Today 1 in 5 plastics found in our oceans are from period products, causing more ocean pollution, Pretty scary right? Not just that, but plastic period products can take anywhere from 500-1000 years to decompose. For context, this is 5 times our lifetime if we live to be 100 years old. Or twice as long as the United States has even existed. Yep, that’s a pretty long time.
The good news is this wasn’t always the case. In the 1930's pads and tampons were mostly made of cotton and cardboard, meaning period products didn’t always contribute to plastic pollution. Plastic started becoming part of the design in the 1960s, when new synthetic materials were included in everything from clothes to kitchen utensils.
But now, when it comes to plastic period products, it’s time for a fundamental change in the products we use in order to reduce the pollution of our beautiful planet.
You probably know that Riley tampons are made from 100% certified organic cotton and that the applicators are recyclable, but what does that really mean? Let’s talk through it below.
You probably know that Riley tampons are made from 100% certified organic cotton and that the applicators are recyclable, but what does that really mean? Let’s talk through it below.
Flushing tampons is a big no no. Unless you want clogged pipes and a whole lot of mess.
Although Riley tampons are biodegradable, they take time to decompose and they need the right conditions. Although half of women flush them down the toilet, we need to change this habit. Flushing tampons down the toilet can actually block drains and tampons can also end up in our rivers and oceans. If they’re not 100% organic cotton and contain plastic, this also contributes to ocean pollution from plastic. Another great reason to purchase only 100% organic.
Riley organic tampons can be composted and, in the right conditions, will decompose within 12 months. Composting means to return biodegradable material back to the earth. We normally do this with food, garden waste or tea bags but this can also be done with used organic tampons.
Yes, those too! Riley pads are made from 100% organic cotton, they can be composted and take around 12 months to decompose in a compost pile.
It’s actually very simple.
Step 1) Make sure you are using Riley organic tampons or natural pad for your monthly period.
Step 2) Create the right conditions for compost. We recommend a damp, warm and well-sealed bin. If you have a traditional home compost bin, it’s best to use your compost for growing plants and restoring depleted soils instead of using it to grow your own food. While menstrual blood is rich in nutrients, it can contain blood borne infections so stick to plants you won’t be eating to be safe.
Step 3) You want to make sure that you have a good mix of green and brown compost. Green compost includes veggie peelings and green cuttings from the garden. These should be softer, damp and break down easily. Brown compost includes cotton and cardboard, which take a little longer to break down and is slightly firmer. A mix of brown and green will create a good compost environment.
Step 4) Celebrate taking your first step in minimising your waste and saving our planet. Yay.
While it may seem like a long time, normal plastic period products will take 500-1000 years to break down. So it’s actually pretty quick in comparison.
Our Riley applicators are made from 100% sustainable materials, derived from sugar cane. This means that after use they can be washed, dried and added to the recycle bin. Simple.
But we didn’t stop there, the wrapping on our naked tampons is made from wood pulp, meaning they are also compostable. Double win.
As a business, we are motivated by the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's). Our commitment to providing eco-friendly period products addresses SDG #9, #12 and #13. At Riley, we feel incredibly strongly about this. We believe that periods shouldn’t cost the earth. Thanks for being part of the change.
If you have any questions or would like to know more please don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing hello@weareriley.com, leaving a comment below and checking out our Live of Riley Blog.
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Every October, the world turns pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a global initiative for raising awareness about breast cancer and promoting early detection.
It's a reminder of how important it is to take control of your breast health, and one of the most effective ways to do that is by regularly checking your breasts, at least once a month!
Read to find out how to check your boobs, why it's so important, and some stats you need to know.
A breast self-exam is actually a fairly easy process that you can do at home. It takes only a few mins each month to this (potentially life-saving) routine by following these steps:
Find somewhere comfy where you can stand or sit with your arms relaxed.
Start by looking at your boobs in the mirror with your arms by your sides. Check them for any changes in size, shape, or contour. Pay attention to skin changes, such as dimpling or redness.
Check out our handy diagram below to help:
Lift your arms overhead and again look for changes in your boob size, shape, and contour. Plus, be sure to check your skin for any changes.
Lift one arm up and gently use the pads of your fingers on the other hand to feel your boob. Use a circular motion, ensuring you cover the entire breast area—from the collarbone to the top of the abdomen, and from the armpit to the cleavage area. Look for any lumps, thickening, or knots.
Get a good look at your nipples and check for any signs of discharge, rash, or inversion (this is when the nipple turns inward).
Lie down on your back and repeat the circular motion to check your breasts. Lying down can help you feel for any changes more easily and help get confirmation of something you may think you felt while checking standing up.
Our boobs are super responsive to hormones which is why changes to your boobs can occur for various reasons, other than breast cancer. For example, during your period our oestrogen levels increase which causes our milk ducts and glands to swell. This can trap fluid in our boobs and cause swelling or lumpiness. So because of this, not all changes indicate breast cancer. However, if you notice anything unusual or persistent during your self-exam, contact your GP.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and people with periods in the EU. In 2020, approximately 384,500 new cases of breast cancer were reported in the EU and it's estimated that 92,800 people in the EU lost their lives to breast cancer in 2020.
Taking care of your breast health is super important, and by checking your boobs regularly and knowing what's normal for you, you can spot any changes early and get the help you need. Not to be a debbie-downer, but breast cancer is a very serious disease, but with early detection, it can be treated! So, let's all remember to check our boobs, and encourage our friends and family to do the same.
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This right here is the partnership we've been ITCHING to shout about and we're so delighted to finally announce our partnership with Dr. Monica Peres Oikeh.
At Riley, we're determined to make the lives of menstruators, and everyone who has a period, easier by de-mystifying fem health and educating our community as much as we possibly can - but we can't do it alone.
Don't get us wrong, everyone on the Riley team is obsessed with learning about our bodies, and we get a major KICK out of learning about a topic enough that we feel confident to talk about it with our community, with the aim of helping others become more aware about their bodies. There's no doubt that we're incredibly passionate about this and can research and educate ourselves about the female body as much as we can, but we wanted to find a medical professional who shared our mission and values, and who we could trust to make sure everything we're talking about on our platform is fully accurate, true and, frankly, information worth sharing to our community.
Dr. Monica Peres Oikeh, MB BAO BCh MICGP, is a dedicated medical professional specialising in women's health, dermatology, and health education. A graduate of Trinity College Dublin, she actively engages with her audience through her TikTok and Instagram to educate her followers in her specialised fields and now, she'll joining the Riley team as our go-to medical professional.
