I never considered HOW I got here. I’m here. Why would I need to think about it? But it wasn’t enough that I thought girls had nothing between their legs. I pee out of my penis. Girls do not have penises. So, when I was little, I just assumed girls peed out of their ass. It was the only thing that made the most logical sense to me.
So yeah, I have an older sister, and she menstruates. *nodnod* I shall ignore my now menopausal mom. For whatever reason, a menstruating sister doesn’t bother me at all, but a menstruating mom just freaks me out. *shrugs* I remember times when she’d be laying down on that old couch downstairs, with a heating pad to her lower belly. I knew she was menstruating, even if I didn’t know the graphic details.
Ah yes, the graphic details. Nothing like glancing at the downstairs toilet to discover that wonderful fog of red permeating the bottom of the toilet, with some sparse sheets of toilet paper floating lazily on the top of the water. “Oh. Wendi’s menstruating. That’s nice.” You’d think she’d flush. Isn’t that kind of menstrual announcement the least bit embarassing? I mean. It’s like showing somebody your uterus. Okay, nevermind.
That isn’t nearly as bad as when I’d see half-folded pads in the trash, and a slit of dried blood in the middle.
*ahem*
I remember finding tampons in the bathroom, and not having a damn clue what they were for. That situation is especially funny before I knew what a Vagina was. “..So.. they.. put it up their ass?” Ah, nothing like discovering the world on your own. My parents never talked to me about sex once. And certainly not menstruation. PLEASE, TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT SEX AND MENSTRUATION. Or your little boy(s) will get some fucked up ideas about things. Ha ha.
I don’t know, menstruation has never really bothered me. I’ve never had that stereotypical “ew” reaction. It’s just something that happens. It’s like being disgusted by somebody who’s constipated? Uh. *imagines the uterus shedding in one giant clump* Moving on!!
I’m not sure when I really “learned” about menstruation. I might just thank the power of the internet. No classroom will ever teach that cramps, all forms of cramps, are caused by lack of oxygen flow, and that masturbation may help alleviate menstrual cramps due to the extra flow of blood to the region. Hey, that’s just the information I’ve assimilated. Kelso once asked what caused cramps. I looked it up in google. I drew some conclusions.
Perhaps in an idealist sense, I’ve always wanted to earn my red wings. I understand that maybe, just maybe, A BLOODY PUSSY IS SCARY. Maybe. But if I’m into a girl enough, I’ll be willing to give it the college try. Heck, why not plug her with a tampon? No rule against that. And sex? Correct me if I’m wrong, but won’t menstrual blood just function as a secondary lubricant? *shrugs* The “I’m not putting my penis there” factor isn’t nearly as great as it is for anal sex with me. I’d rather put my penis in menstrual blood than shit. *nods decisively*
I’m the kind of guy that will buy that specific kind of tampons, when she needs them. Or midol, or a new heating bad, or whatever food craving, etc. …What else is there for me to say? Everything else menstrually-related, is situational and otherwise out of my control. Not much I can do about mood swings. No, I won’t say that I’ll handle all of them. There comes a line where a guy has to say “You know, I’m not suited to deal with this!” You know, as opposed to blindly blaming PMS and calling her a bitch. But, I can’t predict where that line will be. I’m babbling again. Just know that I won’t claim to be able to handle any girl. I’m human!
And since I’m babbling, I should shut up. Contribute to the Feminine Hygiene Survey, if you so please. And, again, this entry was written for Cunning Linguist. If you have a Vagina, feel free to write a menstrual rant for her, or otherwise share your uterine experiences.
are you online right now? help me decide which coat to buy!!!!
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http://www.okcupid.com/personality?type=DBSM&g=2&o=3&h=165 Nu uh… damn peepin Toms (~Timmies~) lol
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Interesting in looks and in personality. Rare combination when looks and person fit together. You are right, you SEEM so open and frank yet, you are a mystery. People will think they know you and have you pegged and your position will change. You are one of the few who hide in the open.
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*giggles* it’s funny because you know how you told me about it like… whenever you first went there?*blinks* i’d already gone there via thespark because… i was curious. *giggles*
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I am frighteningly bored, so I tried that Cupid thing. I suspect the database is hugely statistically skewed to 18-25 year old hetero females. Despite my 47 year old, gay male profile, 96% of my matches are with 18-21 year old straight females, and 80% of those are from Ohio. :/
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Weird. That’s all. Just weird. 🙂
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Looks like an interesting site… 🙂
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I’ll have to check OKCupid out later. When I’m really really bored… *wink*
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yay. more ways to procrastinate. like i actually needed any.
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hmm. i need to find a loverboy.
