Booster, oh booster, what are you for?

Did you open your Aisle order and find that your undies came with a little extra piece of fabric? This is the almighty booster! It might look like just a thin piece of fabric, but it’s really high-tech & powerful!

It’s a blend of hydrophobic (wicks moisture away from you) and hydrophilic (absorbent) fibers, creating a bit of tech that keeps you dry and feeling fly. Unlike the undies themselves, they are not leakproof, and are merely designed to be a low-bulk way to add absorbency. All of our products outperform disposables; however, keeping absorbency adjustable helps us help you meet your menstrual needs with the product you prefer.

Our undies absorb 2 tampons’ worth of fluid on their own, but if you need a little extra you can add the optional booster for an extra 2 tampons worth. Just tuck the ends into the slits at either end of the gusset, like this:

Two tampons is already a lot, why would I need a booster?

Using a booster is totally optional, but here are some reasons you might want to use one:

Today is a heavy day. 

Having the full four tampons' worth of absorbency may be something you need on your heaviest days, depending on flow. If you’ve got a super heavy flow and know you’re going to need more than four tampons’ worth of absorbency in a day, picking up some extra boosters and swapping them out as the day goes on is an easy and inexpensive way to top up without having to change undies.

You want that fresh undies feeling.

If you want to wear one pair of undies all day and are experiencing a moderate flow, a booster allows you to get that fresh undies feeling without having to change! Just swap out a used booster for a spare (or even just remove it), and you’re good to go. You can put the old booster in a carry bag, or a toiletries bag.

Even if you’re not having a heavy flow day, it can be nice to change it up when going to the bathroom. (Especially if you spent too long scrolling through insta on your phone & the blood in your undies feels a little colder than you’d like!)

To rest easy.

Our undies are super comfy for sleeping (especially the boxer, highly recommend!) If you want to feel doubly sure that your undies can handle the night shift, equipping them with a booster to get a full four tampons’ worth of absorbency is a good way to do it! 

How do I wash them?

The same way as our other fabric products! Rinse it out when you get the chance, then put it through your regular wash/dry cycle (as with other fabrics, wash with like colours).

Overall, the booster is an inexpensive way to add some extra absorbency & help you feel fresh as you go about your day.

Think back to middle school. If your experience was anything like mine, this is when your friends first started talking about periods. Except they didn’t speak about periods in the grown-up, sophisticated way many of us do now, using medically-correct words like vagina, vulva, and menstruation. Instead they giggled and whispered, using silly euphemisms like, “I’m on my ‘dot-at-the-end-of-the-sentence!’” 

Even worse than the euphemisms were the myths. “I can’t run today,” one friend told me. “You can’t exercise when ‘Aunt Flow’ is in town.” Another told me bears can smell the period blood, so don’t ever go camping when you’re on your period. 

Some of the myths surrounding menstruation are downright silly, and easy to dismiss once we grow a little older and wiser. But others are more complicated — maybe it really is worse to exercise when menstrual cramps are already beating up your insides. 

Below, we explain what the experts and research really says about 8 common period myths. 

Your period will sync with your friends’

Although almost anyone who has a period can recount a time when their menstrual cycle “synced” with a roommate or friend’s, the idea that periods sync up isn’t backed by solid science, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 

The myth of syncing seems to stem from a 1971 study in the journal Nature, which looked at 135 women in a college dormitory and measured when each woman’s period would start. Seeing “a significant increase in synchronization of onset dates,” the study’s author theorized there might be something phermonal going on. 

More recent studies, however, haven’t been able to replicate these results, nor find any biological reason one person’s period would intentionally match up with another’s. In fact, a 2006 study attempting to replicate the 1971 paper’s results (again studying women living in dorms), found that the 186 women in their sample did not sync up. More tellingly, the researchers revisited the 1971 data and found that any syncing was actually the result of chance. 

So when it feels like biology has purposefully made you sync periods with your roommate, best friend, sibling, or partner, either pairing you with a perfect commiseration partner or getting the misery over in one fell swoop, what really happened is purely math. Mathematically speaking, since menstrual cycles aren’t a perfect, regular 28-days for everyone, your period will eventually cross over with that of anyone else in your house who bleeds.  

Periods attract sharks and/or bears 

While this one might seem too ridiculous to even warrant debunking, it actually has basis in history. According to the National Parks Service, two women camping separately were attacked by grizzly bears in Glacier National Park on August 13, 1967. Following the attacks, there was speculation that the bears were attracted to these women by the smell of menstrual blood. 

A similar myth follows sharks. You may have heard from friends growing up, or from The Cosby Show on Nick at Night (like I did) that sharks can smell period blood — so stay far away from the ocean when you’re on your period. 

Yet, there’s no scientific evidence that either animal will sniff menstrual blood and think, “mmm, dinner!” 

Studies that analyzed hundreds of grizzly bear attacks found no correlation with menstruation, and a study that recorded the responses of 26 black bears to both menstruating women and used tampons found that the bears had no attraction to period blood. Further analysis of bear attacks in Yellowstone National Park between 1979 and 2018 found that of 50 attacks, 78% were on men, and of the 11 women who were hurt in bear attacks, most wandered into the bear’s path on a hike (and the attack had nothing to do with menstruation). 

The same is true of sharks. While sharks do have impeccably good noses (able to sniff out blood at one part per million, according to the American Museum of Natural History), there’s no evidence they’re attracted to period blood.

For one thing, menstrual blood isn’t the same as blood from other parts of your body. It’s a mix of blood, vaginal fluid, and the cells and fluid from the endometrial lining. It’s also not the same as seal’s blood, which is much more likely to attract a shark who likes to eat seals (not people). 

According to the Florida Museum, roughly 80% of recorded shark attacks happen to men, mostly because men are more likely to do sports that put them in the path of sharks (surfing, diving, and spear fishing). Yet, as more women and gender nonconforming people have taken up these sports, there has been no uptick in shark attacks. 