Dr. Monica is a regular on Ireland AM as a trusted health contributor, she hosts a women's health series on RTE Player, and is a featured doctor on the Virgin Media show, The Clinic for Well People. Her expertise and commitment to patient care make her a trusted advocate in the field and we couldn't be happier to have her onboard.
Here at Riley, we've got BIG plans. We want to become a leading fem health brand in order to educate ourselves and our community on all the things we should have learned in school i.e. absolutely everything related to our our bodies.
Not only are we sick of period stigma and shame that's always existed. Like helloooo, it's 2023, surely we can be done with this right? Unfortunately no.. there's a lot more work to do, but we're 100% on the right track, especially with this shiny new partnership. But we're also completely and utterly OVER the mystery behind everything to do with the female body and you better believe we're so determined to change it.
As part of this partnership we'll be sharing tonnes of fem health content on our website, on Instagram, on our newsletters, but we want to hear from you. Email us and let us know what you'd like to know more about so we can completely de-mystify everything we should have learned in school.
Follow us on Instagram and sign up to our newsletter to stay updated on everything fem health. It's time to shatter the silence!
]]>Right let’s get to it…
This is tracking your cycle by using basal body temperature, examining cervical mucus and/or using LH sticks (ovulation sticks) to determine your fertile window. This is a popular option for women who want to learn about their natural cycle and work with their body.
It ties in nicely with cycle syncing, which refers to leaning into the fluctuations that come along with the menstrual cycle phases. It involves making lifestyle choices according to each phase. This means we’re using our menstrual cycle as a framework to live in harmony with our hormones. Rather than doing the exact same thing everyday while our hormones are causing shifts in our mood, digestion & energy. Check out our blog post here that explains cycle syncing in more detail.
The issue with Cycle Tracking is that you REALLY need to be on the ball. Not accurately tracking your cycle has a significant drop in effectiveness.
So be careful not to use a period tracking app as this is based on predictions from previous cycles and not hard science. Using an app like Natural Cycles that works based on your basal body temperature will provide much more accurate results.
Effectiveness: With typical use this can be 93% effective however with perfect use it is 98% effective (pretty similar to that of the combined pill, ring, patch, mini pill and depo injection).
This option lasts between 5-10 years. The beauty of this option is that ovulation occurs (YESSSSSSS, that’s what we like to hear). We will get into why this is important another day but because we’re ovulating, we also have a normal period not a withdrawal bleed, an actual period, although it may be heavier than normal.
Another reason why women and people with periods like the copper coil is because your fertility returns immediately after removal. It’s suitable for people of any age including teenagers and those who haven’t had children (the rumours are not true).
Effectiveness: with both typical and perfect use this option is greater than 99% effective and we’re liking those odds.
Okay so we won’t go into the nitty gritty of how to use them, we’ll leave that for another blog post ;). It’s so important to use this kind of condom to avoid STI’s but what we will say is that condoms, which are usually made from latex, are very effective when used perfectly (as effective as cycle tracking). However, this option has to be weighed up with the fact that it’s only 82% effective with typical use which is probably a more accurate representation of how we all use this contraception, I mean no one is perfect, right?
Effectiveness: 98% when used correctly, 82% with typical use
Although this option may be more difficult to find, it looks very similar to the male external condom. The female condom is a thin plastic pouch that’s inserted into your vagina before sex & acts like a barrier to stop sperm from entering the womb during sex. It’s an internal barrier method that helps to prevent pregnancy and STI’s.
Just like with the male condom, people usually use this method along with another, better to be safe than sorry.
Effectiveness: With perfect use, this method is 95% effective, but, with typical use, it is only 79% effective (yikes)
But I mean, what fun is that?
Effectiveness? 1000% ☺☺
Whether it’s hormonal or non-hormonal, there are so many options to choose from, it’s all about finding the right one for YOU! Consider your options, your lifestyle, what you’d like, your reasons for choosing contraception and always speak openly with your doctor. Remember, sometimes you choose an option only to find out that it doesn’t suit your body and that’s okay, sometimes it is trial and error. We live and learn!
]]>Hormonal contraception is contraception that uses synthetic hormones to prevent pregnancy. The chosen contraception method will release synthetic oestrogen & progestin or progestin only, to stop your body from ovulating and prevent pregnancy. Wondering what progestin is? Don’t worry, we’ve got you. Progestin is actually a form of progesterone, the hormone that plays a role in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
Now that that’s all cleared up, let’s dive right in! Psst… You might want to grab a large coffee, it’ll be a long one :)
There’s A LOT of brands & options when it comes to the combined pill but there are some things we need to know before heading down this route. When on the combined pill, ovulation does not occur.
Although a lot of us assume that we have to take a 7-day break from the pill to get our period, but we actually don’t, who knew?? And it’s not even a real period! The bleed we get on the combined pill is called a ‘pill bleed’ or ‘withdrawal bleed’ and it’s from withdrawal of the pill.
It’s also important to remember that your fertility may not return as soon as you would like after you stop taking the pill. On average it can take 3 months but this is totally dependent on the person and the brand you take.
Effectiveness: With perfect use, over 99%, but without perfect use it’s over 91% effective.
This is where a small plaster is placed on your body (usually arm or ass) for 1 week at a time. After 3 weeks in a row, you can leave your patch off for a few days to a week (but speak to your GP to find this out for sure). Once the time is up you start the routine again with a new patch.
Similarly, to the combined pill, the patch releases synthetic oestrogen and progestin stopping ovulation. This also means when you stop for a few days, yep you guessed it, withdrawal bleed, not an actual period - always good to know the difference.
Usually it will take up to 4 months for fertility to return after stopping use of the patch.
Effectiveness: With perfect use, over 99% effective, but without perfect use it’s over 91% effective.
This is a progesterone-only option. Some people find their skin/hair becoming increasingly oily after starting the mini pill. Ovulation may occur sometimes when taking the Mini Pill so it’s not as effective as the combined pill. Another difference between the two types of pills is that you have to take the mini pill continuously, without a 7 day break. Those taking the mini pill can also expect either a light period or none at all.
When we talk fertility, it can take up to 3 months to return after you stop taking it.
Effectiveness: With perfect use, over 99% effective, but without perfect use it is over 91% effective.
Some people get confused between the copper coil and the Mirena coil. First things first, Mirena is a brand name not the name of the device. The IUD brands available in Ireland are the Mirena, Kyleena and Jaydess. It’s a small, plastic T- shaped device that’s inserted into the womb and blocks sperm from reaching the egg.
Ovulation might occur however the IUD also works by thinning the lining of the womb to prevent a fertilised egg from embedding.
Only a trained doctor can insert and remove your IUD. A period may or may not occur, but if it does, it’s usually very light.
It can take up to 2 months for fertility to return after removing your IUD.