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There are so many addictive websites out there and you only have reached two. OD and okcupid. Youve only reached the tip of the ice berg=)
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I read a note you left about the human condition. I must tell you to lighten up. If you don’t know why you’re alive yet, then I suggest you ask the mosquitoes who need your blood to survive, the advancement the ENTIRE WORLD has experienced through each individual species’ function: the fly to the spider, the corpse to the ant…
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Pretentious? Maybe. But what isn’t? We all feed of the pretention, especially the poets, the writers, the artists, the philosophers. We like what is pretentious because we confuse it with depth. (Oh, and by the way– with no offence intended, using oxymorons like “Virgin Whore” is most definately pretentious.)
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From the old crone who took a lot of years learning the only way to really live is letting go of all control. Live right without a crutch to help hide. Then control is not needed. It is a learned behavior we learn to survive. You made it. So the next phase is unlearning and learning to live in the now. Accept that everything will come out just right even if we don’t understand this minute.
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All this is harder than growing up which we had nothing to do with. The hard times make it difficult but one step at a time will get us in. Then one day you turn and look back and find you did change and hadn’t noticed. And that is wisdoms child.
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marry me?
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA! XDoh mah gawd. peeing out their asses…HAHA! I haven’t laughed this hard in too long…too long… >.<btw, your name looked familiar so I clicked on it from someone’s diary, but I don’t remember whose right now…why didn’t I ever think of masturbation? x.x
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Red wings aren’t bad. Just bathe her before and after — and lay a towel down. You’ll score so many brownie points you’ll never have to beg again.
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I got a kick out of the half-folded pad with the stripe down the middle. I’d never thought what a guy would think when he caught a glance at such a thing. (I make sure mine are tucked out of sight, not to be seen in a glance toward the bathroom garbage.) Menstrual blood does not serve as a secondary lubricant. A woman is less wet when she’s on her period. …
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… It actually requires a little more work to get a woman wet when she’s on her period than when she’s not. Earning your red wings. . . It’s not that bad. My ex was happy to offer his oral services at any time of the month – though I wouldn’t let him at the beginning of my period – and so long as he stuck to the clit and didn’t go further down, there wasn’t any mess to speak of. …
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It’s funny, ’cause now that my mom doesn’t get her periods anymore, I find myself being more self-conscious about it when I go to the bathroom, ’cause I know my dad must look down at the trash sometimes, and he’ll know that if he sees used pads, they’re mine. I’ve gotten a lot more anal about hiding the stuff farther down inthe can now. I can’t imagine not flushing, though — that’s just gross
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… Tampons are not a bad idea during oral sex while a girl’s on the rag. Just watch out for the string. . .
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Starhawk had it right, though – put a towel down. During intercourse or oral sex, it’s more prudent to have something under her butt so you’ll have less laundry to do afterward. *nods decisively*
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RYN: My position is that we should just be entering into those contracts rather than trying to define it as a marriage.
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listened to your CD. thumbs up. I liked it. Thank you. I’ll send one back this weekend. btw…this statement “Sometime in utero, I was female” may be incorrect. I was taught differently. however, if I am wrong, my bad.
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Rock On Timster! 🙂 You will make an awesome boyfriend!!! 🙂
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I love how guys say “You PMSing Bitch” every single day of the month. Uhm, there is a 3-7 day period where you do want to face a woman. Good entry Timmy
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wow, you’re pretty mature about this… most guys get all upset if you even hint at the m-word. I’m glad to see that not all men are such apes about this. but since when have you ever been typical Timmy? 🙂
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I’m sending you my cat via post mail. if you ask for reasoning behind this action, you’ll find there is none.
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http://www.ebaumsworld.com/periods101.html
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RYN: *nods* yeah and that’s great… it’s the fact that most guys aren’t that makes it so damn notable. I mean, it’s just blood, damn. 😛
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Oh, and btw- Back in the day, I had a diary called “Virgin Nymphomaniac”.Polaroid is right about it being pretentious.
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I’m rather horrified my menstruation, but only because in my case it comes with a migraine or three.
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Yeah but not every month has exactly 4 weeks, and girls don’t menstrate conveniently Monday thru Friday, leaving the weekend free to get laid.
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I don’t think that name suits you hon.
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*hugs you* you r0x0r!
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Can I just say I’m hugely impressed with your outlook on menstruation, maybe you could have a word with my male friends? Mention the words period/menstruation/time of the month around them and they escape from the room a.s.a.p blushing!
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RYN: hehehe. Good call.
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Now having gone through all that explaination I am still curious as to why you dropped cupid and changed your diary name. RYN:You may not understand what I meant but just keep it in mind over the years. I found understanding comes when you have lived through an issue. Like being pregnant. Reading all the books or listening to others gives not one wit of what it is like to go through it.