You can’t take a bath when you’re on your period 

Like many period myths, this one lies firmly in the “ew factor” associated with period blood. Some people consider taking a bath when you’re on your period to be unhygienic because blood can leak out and “infect” the bathwater. 

But there’s no real safety risk in taking a bath during your period. John’s Hopkins Children’s Hospital says that blood won’t even leak out most of the time, but if it does “it’s not a big deal.” And the Mayo Clinic actually recommends a hot bath when you’re menstruating. The heat of a bath surrounding your abdominal muscles may be just as effective at relieving menstrual cramps as over-the-counter painkillers, according to the clinic. 

So go ahead, turn on the tap, pour in some bubble bath, and sink into the water. 

Your period will stop when you go swimming

This is one myth that’s actually semi-true. As John’s Hopkins said about baths, most of the time, period blood won’t even leak out. 

That’s because the pressure water puts against the vaginal opening where period blood comes out is often enough to counteract the gravity pulling the blood out when you’re above water. Water pressure is your friend when you want to go swimming without a tampon or menstrual cup.

However, what the myth gets very wrong is that swimming doesn’t stop your period. Even while in the water, you’re shedding your endometrial lining and it’s got to go somewhere. If you cough, sneeze, or move around too much the pressure will change and you will leak small amounts of blood into the water. And when you get out, the blood will start flowing again. 

Periods make you moody

We’ve all heard the barb: “Must be that time of the month.” A common phrase that’s often used to dismiss someone's valid feelings of anger or frustration.

First, let’s address the truth: PMS is a very real medical condition that affects many people who have periods. And it can cause dips in mood that sometimes look like depression or irritability, according to Planned Parenthood. So yes, periods can make you “moody.” 

But let’s go back to that line above — one too many of us have heard from our brothers, male friends, partners, and fathers. PMS is not to blame for every strong emotion we have, and certainly not valid anger. Too often, menstrual cycles are used to brush aside womxn’s anger. We have a right to be angry. 

Period sex is unhealthy 

This is another one that stems deep into the “ew factor” of period blood. Cisgender men interviewed about period sex in the 1930s and 40s said they had learned from friends that sex with someone who was menstruating was not only unsanitary, but would also cause their penises to fall off. More recently, a 2009 study which interviewed 108 women and 12 men found that of those who were sexually active, about half of women said they would never have sex while on their periods. Yet most sexually active men (7 out of 9) said they would have sex with someone who was menstruating. 

Over the years, it seems cisgender men have learned that no, your penis will not fall off if it touches period blood. But there does still seem to be some disgust, and possibly shame, around period sex for cisgender women. 

We know, however, that there is nothing unsanitary about period sex — and as long as everyone involved consents, it’s perfectly safe. In fact, starting in the 1960s, sex education literature made it clear that period sex is totally fine. A 1962 guide stated, “having intercourse even during menstruation can be comforting and good,” according to The Modern Period: Menstruation in Twentieth-Century America. 

Later guides even started explaining the benefits of period sex. Far from being unhealthy, period sex, especially sex that ends in orgasm, can be very helpful in relieving the pain of menstrual cramps! 

You can’t (or shouldn’t) exercise when you’re on your period 

If you, like me, had friends use the period excuse to try to get out of gym, you might start thinking they had a point. How did those gym teachers expect us to run a mile or play volleyball or soccer with menstrual cramps tearing up our insides?

Well, turns out the gym teachers were right — periods are no real reason to skip out on exercise. Research has found no difference in menstruating people’s ability to exercise when they’re on their periods vs. not, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In fact, some research has suggested that people get fewer menstrual cramps when they exercise regularly. So there’s a chance choosing not to skip your run when you’re on your period could actually make you feel better. However, exercising too much can lead to missed periods or can cause your period to stop altogether. Irregular or missing periods are common in athletes who work out hard, but suddenly starting a vigorous exercise routine when you haven’t been working out before could also lead to missed periods. Be sure to talk with your doctor if this happens to you to make sure you’re exercising safely. 

Periods are just for women 

This myth is as outdated as the gender binary it’s based on. As celebrities like J.K. Rowling insist that only women bleed (by which they mean only cisgender women), they ignore the bodies and experiences of transgender men and nonbinary people who have uteruses. All bodies and all genders are valid, and everyone who experiences menstruation deserves recognition and respect for what their body goes through. 

Kasandra Brabaw is a freelance writer and editor with focus on health, sex, and LGBTQ+ identity. You can find her work at Health, Bustle, Women's Health, Allure, and other publications. 

Photo by Margaret Delamater on Scopio

Have you been feeling anxious about the state of environmental affairs during COVID-19? When reusable coffee mugs, recycling programs, and cloth tote bags are forbidden, it can be overwhelming to watch the plastic pile up. These zero waste tips will empower you to make sustainable choices at home and in your day-to-day life, no special equipment needed. 

Repurpose clothing for donation

That bag of gently-used clothing you were planning on donating? It’s probably still sitting (and maybe even growing) by the front door thanks to COVID-19 restrictions. If you’re unable to donate the clothing to your preferred organization, try repurposing the items for other uses. Socks can be used for general dusting or cleaning blind slats, soft fabrics can be cut or ripped into cleaning rags, and tote bags can be made from a variety of clothing or household linens. 

*Note: It’s worth contacting the organization directly about clothing donations as some are still accepting certain much-needed items.

Learn the art of mending 

Learning how to mend and alter your own clothes is not only a valuable life skill, it will breathe new life into clothing you thought you’d never wear again. Many mending techniques can be done without the use of a sewing machine and only require a small amount of practice to learn. Whether you’re sewing on a button, patching up a pair of jeans that are worn in the inner thighs, or giving new life to a pair of your favourite Aisle period underwear, this guide to basic hand stitches has you covered. Once you’ve mastered basic mending, you can move onto invisible mending and mending knitted garments!