Effectiveness: Over 99%
This is a small flexible ring that’s inserted into your vagina for 3 weeks. You then take it out for a few days to a week (but speak to your GP to find this out for sure). And like the patch, once the time is up you insert the ring again and start your new cycle. So really, it’s like a mini hula hoop for your vagina, without the spinning of course.
Once again, because both hormones are released, like the combined pill and the patch, ovulation doesn’t happen and when you remove the ring, say it with me… a ‘withdrawal bleed’.
It can take up to 3 months for fertility to return after stopping use.
Effectiveness: With perfect use, over 99% but without perfect use, over 91% effective.
This is a small flexible rod that’s inserted into your upper arm (about the size of a match-stick). You won’t be able to see it but you can feel it. It works by releasing a small amount of progestin into your body to try to stop ovulation and make it difficult for sperm to meet the egg. It can remain in your arm for up to 3 years before it has to be replaced. Like the IUD, only a doctor with specialised training can insert and remove your implant.
Ovulation doesn’t occur and you don’t get a real period, however some people experience spotting.
It can take up to 2 months for fertility to return after removing your implant.
Effectiveness: Over 99%
This injection lasts for a minimum of 12 weeks (+/= 5 days) after administration. Which means it stops ovulation for at least 12 weeks. Because of this, this option takes the longest for fertility to kick back in once you stop taking it. Some people do experience spotting, but this doesn’t happen to everyone.
There are some side effects with this option: reduced bone density and brittle bones so taking vitamin D and calcium would be important.
When you stop getting the injection it can be anywhere between 5-8 months or up to 12 months for fertility to return (insert shocked face!)
Effectiveness: With perfect use, over 99% but without perfect use it is over 94% effective.
Alright, that was a lot of info right!? Who knew there’s so many hormonal options out there. It’s important to remember that with any hormonal contraception, there may be side effects so sometimes it’s a case of trial and error to find the right option for you.
But as with everything we chat about here at Riley, it’s so important to talk to a medical professional or your GP and discuss your options and this is the same for absolutely ANYTHING you read on the internet, ok? Ok.
Now don’t you worry, we know some of you ladies prefer the oh-natural route and we’re here for you. Stay tuned to catch our blog on Non-Hormonal Contraception!
]]>The monthly torment of “why am I so gassy on my period?” begins this week and, I mean, trying to cover up burps and farts is hard in public; my dog isn’t around to take the heat. Apparently, all of this bloated and gassy feeling during your period AND diarrhoea (yep, good ‘ol period poops) during your period is normal… Don’t get me wrong, I’m relieved, but really wish this wasn’t the norm.
So, who’s to blame for these bloody symptoms, pardon the pun. Once again the answer is hormones, isn’t everything hormone related these days! I’ve got a love-hate relationship with mine <3
You can thank oestrogen for the extreme bloating before or during your period, constipation and trapped wind. Ok, we’re talking about farts, we were just being polite. This is because the rise and fall of oestrogen slows down our ability to pass food through our intestine. All of this build up can cause our stomach to bloat during our period.
And don’t think progesterone isn’t playing a hand in this either, oh no. Progesterone also peaks and falls which means you can go one of two ways:
We can’t catch a break! Safe to say, either way, there is a great explanation as to why we experience bloating and gas before our period and none of it’s our fault.
Alright, enough of the problems, we want solutions goddammit...
How do we stop this trapped wind on our period? At least reduce it anyway:
1. Exercise - this is the cure to everything, when we exercise we don’t just get our legs moving but our bowls too. This will help if you’re feeling symptoms of constipation and gas.
2. Food - “you are what you eat”- isn’t that a saying? Right back to it, food, there are some foods that are just prone to making us fart simply because they have more fibre and fibre gets things moving. Usually, fibre is amazing to have in our diet, but maybe watch it for the days before and during your period as you may be extra sensitive. Foods to watch out for that contribute to that bloated and gassy feeling are beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, dairy and lentils.
3. Water - Linked with exercise and food, water pushes everything through the intestine and gets things moving which we like to hear. So try to stay hydrated as much as you can, ideally 2 litres everyday. Otherwise there is nothing in your body to push all that food through your system.
4. Slow down - some of us horse into our food and don’t stop until we see an empty plate, might have to do with the ‘if you’re not first you’re last’ mentality with siblings. This however is really bad for us as it causes a backlog if you know what I mean. Chew your food, don’t gulp it down. This will help your stomach and digestion process the food and push it through the intestine much more easily.
So, try some of our suggestions and let us know if they work. We are always open to hearing your stories and suggestions 😊
]]>Look, perfection doesn't exist, but y'know what does? Easy. Eco. Swaps.
We've got some simple (and realistic) sustainable swaps we think you'll love so let's just dive straight in, shall we??
Yep, we're adding a cheeky plug here for ourselves! But did you know the average menstruating person uses 11,000 disposable tampons in their lifetime? That's the equivalent of 5,500 plastic bags which is mind-blowing because then most of these end up in landfill, or worse, our oceans.
By making the switch to eco-friendly period products from Riley, you're saving disposable tampons from ending up in landfill, because our products are made with 100% organic cotton, contain zero harmful chemicals and will breakdown within 12 months. Find out more about this by clicking here.
Whether you use plastic straws, disposable deodorant, or disposable coffee cups. By ditching the disposables & switching to reusables, you're reducing your impact on the environment.
Why not try reusable metal straws, natural refillable deodorant or cute reusable coffee cups. Speaking of reusables... have you seen our brand new, patented Reusable Applicator? It's easy to use and better for the environment, a total win-win situation if you ask us.
Thrifting & sustainable fashion is where it's at. Shopping second hand can be so much fun, & you can find some absolute GEMS. Plus when you shop sustainably within the fashion industry, you can rest easy knowing that everyone involved in the creation of an eco piece of fashion is paid fairly and treated with respect.
Ok ok, we know January's almost over, but what introducing some vegan or meat-free meals a few days a week?
Reducing our meat consumption has a lot of benefits and is one of the most sufficient ways to reducing our impact on the environment. This is because switching to more meatless options can help to reduce greenhouse emissions, soil degradation, deforestation and increase biodiversity. Plus, there are SO many options out there when it comes to vegan food and it's actually really tasty.
There's so many great swaps for cleaning but it can be overwhelming. Simply switching to eco cleaning supplies & re-using old rags as cloths can make an impact.
As well as that, there can harmful toxins & chemicals in mainstream cleaning products which can have a negative impact on our own bodies.
In conclusion, nobody's perfect and there's so much noise out there when it comes to sustainability but if we make these small moves to being more eco-friendly, these are the kinds of swaps that can have a HUGE impact.
