#chsracters

1. You do not get bipolar during the period Yeah, sure, some people have mood swings and / or unexplainable emotion reactions for stuff, but it isn’t always a case. You might feel like you are just having a bad day, or beeing slighty irritated by something, or do not feel different by any measure. Actually, only 20 - 30% people have symptoms qualificated as PMS (link to wikipedia who knows better than me: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premenstrual_syndrome), while 80% report some symptoms due to menstruation. And, remember, everyone feels different during / before / after their period. Some will be more emotionaly sensitive, some not. Some feel different during every cycle and do not have a pattern.

2. No period doesn’t neccesary mean pregnancy Up to the first year from the first bleeding, cycle happens to be irregular. And even than - your character does not have to connect lack of bleeding with being pregnant. Cycle can stop / became shorter / longer for many reasons such as: long-term stress, changes in diet, or sleep pattern. Your perios might stop while having depression or other sickness non-reproductive system related. Period can stop while being on many types of medication and birth control is only one of them. Medicine for epilepsy, antidepressants, anti-anxiety ones, thyroid related and many, many others will somehow affaect your cycle. And even than, cycle might do weird things without a particural reason / reason you can spot.

3. Tampon inserting is not sexual stop it

4. Not all people have pains during the bleeding Even though pains in first days of cycle are pretty common, not all people expiernce them. And it isn’t always your lower abdomen aching. It might me your head, breasts, knees, or joints in general. Maybe you fell like having cold or migrene. Maybe you can barely move (than you should seek gynecologic help - many pain killers are menstrual pains profiled), or you can have an ibuprom and go have a karate class. Everyone is different.

5. Pad is not a tampone and there are many pad choises What menstrual product to use is your own choise usually defined by what suits you needs the best. Qualifications are not only not-leeking but also movability, comfort, and unfortunately - price. There are many options from what to choose: pads (winged or not), tampons, cups, menstrual underwear, etc. Do more research!

6. The winged ones will stay more in place and also are thinner than non winged (more comfort, less pampers vibes). Usually more expensive (at least in my country, probably depends). They are as thick, as a smartphone without an etui. The non winged ones (which means that they do not have little folds with extra glue on each side) are harder to keep on place, and than, your range of motion is limited. They are on market for longer time and are cheaper. They are as thick as a slice of bread, or a notebook, or a napkin folded a few times. Very thick for an extra layer of garment and pretty uncomfortable.

7. It’s uncomfortable as hell Most of the time (less with a tampone but still). Even if you do not feel a regular pain, it is not something you seek or wait for entire month.

8. Not women have periods and not all people who have periods are women.

9. It’s not illegal / impossible to have sex during the period. Some people just do not want to and that’s okay.

10. The pad / tampone / underwear smells nasty But you usually cannot smell anything when you actually have the pad on. it does it’s job to absorb both liquid and smell.

11. Everyone needs different amounts of menstrual products It depends on the person whether they need five or two pads a day. Also, it shifts along the time passing. Amount of blood raises during first two / threee days of cycle and then (not so predictably) decreases.

12. Bleeding lasts from five to even ten days Depends (guess what) on a person, because we all are different. Also stuff from point 2.