Optimize plastic-free food storage

Because of COVID-19 restrictions on reusable containers, you might find yourself with more plastic than you would otherwise have lying around the house. While these restrictions vary depending on your location, there are still a few things you can do to reduce your plastic consumption. If possible, buy dried goods such as pasta, coffee beans, and grains in larger quantities, decanting into jars or buckets as needed. Clear containers are especially helpful as they’re a visual reminder of when you need to restock ingredients. Depending on the intended use, clean tea towels and store-bought or DIY beeswax wraps can be used to extend the life of fresh produce, cheese, and bread. 

*Note: No jars? Try looking on your local buy-nothing group for free jars, supplementing your collection with upcycled commercial jars.

Look forward to leftovers

If you’ve been working from home and cooking your own meals there’s a good chance you have kitchen fatigue. While it’s advice you’ve undoubtedly heard before, the old adage about leftovers remains true: Cook once, eat twice (or more, depending on how much food you make.) This is true for conventional leftovers, such as soup or pasta, but the same principles can be applied to individual ingredients. Recipes for roasted vegetables (including potatoes and yams), tomato sauce, cooked grains, and homemade condiments can be doubled — or even tripled, depending on the shelf-life of the ingredients. When you’re ready to eat, simply assemble and heat leftovers as desired, adding optional easy protein sources like tofu, eggs, cheese, nuts, poultry, meat, or fish to round out the meal.

Make your own cleaning products

Making your own cleaning products isn’t difficult and only requires a handful of common household ingredients. White vinegar, a popular all-purpose cleaning ingredient, is inexpensive and can be purchased in large quantities. Other helpful DIY cleaning solution chemicals to have on hand include baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, castile soap, and lemon juice. Be aware that while the chemicals in your homemade cleaners may be harmless on their own, they still have the potential to cause harm if mishandled or misused. Keep in mind that only disinfectants on this list are approved for use against COVID-19.  

Ashley Linkletter is a mental health, food, and nutrition writer based in Vancouver, BC. 

Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

Abortions can look and feel vastly different from person-to-person and within an individual termination experience. The reasons someone may need or choose an abortion are varied, but no matter the circumstance or situation, everyone deserves physical and emotional care before, during, and after their abortion. If you're looking for ways to support yourself through an abortion experience or want to care for a friend or loved one, this guide to self-care for abortion offers ideas and tools for self (and community) care around a termination.

Community Care

You may choose to be as private or as public with your abortion as feels right. No matter what you decide, having community to support you through and after the procedure can be helpful. Maybe a friend, partner, or doula can accompany you to the clinic or be with you at home. You might ask folks to bring you food or pay for and order delivery meals or groceries. You could ask someone close to you to check-in with a text or phone call. An online support group or social media community like Shout Your Abortion could offer resources and connection with folks who've had similar experiences. And no matter what your immediate community looks like, you are not alone. Abortion is normal, in the US, according to data from 2014, about 1 in 4 people with a uterus will get an abortion before the age of 45.

Physical Healing

Your physical body may need some extra care in the days following your abortion. Follow the specific directions from your provider, as they should be tailored to your body and specific abortion procedure. Generally, however, you can gather any supplies that you need to take care of your body while you bleeds, including any menstrual garments or products that you use. You can plan to support your sleep and rest, doing what you can to make sure your body gets the sleep it needs to recover and heal. This might include setting up a comfy spot to rest or sleep, getting an eye mask or earplugs, and gathering any other sleep aids that support your rest. Food is another thing that helps your body heal. Eat for nourishment, pleasure, joy, comfort. Warming foods like bone or veggie broth and dishes seasoned with tumeric, ginger, or pepper can be especially comforting and healing for the body after an abortion procedure. Take any medications or supplements that your care provider suggests or prescribes, as well as anything you usually take for your functioning and well-being (as long as you know that there aren't any contraindications; if you're not sure, check with your care provider). As best you can, prepare to care for your body like you're sick or are recovering from a minor surgery—think comfort, rest, nourishment.

Meaning Making

This piece of self-care can be done immediately surrounding your abortion or years after the fact. An abortion does not have to be a significant life event. Your abortion(s) might register in your body and mind as just another physical experience and nothing remarkable. The experience could also feel big, intense, life-altering. Or maybe like "no big deal" one day and then "THE BIGGEST DEAL" the next. There's no right way to understand, describe, or feel about your experience. The meaning making is up to you. You could journal about the experience, make art, share your story with someone else. It might help to talk with a therapist or other support person as you're discovering and creating what your abortion(s) mean to you. Meditation, ritual, and any spiritual or religious practices that bring you comfort can also be helpful ways to reflect on and process your experience.

Self- and community-care around an abortion experience will look different for each person. Perhaps the biggest thing you can do to care for yourself is hear and know that you deserve support and love. No matter your reason(s) for getting an abortion, no matter how many terminations you've had, no matter how you feel about the process and experience, you deserve ease and care. If you want more support and aren't sure who to talk to, consider reaching out to a full-spectrum doula who offers abortion support. Here's to you—and the reproductive care you need, want, and deserve!

Beth Rich is a queer educator and full-spectrum cycle doula who works at the thresholds and intersections of menstruation, family-building, pregnancy, birth, loss, and other life transitions. They're a non-binary human who's excited to talk about bodies, periods, birth, and sex in language that holds space for all of us. Discover more of their work at thebethrich.com or on Instagram @thebethrich.

Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash

Aisle was founded in 1993 as a feminist initiative to create more respectful and environmentally positive solutions to serve the needs of menstruators. We have a long history of explicit commitment and activism around social justice, trans inclusion, sustainability and menstrual equity. 

We live in a racist society. We see this everywhere; in the backlash to Indigenous opposition to extractive and non-consensual use of their land, in the discrimination and fear visited upon those of Asian ethnicity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the repeated acts of violence and intimidation on Black people by police and other state authorities.