]]>Nausea before period
Some people experience nausea before their period, and it’s actually quite common. PMS happens about a week to 10 days before your period. It can be everything from mood swings to cramps to headaches to sore boobs and yep, you guessed it, nausea. Some people suffer really badly from PMS and others are lucky enough to never experience it. It’s all down to our biological make-up.
If you begin to feel nauseous don’t panic, it doesn’t automatically mean you’re pregnant - it could just be a PMS symptom. Like with life, we go through ups and downs and depending on how stressful our month has been this can dictate whether our PMS is manageable or off the charts. How hectic has your life been in the last couple of weeks? But, we do advise to take a pregnancy test if it is a totally new symptom, can never be too careful 😉
Okay let’s think, do you have trouble sleeping, headaches, not eating properly, not exercising… all of these lifestyle factors can cause havoc with our hormones. And what dictates how bad our PMS is? Those pesky hormones! So, what’s the take-away here? Happy hormones, less severe PMS. Well in theory anyway!
Should I be worried?
Nausea around your period is annoying and inconvenient but nothing to be worried about, in most cases. You can always speak to your GP if it’s something you would like to address or you feel something isn’t right.
However, we advise you to contact a medical provider immediately if your nausea is a completely new symptom and it becomes overbearing very quickly. This could highlight that something else is at play and needs to be seen by a professional. You’ll know what’s normal for your body so if something is new or doesn’t feel quite right, then always seek medical attention.
How to stop nausea before your period
The dream, am I right? So there’s no one-stop-shop to fix our nausea problems but there are a couple of solutions you guys might find useful:
Until next time….
Find out more on here: https://weareriley.com/blogs/news
Leave us a comment to have your say & let us know what topics you would like to see more of!
]]>STI’s are transmitted when there’s sexual contact or skin to skin contact with a person already infected. Most STI’s can be treated with medication but first you need to get tested.
There’s a stigma around STI’s, think about it, have you ever sat with friends and discussed whether you had a STI? It tends to be a subject we keep hidden, private, afraid of the shame associated with it. But why? The lack of conversation around this topic is SUPER damaging to people, especially to young people. There’s a misconception that if you don’t have multiple sexual partners, you don’t need to get regular STI checks. Oh how wrong we are!
All it takes is one unprotected sexual encounter to get an STI. But hang on, we’re not here to give you another “talk” about having safe, protected sex, because we know that things happen; a few too many drinks, the condom broke, being caught up in the moment, or not having the confidence to tell your partner to wrap it up, BUT we are here to tell you that, whatever the reason for having unprotected sex all we ask it that you make sure you get tested afterwards, there’s never any shame! So let’s get down and dirty with the details…
An STI is a sexually transmitted infection whereas a STD is a sexually transmitted disease. Yes, they both sound similar and usually we use the phrases interchangeably without much thought to the difference. As healthcare professionals try to remove the stigma around sexual health, they’ve begun to use STI over STD as it’s a broader, more acceptable term.
Think of what an infection means, an attack on your body by bacteria or a virus that’s temporary and treatable, and when the infection is cleared our body returns to normal. A disease suggests a long-term health implication that may or may not be treatable. I mean the word disease in itself sounds scary... doesn’t it?!
Almost all hospitals in Ireland have an STI clinic where you can book an appointment or walk-in (hospital policy depending) and get checked FOR FREE! Uh huh, STI testing is free in Ireland at public STI clinics and at some community-based testing venues (such as HIV Ireland). So, there’s really no reason not to get checked! All you need to do is look up the hospital closest to you, check their opening hours and either book an appointment or walk-in at a time that suits you. B4UDecide has a very comprehensive list of public hospitals with an STI Clinic and whether they operate by appointment or walk-in.
As mentioned above, this is one of the most common STI’s in Europe but thankfully it’s also one of the most treatable. It’s caused by a bacterial infection. However, most women and approx. half of men won’t experience any symptoms so the only way to know if you have it is to get tested.
Similar to chlamydia, gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection that can be treated with medication. You can contract gonorrhoea and show no signs or symptoms. But if untreated gonorrhoea can cause some serious and permanent health issues for both people with periods & people without.
Syphilis is a bacterial infection and is both common and treatable. The exchange of body fluid doesn’t actually need to occur to contract syphilis as it can be transmitted through vaginal, anal or oral sex. Similar to chlamydia, you can contract syphilis and not have any symptoms (are we starting to see a pattern here?).
Human Papilloma Virus is a group of viruses that infect the skin on the body. HPV is a very common STI and usually the body is able to clear the infection on its own. Most people won’t realise they have HPV as again, there are no symptoms. There’s no treatment for HPV however there are treatments for the infection or the illnesses caused by the HPV virus. Read more about this on our blog.
This is a common STI and is a virus caused by strains of HPV. It’s transmitted through anal and vaginal sex (rarely through oral sex). It can take up to one year for warts to appear and may lead an individual to unknowingly pass on the virus. As this is caused by the HPV virus there’s no treatment however, most people with a strong immune system will clear or suppress the virus over time. If the warts are visible then there are many ways to treat/remove them, so don’t panic!
This virus is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus and there are 2 strains. One of which usually causes ‘cold sores’ on the lips/mouth and the other causes blisters or ulcers on the genital area. The symptoms can also be reversed such as ‘cold sores’ on the genital area. This virus can be passed through unprotected anal, oral and vaginal sex. Currently there’s no cure for herpes but medications can be given to treat the symptoms and reduce discomfort during an outbreak.
Okay so to wrap things up (see what we did there), if you have unprotected sex, you should always get checked afterwards with an STI Clinic. A lot of STI’s don’t display symptoms so the only way to know for sure, is to get checked. And hey, did we mention it’s free in Ireland! Well, it just couldn’t be easier.
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Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from our ovary and moves through the fallopian tube. Our mature egg will only survive for 12-24 hours in the fallopian tube so during this time two things can happen. Either it will become fertilised by sperm, or it will break down over the coming days along with the uterine lining and voliá, we get our period. You may ask yourself “when am I ovulating?” and “how do I know the difference between spotting and bleeding” so let’s dive straight in.
The menstrual cycle is broken into two stages; the follicular stage which begins on day 1 of our period, and the luteal phase, which begins once we ovulate. So in an ideal world, ovulation should occur in the middle of our cycle. Typically, someone's menstrual cycle is 28 days long, meaning ovulation should occur around day 14. We say ‘should’ because with ovulation you honestly just never know! Plus, ovulation may not occur on the same day every month. If we’re stressed or have a poor diet or over exercise, this can actually delay ovulation.
