
Whether you call it your Moon Time or the Curse, if you're a woman, you have to contend with a monthly period. Let's take a look at how advertising sold its pads and 'pons to women of yore. Whether it was through distraction (hey, look, a pretty dress!) or through the rhetoric of freedom, advertisers did their best to sell a product women have never really been thrilled to buy.

Tampax has decided to
go with the flow of viral marketing by creating a new series of videos staring Zach, a 16-year-old who wakes up one morning to find out that
his penis has been replaced with a vagina. Zach soon discovers the joys of baking and the fact that men are pigs — because everyone with a vagina loves to bake and hates men! Well, Zach does come face-to-face with something almost every woman deals with: a monthly period.

Dear Fit,
During my period, I get very uncomfortable lower-back pain, like a dull ache. I used to think this was just me, but I recently spoke to another female friend who says she gets the same pain. I'm sure it has something to do with everything going on down there, since it often comes with cramps, but why exactly does this happen?

Since you're so health-conscious about your own body, eating right and exercising regularly, chances are you also care a great deal about your effect on the planet. Here are some eco-friendly menstrual products that are not only healthier for you, they're also better for the environment.
Source

After reading your great comments on my post last week about
first periods, I got inspired by
Nancita to ask another personal question — what was your first bra experience like?
Puberty happens at different times for all of us, but whether you were an early or late bloomer, this right of passage into womanhood is definitely another memorable adventure we've all experienced. So ladies, do tell, what was it like when you bought your first bra?

There's been some hype around the subject matter of the new book
My Little Red Book, and if you take a step back and understand the purpose of these short stories, you'll realize how helpful this dialogue is to curious teenagers, confused dads, mothers, and young women who are dealing with their first period. Contributors from all walks of life share their right-of-passage stories, and since almost all of us can identify with those feelings of fear, change, excitement, and joy that come with a first period, I'm curious to learn what else you felt when you first got yours, so do tell!
Source

Being in tune with our bodies makes dealing with our periods much more manageable, but as we all know,
PMS symptoms can differ from month to month. Some of us get emotional, some get cranky, and some of us have to deal with annoying bloating and sore boobs. But just like
men tend to blame our bad moods on that time of the month, many women do too!
Tracking your period can be a nuisance, especially if you're forgetful, but don't fret because the folks at BabyCenter.com are here to help. Their genius
Booty Caller is a free text message service that will alert you three times per month, letting you know when you're most fertile and offering up other helpful fertility advice. If you're trying not to get pregnant, use this information as a reminder to be extra careful with your
birth control during ovulation.

Often I feel we deserve medals for dealing with the cramps, crying spells, and other delights that accompany
that time of the month. Some women even have to deal with heavy bleeding that lasts more than 10 days.
To control the bleeding without using birth control pills, women can now opt for a surgical procedure called
endometrial ablation, which takes about 90 seconds. It burns cells in the lining of the uterus, and afterward 75 percent of patients never menstruate again, with the remainder experiencing light spotting once a month.

While it's true that our periods can be a total drag — mood swings, pimples, and cramps — I've heard women say they get extra horny during their time of the month — perhaps it's all those hormones pumping through their veins! Sure, it can be messy, and many men get grossed out by the idea of getting it on when
Aunt Flo's in town, but tell me, where do you stand on having sex when you're on your period?
Source