We are outraged. The protests that we have seen in our city and around the world are deeply needed. We stand in solidarity with those who are leading resistance to this lethal system. It is not the responsibility of people of colour to overturn white supremacy and we are humbled as we witness the strength and sacrifice of those who are rising up to demand simple justice. 

Our activism to date has been primarily around menstrual equity, but we need to advocate more deeply for the ways that menstrual equity is a problem informed by race. In other words, if we do not understand menstrual equity within the context of white supremacist culture and systems, we are failing to fully understand or solve the issue.

Given this, we commit to ongoing, continuous, rigorous reflection internally and externally about ways we can stand in solidarity with Black, Indigenous and other people of colour and work to dismantle white supremacist culture. While we are a small but mighty organization, here are some of our recent actions and plans (which collectively represents over 4% of our May 2020 sales in support):

• Making financial donations to Black-led organizing efforts in the U.S. and Canada including the campaign to rebuild Lake Street, BLM Vancouver, Black Visions Collective and becoming a monthly donor to Hogan’s Alley Society
• Increasing our support for Black-led menstrual equity advocates and their programs, including a donation to #HappyPeriod
• Vigilantly maintaining an ethical supply chain, including ensuring no suppliers use prison labour
• Donating 100% of our “business to business” cloth mask profits to The Black Women’s Program at Battered Women’s Support Services
• Donating money, cloth masks and reusable menstrual supplies to Iskwew Air, who is reaching remote Indigenous communities during COVID-19
• Participating in anti-racist and anti-violence initiatives through board and staff education programs, including sending team members for a second time to the equity, inclusion and justice-centered Stratagem Conference.
• Contributing cloth masks and menstrual cups toward a local initiative to provide self-care packages to 30 BIPOC community organizers in Canada and the US, as well as funding the shipping costs
• Empowering political action on this problem, including paid staff time to protest and advocate for racial and environmental justice as well as intersectional menstrual equity policy changes at all levels of government

We encourage our community members to join us in taking meaningful, lasting steps towards challenging anti-Blackness and other expressions of racism. A better world is possible if we are all willing to be self-reflective, accountable and willing to listen, learn and act. We are grateful for the leadership of Black and POC community members who have pointed the way for us to become a better company and better citizens. 

In solidarity,
The Aisle team

One of the things that gave me pause when I was first looking into reusables for my period was how to care for them. 

I remember having thoughts like... that’s a lot of blood? Isn’t that kind of gross? How do I clean them? Is it safe to reuse something that’s had my blood on it? What if I’m out and want to change a pad? Or empty out my cup?

I’m here to tell you not to worry! There’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to reusables, but it really doesn’t take long before the whole process becomes part of your day-to-day routine.

First, the general process for our fabric products (pads, liners, and undies) is, when you’re done with them, rinse them out in cool water and then toss them in the washing machine & dryer with your regular laundry. As with any garment, wash them with like colours. 

Some other tips to extend the lifespan of your pads & undies: 

• Avoid bleach or fabric softener - they will decrease the performance and lifespan of your pads, liners, and undies.
• Don’t leave your pads soaking in water - this can lead to bacterial growth and mold.
• Avoid frequent use of Hydrogen Peroxide and Oxygen bleach products - they might be great for removing blood stains but they’re also super harsh on natural fibers. Instead, try our Stain Eraser.

If you’re only going to be doing laundry once a week, it’s alright to rinse out your pads/undies and leave them somewhere with good airflow until laundry day. 

But what about changing them when I’m out of the house?

We carry wet/dry bags that are great for this! You can also use a toiletries bag.

Fold up some spare pads to bring with you, and then when you need to change, you can swap your used one out for a fresh pad. Here’s how you can fold the used pad to keep the blood on the inside:

I thought they were super absorbent? Why would I need to change it if my flow isn’t that heavy?

This is totally a personal preference thing. For example, sometimes I’m not a huge fan of how a used booster in my undies feels after I go to the washroom when I go to pull them up. (It’s a little too cold for me!) So I just swap out the old booster for a fresh one to feel extra comfortable.

Let’s talk cups.

Yes, let's! Our cup conveniently holds one ounce (30 ml) of fluid and can be worn up to 12 hours a day. Depending on your flow, you may only need to empty out your cup twice a day (once in the morning after you wake up, once before you to bed). If you find your cup consistently overfloweth (not just a small leak, but actually more than 30ml of fluid in small periods of time), you may want to get in touch with your doctor about having a heavy flow.

To clean your cup you should use warm water and a mild, unscented and oil-free soap.

There are some tiny holes located below the rim that should be kept clear and clean. (They help with keeping things leak-proof!) Gently stretch each hole under warm running water to remove any debris.

At the end of your cycle, thoroughly wash, rinse and dry the cup completely. Store it in the cotton bag provided, not in a plastic bag or airtight container.

If you’re out during the day and need to empty your cup in a public washroom, it’s ok to empty it out and clean it off with toilet paper/a paper towel. Wash your hands thoroughly before heading to the stall!

Make sure you check the cup for any pieces of paper that may have stuck to it and remove them before reinserting the cup. Some people also like to bring a small bottle of water with them to rinse out the cup, but it’s not necessary. 

Just remember to give your cup a proper clean the next chance you get!

How often do I need to get a new cup?

Since the Aisle cup is a personal hygiene product, we recommend you inspect it regularly for signs of deterioration such as a sticky or powdery film, severe discoloration or odor, etc. If you detect any of these signs, or you experience irritation, replace it with a new one! 

Depending on factors like vaginal pH, how well and often the cup is cleaned, what you clean it with etc., the lifespan of your cup may vary. Our general guideline is to replace it once a year, but ultimately, it's up to you to decide when you feel it's necessary.

Some discoloration over time is totally normal. Some folks like to sterilize their cup by boiling it at the beginning and end of their cycle for 1-2 minutes. 

Not so bad, right?