Some people have a longer follicular phase, others may have a longer luteal phase, everyone is different. The best way to know for sure, is to either track your cycle using your basal body temperature (ovulation may cause a slight increase in basal body temperature. You'll be most fertile during the two to three days before your temperature rises. By tracking your basal body temperature each day, you may be able to predict when you'll ovulate.) or use ovulation sticks.
So now we know what ovulation is and how to work out when you ovulate, we need to understand what is mid cycle bleeding or ovulation bleeding.
Ovulation bleeding happens when there is a quick change in hormones. Leading up to ovulation, estrogen is on the rise however after the egg is released estrogen dip’s and it’s progesterone’s time to rise. This dramatic shift in hormones can cause bleeding during ovulation. As the bleed is much lighter than a period and usually lasts one day, some people refer to it as ovulation spotting instead of ovulation bleeding.
When blood flow is quick the colour is light pink or light red. When the blood is a few days old it’s usually dark red / brown aka the colour we see towards the end of our period.
Any light bleeding outside of your period is considered spotting. The main indication of ovulation bleeding / spotting is the colour; light pinkish discharge when you wipe and the timing of the bleed, usually if you bleed 12-16 days before your period begins, it’s likely to be considered ovulation bleeding.
Ovulation bleeding can happen every month or sporadically. If spotting during ovulation is the only symptom you have, then it’s usually nothing to worry about. However, if bleeding during ovulation is new for you, and there’s no reasonable explanation, then it’s always best to ask your GP.
Spotting during ovulation doesn’t affect your fertility and shouldn’t affect your month. Keep panty liners close to make sure you don’t ruin your good underwear and go forth and conquer. In the long run, it might be worth tracking your cycle so you can predict when you’ll ovulate and keep a record of the months you bleed mid cycle.
]]>There are 3 main areas that a UTI can affect; the bladder, the urethra and the kidneys. For some of you this might be TMI so if you are a bit queasy then skip to the next paragraph now … Ready? A UTI happens when bacteria enters our urinary tract and travels up the tube that allows us to pee (our urethra), eventually reaching the bladder or kidneys leading to an infection. Sometimes, if we wipe from back to front, then the bacteria from our butt (yep, gross) is spread to our urethra and BANG, infection! And as with everything, us gals got the short straw when it comes to our urethra as ours is shorter than men. Why is this important? Well, the bacteria we mentioned has less distance to travel in women before it reaches the bladder or kidneys (which leads to the infection). Oh no, that’s not all, women’s urethra and rectum (bum hole, lol) are relatively close together which is why UTI’s tend to be associated with women. I know, men really have no idea how lucky they are.
It's important to know that if you have a UTI more than twice in six months then it is called a recurrent UTI. As always, speak to your GP as they are the best person to help you.
How will I know if I have a UTI?:
There are some common symptoms when it comes to UTI’s:
Okay enough of the scary talk, how do I treat it?
A UTI is considered mild and treatable if it’s in the bladder and doesn’t go any further. These UTI’s will usually pass after a few days, nothing paracetamol, a hot water bottle and a bottle of flat 7Up won’t fix! No seriously, as with any infection, if we can flush it out we will, so plenty of fluids guys.
If the UTI moves into the kidneys, this is when you need an antibiotic prescribed by a GP. Your GP will decide the length of time you’ll be on the antibiotic and if you have recurrent UTI’s then your GP might give you a repeat prescription. Whatever you do, even if you feel better after a day or two, you need to finish the course of antibiotic’s you were prescribed. Not finishing your course of treatment can lead to the UTI not clearing fully and returning at a later date, and we definitely do not want that. If your symptoms are severe, you might be referred to hospital but this is more likely for men and children.
Some people may take antibiotics as a preventative measure but this has a chance of causing recurrent UTI’s as overusing antibiotics disrupts our gut health. Even when we think we’re doing right, we’re doing wrong ehh?!
Can I prevent a UTI?:
The number one bit of advice we can give you to prevent a UTI, is to pee straight after sex. Yep, we know the cuddles are great and you want to lie in the euphoria of your orgasm, but it is super important to pee as soon as you can after sex! Honestly, we cannot say this enough!
Other things to do to try to prevent a UTI are:
There isn’t much left unsaid here. Some key take away’s; wipe front to back, pee after sex, if worried always go to your GP. Until next time guys…
]]>Tampons can be a scary thing, especially when you’ve never used one before. It can be a little daunting making the switch from pads to tampons but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t if you'd like to. We’re here to help you understand how best to use tampons, both applicator and naked. So let's get into it.
You’re not alone in being unsure on how to use a tampon and there are many guides to inserting and removing a tampon, we will also guide you through what you need to do on inserting a tampon. First things first, you should always wash your hands before inserting a tampon. Gotta keep those paws clean when they’re near the goods. It’s also important to know where the entrance to your vagina actually is. I know, I know, you’re like guys, that’s obvious - but you’d be surprised how many people haven’t explored their body by themselves. If you’ve never explored your body before attempting to insert a tampon, it’s not uncommon to insert the tampon into another hole instead of the vagina (yes we mean the butthole & no, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about).
A quick tip on finding the vaginal opening is to use a hand mirror and simply spread the inner lips on the vulva. You’ll find an opening approx. 2 fingers below your urethral opening aka your pee hole. Your vaginal opening is toward the bottom of your vulva. Take a look at the illustration below:
It’s so important to remember that our vaginas and vulvas are beautifully unique to us. So if yours doesn’t look very similar to the one above, then don’t worry! Everyone is different and unique in their own way. In fact, in 2008, British Artist Jamie McCartney created “The Great Wall of Vulva” by casting over 400 women's genitalia to show “normal vulva variety and combatting genital shame”. Check out a snapshot of his work below:
Anywho, let's get into it! When you first start to use tampons, it’s not unusual to begin with applicators because they can make the job a little easier until you gain more confidence. So let’s get started:
Step 1: Wash your hands. Remove the tampon with tampon applicator from the wrapper. There’ll be an inner tube that you’ll need to pull down. The string should follow the inner tube and poke out from the bottom of it. Hold the applicator at the grooved ridge with your thumb and middle finger.
Step 2: Place the rounded tip at the entrance to your vagina, pointed at a slight angle towards your lower back. Some people find sitting on the toilet or standing with one leg on the bath or toilet to be the most comfortable position to insert a tampon.
Step 3: Push the outer tube into the vaginal opening until your finger and thumb touch the entrance of your vagina.
Step 4: Continue to hold the outer tube firmly & use your index finger to push the inner tube completely into the outer tube (sometimes you will hear a click which signals the inner tube is fully inserted). The tampon will be pushed into place meaning you are now able to remove the tube by sliding it out of the vagina. At all times your thumb and middle finger should be holding the outer tube. Once the outer tube is removed and the tampon is inserted, a small portion of the string should hang outside of the- just enough for you to be able to grab it for removal.