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I really enjoyed this entry. Haha. The Almighty
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I rarely get cramps or any symptoms of PMS, not even the mood swings – so its nice to be able to say that nobody knows when I have my period unless I tell them, which I don’t. Chris still wants to have sex even when I have my period, kinda grosses me out – but sometimes I allow it. The thing is even when I have a tampon in, if he’s playing with me I still get wet, so I don’t believe in that…
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… its harder to have sex on your period bit… its really easy for me… and the blood does act as extra lube – even when I don’t need it. But thats just me, perhaps I’m a special case.
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cunning linguist is possibly the most clever screen name i’ve seen on OD. heh…
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Very interesting and honest views there. Personally, I’ve got the “ew” factor whenever I mentstruate and won’t allow anyone to earn their wings, but I have problems associated with mine which I won’t delve into unless asked. It’s good to see at least one male who is understanding of the whole process. That will get you far in the girlfriend dept. when your time comes. 🙂
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Oh wow.
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You know what most cracked me up about this entry.. the whole you were left to discover things on your own bit… I swear, I was the exact same way.. I mean there were things about my own body i didn’t know or understand or think about because NO ONE TOLD ME. It took me years to start figuring out all the things that piece together into the final picture. Yes, TALK TO YOUR KIDS. I agree. Amen.
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To share my uterine experience I am happy to write that mine is no longer existant. Happily, I only have ovaries. We talk to our son often about anything sex related, and he often has questions that we are happy to answer. He used to use every public restroom he was near, till around the age of 9 when I showed him pics of genital warts on WEB MD. He hasn’t touched a public toilet seat since. 8)
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ryn: Thanks. And of course you change your username right after I post the entry containing your username. I shoulda linked instead of just written the usernames.
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RYN: Hhaha, no they taught us enough about your period that I got that. There was just a lot of stuff I didn’t know not relating to that. Not to mention, I was kind of left to fend for myself… and I swear I think i was like 19 before I ever was ready to use a tampon and now I’m like “lord, I was missing out!”
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RYN: heh.. Well, if I had an opinion on the subject, I’d let you know. I’ve never tasted it either way, so you’ll just have to experiment. Oh, from what I’ve heard all women taste different, depending on what they eat and their personal hygiene. Hope you find a sweet one! *grin*
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I can’t believe your parents never talked to you about it….that’s just crazy. I sorry. so WHAT? you send me naked timmy and then leeeeave me? why you want to leeeeeeave me?
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Throw down a red sheet and your good to go, no KY needed 😀
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Its funny, Ive met a ton of guys who had made the peeing from the butt assumtion when they were little.As for the not flushing thing, sometimes you just forget. I know I’ve done it once or twice.I hate when people are afraid to go get pads/tampons or anything. Its rediculous. If you’re a guy, they’re OBVIOUSLY not for you, and if your a woman, its a bodily function and if other people dont
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like it, screw them.Love and crackers.Samie.
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Don’t please let someone else define who you are. That is simply their opinion and what they see to define is simply a part of who they are. You are you and that is good enough.
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Will you be my blood buddy? (in case you don’t know, a blood buddy is one who cuts and then relates all the details of the cutscapade back to his/her blood buddy, who then returns the favour by relaying the details of HER cutscapade) Sound like something you’d be interested in? *wink*
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if you haven’t checked out http://www.everything2.com you should. i think you’d have a lot to say on this site, and probably a lot to say about it too.
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Why does menstruation have men in it? (haha, don’t worry, I know the answer). anyway. good entry. You’re like, really smart or clever or something.
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gah, you’re wonderful. lol.
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Thanks for your sweet note of sympathy and for the hug. I just had to read this entry. I so remember the day in grade school when they gave us this little book “world of a girl” complete with a lovely, spring fresh-nymph in sun dress and ribboned hat on the cover. Oh, they made you LONG FOR THE DAY. *humph* No, they didn’t mention moods, cramps, water retention, migraines and general cont
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nastiness of which I’ll spare you details! 🙂 Thanks again for the hug. Hugs are great medicine, even cyper ones!
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You know, by reading this yesterday, I must have cursed myself.
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omg that was so well written! My mom actually pulled me out of school when that class started, and I was sooooooooo pissed. Needless to say, I never learned anything else, I found it out all on my own. ;P
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This was some pretty funny shit. And what IS IT with Period Talk and Anal Sex talk around OD lately???? It must be something in the air. The bloody, shitty air.
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You would make a distinctly above average boyfriend Timmy.
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I think the sad thing is that most girls grow up thinking like you – that boys’ have a penis, and girls have nothing.
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This is very interesting. I wish I knew someone like you.
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