If it’s still overwhelming, try adding just one type of reusable product at a time to your roster until you feel like you’ve got a handle on how to use and care for them. (For reference, I started with pads, then the cup, and added undies relatively recently). It’s a big switch! It’s alright to take your time and get comfortable with whatever you choose to use. 

Speaking from personal experience as well, caring for my reusables as part of my daily routine helped me develop a new, healthier, relationship with my period. My blood is no longer something I have to hide away and throw into the garbage like it’s something gross and unnatural. It’s a part of the mundane, day-to-day lived experience, and not gross in any way. (Cramps still suck though, don’t get me wrong).

Feeling stressed recently? You're not alone.

We brought in an expert to answer some questions about how stress can impact your menstrual cycle.

Dr. Heather Irobunda is an OB/GYN (Obstetrician and Gynecologist) based out of NYC. An OB/GYN does a variety of work - delivers babies, takes care of vaginal issues, and probably most relevant to this post, period/menstrual issues. She decided to become an OB/GYN after seeing firsthand the lack of education provided around menstruation, especially in underserved communities.

We're thrilled to have gotten the chance to speak with her and get some detailed answers about what happens to our bodies when we get stressed.

A: How can stress affect your cycle overall?

Stress can have a negative effect on your body, including your period. All kinds of stress can affect your period – physical, mental and emotional stress. Sometimes, we may think that the effect of stress on our period is in our head – and actually it is. There are lots of hormones that are made in your brain (the hypothalamus and pituitary regions of the brain to be exact) that affect how your reproductive organs work. When you’re under great amounts of stress (from any source, including emotional and mental), these hormone levels become altered. Due to these alterations in hormone levels, we may see spacing out of your period (skipping periods) and in times of great stress, you may see absence of your period for an extended amount of time.

A: Can stress increase period problems (like PMS or cramps)?

Stress can definitely increase a variety of period problems. Again, due to changes in many hormones – not only hormones made in your brain but in other parts of your body, you can see worsening of PMS symptoms. There are hormones, like cortisol, that your body makes as a result of stress that cause you to have increase bloating and can negatively affect your mood in high levels. Cortisol can also affect hormones, like estrogen and progesterone that may change the way your uterus acts during your menstrual cycle. These changes can cause you to experience more painful cramps!! OUCH!

A: Should you discuss your stress levels with your gynecologist?

Of course you should! We are here to help. It is SO important to tell your gynecologist any and everything that is bothering you, including stress. We can take better care of you when we know more about you. Stress can negatively affect not only your reproductive health, but your overall health. Make sure to let us know if you have experienced any traumatic experiences, have increased anxiety, or are worried about any changes in your body.

A: Can an extremely stressful event (like a pandemic) cause your cycle to change dramatically?

A pandemic, like the one we are living through right now can change your cycle dramatically, especially if you have increased amount of stress. If you have a severe illness, like COVID-19, that can cause your body to have increased physical stress which can alter your menstrual cycle. Some of the other consequences of the pandemic, job loss, economic instability, distance from your social support system, and overall anxiety can all cause changes in your menstrual cycle as well. It would not be surprising to experience some changes in your period during this time. If you notice these changes, you should inform your gynecologist about them, so that we can help you through this time!

A: How can stress impact your fertility?

Stress can have a negative impact on your fertility. I actually wrote an article about dealing with fertility issues during the pandemic. During this time of great stress and uncertainty, the rise in cortisol levels can affect the hormones (estrogen and progesterone) that cause you to ovulate or produce an egg to be fertilized by sperm. If your ovulation is disrupted, it will decrease your ability to get pregnant.

A: What are some good ways to manage stress for reproductive health?

There are so many great ways to manage stress during this time so that your reproductive health is improved. First, talking about your stress with friends or family that you trust can really help. If you want to have a more neutral person to vent to, seeking help from a therapist can be helpful too. Expressing your feelings, especially those of stress and anxiety can really help you to keep from bottling up negative feelings and also getting help to manage your stress. In addition, doing activities that increase your mindfulness can help too. Oftentimes, stress and anxiety are linked to being fearful of the future. If you can bring your mind back to the present moment, many times, you can break those anxiety provoking thought patterns. Great examples of activities that help with mindfulness are meditation, yoga, and crafting (painting, drawing, doing puzzles). Physical activity, like walking, running, and exercise class (there are many on YouTube), dancing to your favorite songs help with decreasing stress. When you are engaging in physical activity, you are releasing endorphins, which are feel-good hormones that make you feel good and reduce feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression!

Got some more questions or want to know more about Dr. Heather Irobunda and her work? Check out her website and her instagram!

There’s a lot of blood depicted in art. Bloody wars, people being decapitated, people being stabbed, you know, the usual fine art topics. However, you usually don’t find menstrual blood on the walls of the Louvre. But guess what? Menstrual blood is definitely being put on display by artists worldwide.

Many people have an instinctive negative reaction to just the idea of menstrual blood, or even just the idea of someone on their period posing for a photo. Remember when Instagram originally removed this now well known image posted by Rupi Kaur?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by rupi kaur (@rupikaur_) on Mar 24, 2015 at 9:02pm PDT

They later allowed it back on, due to the understandable backlash.

Some folks would say that it’s not that there’s anything wrong with menstruation itself, it’s just that they prefer their art to not be “political”. That’s an interesting train of thought, because it means that they mean having a period is political.

I have a couple responses. 

First, I WISH menstruation wasn’t considered “political”.

It’s a totally regular body function that half of the world’s population experiences. If menstruation were actually as normalized as it should be, and if there weren’t so many different levels of shame associated with it and the bodies of people who menstruate, I would argue that menstruation is actually not political at all. It’s just there.

Making art about menstruation is one of the ways in which we can normalize it. It allows people to see a reflection of themselves through someone else’s eyes and feel less shame. It also (ideally) allows folks who don’t menstruate to maybe understand it and sympathise a little bit more. Art can help us unpack loaded or taboo subjects; periods are ready for the palette.