Step 5: Wash your hands when finished and off you go!
Quick Tip: You shouldn't be able to feel the tampon - if it's uncomfortable then it isn't inserted far enough so you'll need to push it further into your vagina. You can do this by using your fingers or removing the tampon and starting again with another applicator tampon. Simply repeat the steps above if you’d like to start over.)
Step 1: Wash your hands. Remove the naked tampon, or tampons without applicator, from its wrapper and sit or stand in a comfortable position. Similar to inserting a tampon with a tampon applicator, some women prefer to sit on the toilet or stand up and put one leg up on the toilet/bath to be the most comfortable position.
Step 2: Pull on the string at the bottom of the tampon so it hangs loose.
Step 3: Hold the tampon in one hand and with your free hand, gently open the skin around the vaginal opening. This includes spreading the inner lips of your vulva.
Step 4: Find the dent in the tampon where the string is attached. Pull the string back and forth and around in a circle, to create a space for your finger. Hold the tampon with your thumb and middle finger. Using your index finger, push the tampon as high as you can into your vagina pushing towards your lower back.
Step 5: When the tampon is in right, you shouldn’t be able to feel it. If you can, you need to push it in a little bit further. Always make sure to keep the string hanging outside your body, just enough for you to grab onto so you can easily remove. Wash your hands and you're that’s it!
It’s super important to remember that you should change your tampon every 4-6 hours depending on your flow. Some people use super tampons at the beginning of their period and change to regular as the days pass by and their flow starts to get lighter. If your tampon begins to leak or you begin to feel uncomfortable because you can now feel the tampon then it is time to change it.
When you’re removing the tampon make sure to wash your hands before you begin and then gently grab the string that was hanging outside of your body. Gently pull the string, at the slightly tilted angle you inserted the tampon, and slowly pull it out. Remember to never flush your tampons, see why from this blog post we prepared earlier ;) If you’re using Riley tampons, both the wrapper and the tampon are made from 100% organic cotton, meaning they’re biodegradable and will breakdown within 1 year, either in the compost or regular bin.
Quick tip: Sometimes that little tampon string can be a little hard to find. If this happens to you, please don’t panic! It’s probably just slid slightly inside your vaginal opening. Gently insert your index finger & have a little feel around for it! You should be able to find the string. Gently guide the string down and out of your vagina, this’ll allow you to pull the string and remove your tampon safely. If you can’t find the string, definitely don’t insert another tampon but instead call your GP or a healthcare professional for some advice :)
Staying cool, calm and collected is a sure way to have a seamless experience for inserting a tampon. If you’re stressed, you’re more likely to tense up(and not just your shoulders) making it more difficult and uncomfortable to insert a tampon. We know, relaxing is easier said than done, eh! But practice makes perfect!
If you’d like to find out more about our products which ones are right for you and why you should choose Riley, visit our Life of Riley Blog. Take a look at our organic tampons in our shop too, where we also offer a first period kit with everything you need for your first time menstruating!
First and foremost are the products themselves…
We’ve saved 1,959,706 products ending up in landfill. How? Our products are 100% organic cotton with no bleach, toxins or harmful chemicals, so you, our fantastic customers, can put *all of your sanitary products in the compost bin (*only exception here is the tampon applicator, you can recycle that, but don’t worry we’re working on this too!). And…last year we offset 58,868kg of CO2 emissions. Okay so to put it into perspective that’s 58 tonnes, imagine driving around the world 58 times in an average car.
Development Pamoja
Development Pamoja, an Irish registered charity based in Kenya, works to responsibly develop disadvantaged communities in rural Kenya. With a team of local Kenyans, the goal is to improve living standards and enable self-sufficiency through community-based cooperative initiatives. How does Riley help?
As Development Pamoja’s work focuses on providing primary healthcare, improving farm practices and community support such as education, we thought we could merge some of these together and sponsor a valuable menstruation education programme for schools. This programme is aimed at young students to help educate them on their menstrual health. Development Pamoja’s resident doctor, Mary, visits local schools each term to host this programme and answer any questions the students may have. The goal is that they’ll be better equipped to manage their period with the information, tools and products we supply. We’ve sponsored 10 schools already and educated 1,551 Kenyan students on menstrual health. And we don’t stop there - we also supply sanitary products to these schools and stock Development Pamoja’s medical clinics with sanitary products. Love a good statistic, here’s another one, so far we have donated 21,851 pads to those that need them.
Positive Period Ireland
I know you might think, holy moly, slow down ladies, but we can’t, we have so much more to do. This time we thought about moving a little closer to home as we know that period poverty isn’t just an issue in developing countries, it’s an issue here in Ireland too. Although most girls are educated on their menstrual health to a basic standard, access to sanitary products is still a major issue. Whether it’s pads, tampons, pain relief, it can all be expensive for many people, and not everyone can afford it every month. That’s why we needed a partner who aligned with our values and our mission, and oh boy did we find the perfect partner. Positive Period Ireland donates feminine hygiene products to those who otherwise would go without. The donations are brought by volunteer drivers to Homeless Outreach Centres, Direct Provision Centres and Women’s Refuges. We can’t wait to see the impact of our partnership over the next 12 months.
Once again, thank you to all of our customers, without your support, none of this would be possible!
Much Love,
Team Riley x
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Access to period products should be a right, not a privilege and that’s why here at Riley we want to make lives easier by providing products that are better for your body and better for our planet to those who need them most. Riley works with many charity partners and as the company grows and expands, so too will the list of charities we partner with. That’s why we’re delighted to partner with Positive Period Ireland in fighting period poverty closer to home.
Period poverty affects an estimated 500 million people around the world but in Ireland alone, it’s suggested that between 53,000 - 85,000 people with periods of all ages are at risk of experiencing period poverty according to the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
For those of you thinking, what is period poverty? Simply put it’s when people with periods lack the resources or access to menstrual products such as pads, tampons, menstrual cups, anything required when menstruating really, including pain relief, one of the less obvious but very necessary considerations of having a period. As mentioned, period poverty can cause a lot of unnecessary stress for people when navigating their everyday life. Some feel the need to miss work or school which can have a negative impact later on but also, many have to endure the physical discomfort particularly when buying both menstrual products and pain relief are just not an option.
Positive Period Ireland is on a mission to end period poverty in Ireland by donating feminine hygiene products to those who otherwise would go without. The donations are brought by volunteer drivers to Homeless Outreach Centres, Direct Provision Centres and Women’s Refuges. The mission of Positive Period Ireland’s mission is closely aligned with our own here at Riley, making them the perfect partner for us.