We have to talk about it, or nothing will change. The only way to solve issues like period poverty is to make noise about them, but it’s a bit of a hard topic to discuss if we can’t even begin to get past the fact that people have periods on the regular.

Second, I hate to break it to you, but art is kind of inherently political.

It’s political because of who’s historically been allowed to make art, what subjects they’ve been allowed to cover, and how we’re allowed to engage with it. If you’ve never considered how art can be political, except for when it depicts some sort of “feminist agenda”, it might be good to ask yourself why? Oftentimes, your ability to “not ever get political” might be due to the fact that your privilege shields you from needing to.

It’s political because when you study art, the vast majority of the artists featured in many history books are typically men. Genres are defined by the same group of people throughout history, and the “defining” artists from each generation tend to look pretty similar as well.

Art is a universal language, so of course it’s political.

When folks are busy trying to silence vulnerable populations, or gate-keep creative mediums, engaging in an art form previously dominated by white men is an inherently political act, an act of strength and resistance. You don’t need a degree to “get” art, despite what some people would have you believe. Art is inherently subjective, and it can connect with people in a way that words just can’t. 

So without further ado, here are some great artists that feature menstruation in their work. 

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A post shared by Ellie Kammer (@elliekammer) on May 3, 2020 at 3:33pm PDT

Ellie Kramer makes gorgeous, visceral depictions of what it’s like to live with endometriosis.

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A post shared by Natalie Byrne | Illustrator (@nataliebyrne) on Sep 30, 2019 at 1:36pm PDT

Natalie Byrne wrote Period, and periodically (hah) posts illustrations about menstruation (and other feminist things!)

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A post shared by Sarah Naqvi (@naqvi_sarah) on Dec 15, 2016 at 10:26am PST

Sarah Naqvi has previously done amazing work using embroidery to depit menstrual blood, and is currently the Artist in resistance at De Ateliers.

Cassie Blue uses her menstrual blood as paint! There are a few artists doing this, perhaps the most notable instance being this portrait of Donald Trump, painted by Sarah Levy. Another artist Zoe James used her work to raise awareness over the cost of menstruation and period poverty.

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A post shared by NORMAN ART- Erin Blowers (@normanarteb) on Dec 16, 2019 at 11:50am PST

Erin Blowers has great images depicting menstruation in people of all genders, as well as excellent reminders to check your breasts regularly for breast cancer!

In finishing up this blog post, I came across the news that The Accessory Junkie has partnered with Period to launch the Nadya earrings, and proceeds of the first 100 pairs will go towards supporting 1500 menstrual cycles around the world!

One small sign that we’ll be close to normalizing discussion around menstruation is when we can wander into a museum gallery filled with images of menstruation & menstrual blood and have it just be another exhibit. 

Just a regular wing that you make your way through on a big museum crawl. With art students practising their sketches, and parents wrangling their kids who got hit by a wall of boredom the second they realized there was no kids-only playroom and they were going to spend hours having to keep their voices down. An exhibit like any other, where folks do that trick of trying to look for the artist’s signature in the piece they’re staring at in order to make it seem (to the casual observer) like they are truly immersed in the artwork itself. I’m looking forward to that day, because it might mean that we’ve put periods in their place - as part of what it means to be human.

Featured Image: Artemisia Gentileschi's Judith Slaying Holofernes, 1614

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has a variety of uses, and is often used by transgender and non-binary humans to help them experience gender-affirming physical changes. Hormones do a lot in our bodies, influencing everything from hair growth (or loss), sex drive, and mood, to fat distribution and the menstrual cycle. This post addresses some of the common questions that people have about HRT and the menstrual cycle, including information about both feminizing and masculinizing hormones. If you're curious about how hormone replacement therapy impacts the menstrual cycle, read on!

If you have other questions about HRT, you can speak with a care provider (often a therapist or a general care practitioner can help get you started or point you in the right direction) or talk to others who have experienced hormonal transition (try a Facebook group, a gender doula, or local/national/global organizations that serve trans individuals).

Feminizing vs. Masculinizing Hormones

There are a variety of HRT regimens that people use to achieve gender-affirming effects. Different people want different things from their HRT and so type and dose of hormone treatment will vary from person-to-person. Gender is truly a spectrum, a galaxy, and labels like "masculine" and "feminine" aren't all that helpful. Thick or coarse hair can be feminine, soft skin can be masculine, and so on. However, when hormones are classified as "feminizing" or "masculinizing", that generally means that feminizing hormones are taken by people who were assigned male at birth or have testosterone-dominant hormones in their system and that masculinizing hormones are taken by people who were assigned female at birth or have estrogen-dominant hormones already in their body.

Feminizing hormones often include several drugs or hormones, including anti-androgens or testosterone blockers that decrease the body's production of testosterone as well as estrogen that will support the body in things like fat redistribution, breast growth, softer skin, smaller pores, slower growth of body hair, genital change, etc.

Masculinizing hormones typically just consist of testosterone, which supports the body in facial and body hair growth, increased muscle mass, vocal changes, body fat redistribution, etc. 

Care providers may recommend progesterone in addition to other HRT for both people taking both feminizing and masculinizing hormones. For people looking to develop breasts, progesterone can cause additional breast growth, and for people seeking to stop a menstrual cycle, progesterone can help suppress ovulation and menstruation.

That brings us to the effects of HRT on the menstrual cycle. Some people wonder whether feminizing hormones can cause a menstrual cycle for transfeminine people and non-binary humans who were assigned male at birth. Unfortunately for the folks who hope this to be true, this isn't possible. To understand why not, as well as to understand more about the effects of masculinizing hormones on the menstrual cycle, let's take a look at what a body needs to have a menstrual cycle.

Elements Necessary for a Menstrual Cycle

To have a menstrual cycle, a person needs several elements. For ease of understanding, you need both the “hardware” and “software” necessary for menstruation, both the organs and the hormones that tell those organs to ovulate and menstruate. Those organs are ovaries that produce eggs, a uterus for an endometrial lining to build up on, and an opening for that lining to shed from the body. The hormones necessary for a menstrual cycle are estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen encourages the body to ovulate, and menstruation typically happens 12-18 after ovulation if the egg(s) released from the ovaries were not fertilized with sperm. 

If all of those elements are in play, a menstrual cycle is likely to happen. If not, the body will not ovulate or menstruate. Because both organs and hormones are necessary to menstruate, if someone does not have those organs (because the organs were removed or they were born without them), they won't menstruate.

Effects of Masculinizing HRT on the Menstrual Cycle

Often, the testosterone that people take as a masculinizing hormone affects the body's production of estrogen and stops the menstrual cycle. This isn't always the case, however, so people might take progesterone or use a hormonal birth control to suppress the ovulation and menstruation process. Even if menstruation doesn't happen, some people report menstrual-like symptoms, like cramps, bloating, or emotional changes that seem to happen in a cycle. Others might choose to have the organs responsible for menstruation removed, and then they'd no longer have a menstrual cycle, no matter what hormones were in their body.

Other than stopping the menstrual cycle altogether, other effects of testosterone on this physical process are:

• Change in the length of your cycles (often longer)
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Increased cramps, discomfort, or pain

Finding the hormones that are right for you and your body can be tricky. Talk with your care provider(s) about your goals for HRT and ask them to help you create the effects that are important to you while avoiding (as much as possible) the side effects that you don't want to experience. If you're taking testosterone as a masculinizing hormone and are experiencing longer, painful, or irregular cycles, you can also talk to someone who specializes in menstruation in addition to your primary care providers, like a doula, midwife, herbalist, acupuncturist, or other health practitioner. Here's to feeling good in your body, mind, and gender!

Beth Rich is a queer educator and full-spectrum cycle doula who works at the thresholds and intersections of menstruation, family-building, pregnancy, birth, loss, and other life transitions. They're a non-binary human who's excited to talk about bodies, periods, birth, and sex in language that holds space for all of us. Discover more of their work at thebethrich.com or on Instagram @thebethrich.

Photo by Zackary Drucker for The Gender Spectrum Collection.

Aisle’s hometown of Vancouver has now been grappling with the impacts of the COVID-19; and if we’ve learned anything, it is that COVID-19 is a feminist nightmare. The complications, fragilities and dangers that many are experiencing are not caused by the novel coronavirus but have been exposed by this pandemic. The patriarchal and racist seams of our society have been laid bare; proof that this world works better for some than others, and when the chips are down, we do not experience disaster equally. 

We live in a violent society. The near-worldwide stay-at-home orders flattened the curve, but they also revealed an ugly truth for many - that home is not a safe place to be. Statistics Canada is reporting that one in ten Canadian women currently fear violence at home, and police forces are reporting a 22% jump in domestic disturbance calls. Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS), an organization that has been tackling intimate partner violence for decades in Vancouver, reported a 300% spike in calls to their hotline. Being subject to violence in your own home is completely unacceptable, but it is a literally inescapable reality for too many. We didn’t do enough to stop intimate partner violence before the pandemic, and now our inaction is being paid for, painfully, by those we failed to help. 

We live in a racist society. Anti-Asian rhetoric and scapegoating is common and often coming from some of the most wealthy and privileged individuals in our society. North Vancouver MLA Bowinn Ma astutely pointed out that COVID-19 did not cause racism but it was as lethal to our communities as any virus.

With everything that's been going on, I've felt very strongly the need to say something about #AntiAsianRacism during #COVID19 ...so here I am saying it. #bcpoli #BryanAdams #HateIsAVirus pic.twitter.com/j5Yv8J9ver

— Bowinn Ma (@BowinnMa) May 13, 2020

New data by the CDC shows that African-Americans are disproportionately dying of COVID-19. This is not because the novel coronavirus is particularly lethal to Black people, but because Black people experience structural inequities in healthcare that makes it harder for them to access safe, supportive healthcare. Native Americans also have been particularly vulnerable to the virus. Doctors Without Borders has dispatched a team of nine to the Navajo Nation, which is reporting some of the highest rates of infection per capita in the United States. It is hard to self-isolate if your home lacks running water, a reality for one in three Navajo as well as countless other Indigenous people. 

We live in a patriarchal society. Workforces that are disproportionately female have been deemed both essential and nonessential; as society shifted under the stay-at-home orders, the services that some provided were no longer essential. This recession is rare because it is driven by the service economy, an economy so staffed by women in low-wage and precarious work, it has been dubbed a she-cession. Nearly 14 million Canadians applied for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, proof that our government can act quickly to support workers. However, Bill C-86, vital pay equity legislation that has passed parliament and received royal assent, still has not been enacted at the federal level. It was passed in 2018, and would have given many workers the opportunity to be paid fairly and securely before we ever considered physical distancing.

What has become clear is that COVID-19 is a disease that worsens preexisting conditions. The preexisting conditions of sexism, racism and homophobia made us more vulnerable to this disease. It will cause more people to die and suffer, because we did not make the changes necessary for a healthier society that would have been more resilient. Now, at Aisle, we’re sewing masks for our neighbours in the Downtown Eastside. It helps, but it’s not enough. We need to move past this pandemic with a recovery that not only makes us immune to COVID-19, but resistant to what made us sick as a society in the first place.

Please stay home. Please wash your hands, and wear a mask. Keep space between you and others. However, call your elected representatives, donate and learn. COVID-19 is a feminist nightmare, and our new normal has to be better for everyone.