Our mission is not only to deliver period products that are better for our body and our planet, but also to completely destigmatise a normal bodily function that more than half the worlds population experience and open the conversation around female health.
In Ireland we have a long way to go when it comes to supporting menstruators through their periods. Hopefully we will follow in the footsteps of Scotland making period products free. They are the first country EVER to offer free period products under the Period Product Act 2020. It all began in 2018 when they began giving period products for free to all schools, colleges and universities across Scotland.
We hope... No, no... We know this partnership will begin to change that conversation. And we want to say a huge thank you to all of our customers who allow us to fight the good fight, because without you, we wouldn’t be able to create such valuable partnerships.
Find out more about our mission at Riley.com and on our Life of Riley Blog today.
Now, are you ready for the shock of your life? You seated? Yes? Okay! Our mainstream conventional period products, yep, the ones we’ve always used, have harmful synthetic chemicals that can disrupt our hormones. A.K.A. Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, EDC’s (no wonder they don’t put it on the box). These EDC’s are linked to reproductive issues, endometriosis, early puberty, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hormonal cancers, and fertility problems. Aren’t you glad we told you to sit down?! To learn more about EDC’s check out our blog post on the dirty dozen. Your mind will be blown!
Most of the time, we see scented sanitary products and if you have a particularly heavy flow, these products might give you some reassurance, confidence even. BUT these scented products can contain allergens, sensitisers, phthalates (a group of chemicals used to make plastics more durable), neurotoxins and synthetic musks. If your products are made with non-organic cotton, then they probably contain pesticides and have been bleached in chlorine, and this leads to dioxins. Dioxins are one of the most toxic chemicals to us mere mortals and yes, they are an EDC.
But it's not all doom and gloom, because DA DA DA DAAAAAAAA, ENTER RILEY!
Contrary to popular belief, period products that are full of bleach, toxins and chemicals are not your only option. Certified organic cotton tampons and pads (*cough RILEY cough cough*) are a much better alternative.
Not to blow our own horn here but did you know that our products are 100% certified organic cotton, they’re compostable (don’t get us started on the amount of plastic in conventional period products), they’re toxin & chemical free, AND we’ll deliver them to your door when you need them. For those who aren’t a fan of the naked tampons, our applicators are bio based and made from sugarcane, so they are 100% recyclable and our pads, oh our pads, are leak proof ( created with a patented technology). Damn we are good!
It’s important to remember that whether you chose certified organic cotton tampons and pads, a mooncup, period underwear or re-useable fabric pads, you’re helping to clean up our beaches from discarded sanitary waste and helping to end period poverty. Check out how Riley is fighting period poverty in Kenya with every sale we make.
Switching up your period products to a more sustainable option is a brilliant way to start. But did you know there are loads of other small, everyday swaps we can make that can have a huge impact on the environment? Check out this blog post from PARO to learn more about the simple earth-friendly swaps we can integrate into our lives.
At the end of the day, we wouldn’t use a product on our face that’s loaded with toxins and chemicals for 1 week every month for about half our lives, so why would we do it to our vagina - one of the most absorbent parts of the body? It’s a sensitive little thing you know!
For anyone that’s interested, we’re going to leave a subtle link here if you want to find out more about Riley products and you know maybe you’d like to sign up, no pressure, just casual 😉
]]>What to learn more about HPV? Check out our Blog
CervicalCheck is a national screening programme in Ireland that aims to prevent cervical cancer. The programme provides free cervical screening tests to people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 65.
From March 2020, CervicalCheck no longer conducts a smear test but instead, a HPV test. This is because studies have shown that the results are better if you test for HPV in cervical cells first. For example with a smear test, 1 in 200 women will receive a false negative result. When compared to a HPV Test, this rate considerably improves to 1 in 500 receiving a false negative result.
So all in all, CervicalCheck will still check for abnormal cells, but how they do it is slightly different.
If based in Ireland, you should register with CervicalCheck when you turn 25 to avail of the free service. You’ll receive a letter in the post that you can bring to your GP when getting your HPV test.
If you’re based in the UK, you'll be sent an invitation letter in the post when it's time to book your cervical screening appointment. Your sample will be sent away to a lab to be tested and depending on the result, you’ll be divided into 2 categories: low risk and high risk.
If the result is negative they’re categorised as low risk and won’t require a further test for 3-5 years.
However, if an abnormality is found, this is classified as high risk and you may be sent for further investigation to a colposcopy clinic. Approx. 80% of women referred to a colposcopy clinic won’t require further treatment but they will be required to check in either bi-annually or annually.
You can check when you’re due your next HPV Test by entering your PPS and date of birth on the CervicalCheck website.
During cervical screening a small sample of cells is taken from your cervix for testing. For most people, the test shouldn’t be painful, but it’s normal to find it a bit uncomfortable. Usually the most uncomfortable bit is when the speculum is opened. Having your cervix brushed to grab some cells can feel a bit strange, but shouldn’t hurt.
However, in some cases, people will find a smear test painful but the test itself should take less than 5 minutes. The whole appointment should only take about 10 minutes and it's usually done by a female nurse or doctor.
Not everyone with cervical cancer will display symptoms, that’s why keeping up to date with your HPV Test is SO important. However, there are some common symptoms to look out for;
Notice anything about the symptoms we’ve listed? Yep, your right, they are super common and could be caused by many other common conditions that are not related to cancer. So, if you’re concerned at all, or notice any changes that are unusual FOR YOU then contact your GP. Do not wait for your CervicalCheck appointment. Early detection for any condition is key.
What to learn more about HPV? Check out our Blog
]]>Vaginal dryness is actually really common, and can be down to a number of factors but more often than not, it’s due to a lack of estrogen. That’s why it’s commonly experienced by people going through menopause.
As we said, there can be several causes but the main culprit is falling estrogen levels. As people with periods age, they produce less estrogen. However, there are other factors that must be considered:
Insufficient Arousal - some people just need more time than others. When we’re ready to “get it on”, we release a natural lubricate A.K.A getting wet. If we have low estrogen we’ll struggle to lubricate our vaginas naturally and as a result it’ll become dry and itchy.
Birth Control Pills - Yes vaginal dryness is a common side effect of the Pill. Many young people with periods experience vaginal dryness and don’t realise it could be related to their birth control.
Hormone Changes - Particularly when experiencing perimenopause or menopause itself, again due to the drop in estrogen. We may also experience vaginal dryness while breastfeeding or after giving birth (but let’s face it, we wouldn’t blame our hormones for being a mess then, so we’ll let them off).
Douching - douching disrupts our natural Ph and can cause irritation. Your vagina is self-cleaning meaning there’s no need to douche, so avoid, avoid, avoid.