Photo by Michael Amadeus on Unsplash

Period sex...some people love it, some folks hate it. In general, it has somewhat of a bad rep and carries a lot of stigma. What feels good in your body is always up to you, and I'm not here to try to change your mind. However, here are some suggestions that may be helpful as you tap into your own period pleasure. Whether you're quarantined alone (unless you're reading from the future—hi! Remember that time in the spring of 2020 when many of us stayed home in the face of a global pandemic?) or just want to experiment with period pleasure on your own before sharing it with a pal (or two, or a bunch!), this piece focuses on pleasure you can offer yourself as you bleed.

Get messy...or minimize it.

The thing that some of us get turned off by when it comes to sex + menstruation is, well, all the blood. You've got a few options here. You can lean into the mess, or minimize it. If you're not sure what would feel good, or are just in the mood to switch things up, try both! 

If you're leaning into all the bloody glory, take time to notice what the blood feels like between your fingers. Let it get all over your skin, your sheets, your toys if you're using them. Make the blood a part of your sexual experience. 

If you're looking to sex up your bleed, but want to avoid the messiness, you've also got options. Consider pleasuring yourself with a menstrual cup or disc in, or use a vibrator over your undies. Put a condom on a vibrator or dildo, or stick to external toys that will give you lots of feels without getting very messy. Get busy in the bathtub, where the water will slow your flow (kind of, your bleed doesn't stop in water, but the counter pressure of the water often stops or slows your blood from leaving your body).

Feel into what feels good.

It's true of all kinds of sex, but especially period sex and masturbation that it's all about what feels good to you, just as you are in that moment. Take the pressure off. Go in without a plan. Just follow what feels good to you and see where it leads. You may or may not have an orgasm. You might go with your oldie but goodie positions, moves, or toys, or maybe you'll discover something completely new.

Think kinky.

Kink is broad, and whether hearing the term feels intimidating or lights you up, period pleasure can be an opportunity to experiment and explore to find what kinks you enjoy. Many types of kink have to do with specific sensations and bleeding bodies are often more sensitive. Play to find what sensations feel good to you while you're menstruating. Does it feel good to be tied up, and if so, do you like the ropes to dig into your skin or do you prefer your bondage to feel like a firm, loving hug? To your comfort level, play with things like cold ice, warm wax, paddles, harnesses, clamps, or chains and notice what feels good. And if you don't have any kink gear on hand, get creative! There are lots of ways to DIY prickly, squeezing, spanky, and other kinky sensations. As you're exploring, do keep safety in mind, and if you aren't sure, seek out a sex or kink educator who can support you in safe and kinky period pleasure.

Be open to the "why" behind your period sex.

There are many reasons why we have sex, and many motivations for seeking period pleasure. Getting curious about your "why" may help you to engage in sex and pleasure that ultimately meets those goals and helps you feel how YOU want to feel. Perhaps you're after an orgasm or are just looking for a way to alleviate cramps. Maybe you want to connect to your body or something about the physical experience of menstruation turns you on. All of your "whys" are valid, and being open to them can help you maximize your period pleasure and create an experience that truly satisfies the needs and desires you're trying to meet.

In summary, period pleasure is all about you and your bleeding body. There are no rules, and there isn't actually one "normal." Whether you're into the blood, or are just in it for the pain relief, your bleed offers a unique opportunity to connect to your body and sexuality. Happy bleeding!

Beth Rich is a queer educator and full-spectrum cycle doula who works at the thresholds and intersections of menstruation, family-building, pregnancy, birth, loss, and other life transitions. They're a non-binary human who's excited to talk about bodies, periods, birth, and sex in language that holds space for all of us. Discover more of their work at thebethrich.com or on Instagram @thebethrich.

Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

The vast majority of us may be in some form of self isolation but that doesn’t mean we have to settle on cereal for dinner! (Though if that’s your jam, more power to you!) You might be scrolling through Instagram and seeing beautiful sourdough boules and drool worthy dinners - and feeling like you’re not up to the task of being the Pandemic Gourmet. This could be doubly true if you’re not that confident in the kitchen.

We’ve compiled a list of recipes that are sure to keep you nourished and satisfied during this time with a focus on common ingredients that you likely already have on hand. (Seriously, who honestly has cream of tartar just lying around?)

Remember that substitutions can be made to these recipes to suit your dietary restrictions and to make use of what you have! Your choice of protein can always be added as well. 

If you’ve gone to the shops to pick up some staples such as pasta and rice you may have noticed that many others have had the same idea. Don’t fret. Some great alternatives are potatoes, barley, quinoa, and lentils. 

The recipes have been broken up into different categories so you can easily choose based on your mood. Just mix and match to nourish your body and spirit - remember, a delicious meal can do wonders for your sense of well-being in all ways.

Cozy recipes for stay-at-home self-care

Great for both breakfast and snacks on the go; from the kitchen to the living room.

 Curry Lentil Soup 

Can’t imagine anything better than this bowl of curry lentil soup to cozy up on the couch with and binge watch Netflix.

Black Bean Soup

A classic that can be stored for future meals. 

Sweet Potato Fajitas 

Baked sweet potatoes in a warm wrap, need I say more?

Fresh Recipes To Get Into The Spring Spirit

Mexican Quinoa

With only 5 ingredients, this is a perfect recipe for when you just cannot be bothered and want to eat NOW. 

Broccoli Cheddar Salad

Can’t go wrong with cheese can you?? Unless you’re lactose intolerant… then please use your favourite lactose free or vegan cheese!

Pesto Pasta with Peas

This recipe still feels fresh while using a combination of frozen and dry ingredients.

Sweets For Stress Baking Success

Cake Batter Cookies

If you have a lonesome box of cake mix sitting in your pantry this is the recipe for you!

One Minute Microwave Mug Brownie 

Perfect for those late night cravings. 

Sticky Toffee Banana Bread

Hop on the banana bread making train but with a twist with this recipe.

Quarantine doesn’t mean you have to turn into a Michelin chef overnight, but if you feel like switching things up we hope these recipes serve as some inspiration for you during this time!