Excessive Stress/Anxiety - The root of all evil, stress can affect our bodies ability to lubricate naturally.
Autoimmune Disorders - For example, Sjogren's syndrome, this is where the body fails to produce enough moisture
Some Medications - for example antidepressants, antihistamines (make sure to read the side effects of your medication)
Lifestyle Factors - Smoking or excessive exercise
Cancer Treatments - It may be a side effect of radiation, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy
Sometimes we all need a little help, and when it comes to vaginal dryness, help is needed to prevent sores or cracking in the vagina’s tissue.
The more lube the better if you ask us. Lube is a temporary solution for vaginal dryness during sex. People with vaginas should only use lube that is intended for vaginal use.
There are 3 types of lube; water based, oil based and silicone based. Water based is recommended as oil and silicone run the risk of breaking down the latex in condoms increasing the likelihood of breakage and can also damage diaphragms that are used for birth control.
Lube shouldn’t contain perfume or scents, as these can sometimes cause irritation. The lube you buy should be free from parabens and skin irritants. When it comes to lube, or anything to do with the vagina, keep it simple!
Hormone Replacement Therapy is a solution offered to people going through menopause.
A healthcare professional may prescribe estrogen therapy in the form of a pill, cream or ring. These will release estrogen into the vagina hence increasing our bodies ability to lubricate naturally.
Also, worth noting that you shouldn’t use condoms that have nonoxynol-9, or N-9 as these are known for causing vaginal dryness
By having sex regularly, blood flow is increased which in turn stimulates moisture production. The more sex we have, the better our body gets at producing moisture. Some vaginas need more time than others, so always make sure to take your time during foreplay. The sex that follows will be much more enjoyable for everyone involved ;)
Over-washing can lead to vaginal imbalance and cause an infection. Remember the vagina is a self-cleaning organ. Stick to unscented soap when washing down below.
If you experience vaginal dryness and you’re living your best life in your nylon, spandex or polyester knickers, then you should probably think about making the swap over to cotton. Cotton is a hypoallergenic material and allows your vagina to breathe (metaphorically).
]]>We all do.
Where we were and how we felt when we first saw the blood. Perhaps we felt surprise and excitement, or perhaps it was more like fear and embarrassment. Most people with periods wish they had been better prepared and knew more ahead of their period's first arrival.
So we can support the tweens in our life to have a great menstrual experience right from the start, it’s important that we know what to expect and have ideas to make this transition smooth for them.
Our first period is called menarche (pronounced “men-arch”) and while the average age is around 12-13, it can come anytime from 8-16 years old.
We cannot predict exactly when menarche will happen but our bodies give us clues which we can look out for:
Remember though, that all menstruators are different, so these are just general guidelines.
Every menstrual cycle our brain and ovaries are in a conversation, and it's this dialogue that determines if we ovulate. As adults, this conversation is well established. So every cycle our body knows what to do - recruit follicles (which produce oestrogen) and ovulate (which means we produce progesterone). Around 2 weeks after we ovulate our period arrives. Voilà! Then the whole cycle repeats.
For the first few years after your first period, and up to the first 5-7yrs, your body is still establishing that conversation between the brain and the ovaries and the chit chat isn't always smooth and regular. This causes irregular cycles, heavy periods and PMS symptoms like mood swings and sore boobs.
While it takes some years for our period to regulate, we need to remember that excessively heavy periods, excruciating pain, periods missing for many months, is not normal. We need to consider if there’s anything in the teen’s diet or lifestyle that we can improve (FYI a bad diet and/or high stress levels really screw with teenage periods and moods!).
But if, after a few cycles of trying diet and lifestyle tweaks, there is no real improvement, you need to see a doctor. But please do not accept the doctor offering the hormonal birth control pill to “regulate'' their period, as that is just a plaster to cover up whatever underlying health issues there are.
The most important thing is to talk about periods to kids, both boys and girls, ideally way before the tween or teenage years to just normalise what a period is.
While we know, at least vaguely, about the biology that causes a period and so feel able to share that with our kids, it’s equally important that we talk about our cyclical nature. I appreciate the description of being “cyclical” may be new to many of us (I only learnt it myself in my late 30s).
As a brief summary, due to our changing hormones, it’s normal for our energy and mood to change each week of our menstrual cycle. We may be more chatty and extrovert around when you ovulate, and then more introspective, quieter nearer to when your period comes. Being cyclical also affects how hard we can exercise, how much food we need to eat and the sleep we need, each week. Frankly, it affects everything. We were never told it, but our hormones are not just about making babies and our monthly periods!
Sharing this with the young people in our lives prepares them for when they start their period. They will know it’s completely normal and expected to feel different during your cycle and be prepared when their emotions shift and their hunger soars. We often think we are crazy for feeling different each week, while in fact we are simply cyclical!
I am obviously a huge advocate for understanding your cycle in this way, but I think it is more important than ever for young people to have this information, as they go through their teenage years. We know the sad stats of the higher rates of teenage anxiety, depression and suicides and I feel if we can give young people this tool to understand themselves better we can help empower them and protect them. Frankly, I think it is the foundation for our mental health and we need to know about it so we can thrive.
Tara Ghosh is an Arvigo® Therapist and period wellness expert passionate about empowering people with periods to feel strong whatever season of their life they are in. Tara works with people all over the world through her workshops for tweens and teens, as well as those in their 30s and 40s.
]]>First things first, adenomyosis is when you see the abnormal endometrial tissue developing within the muscle of the womb. The main difference between endometriosis and adenomyosis is where the endometrial tissue grows.
With endometriosis, the endometrial tissue grows outside of the uterus (pelvis, stomach, lungs, fallopian tubes, ovaries, bowel, anywhere really), whereas with adenomyosis, the endometrial tissue grows in the muscle of the uterus.
Adenomyosis is more common in people who have had children. Typically, if you have adenomyosis you will have painful and heavy periods, a bulkier uterus (but I mean, who really measures the lining of their uterus. Not your typical Saturday night activity), irregular menstrual bleeding or maybe bleeding between periods and experience pain after sex (usually minutes and hours after).
For endo, you will experience painful periods that are not necessarily heavy and sex will be painful during sex not afterwards. Here is a bit of a breakdown to make it easier to understand:
Adenomyosis |
Endometriosis |
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There’s a lot of overlap between the two conditions as some people may have both conditions but typically, adenomyosis will be seen in people who had endometriosis in their 30s or 40s rather than their teens or twenties.
Adenomyosis can be difficult to diagnose but usually healthcare professionals will perform one or more of the following tests:
Sadly, there’s no “cure” for adenomyosis. As you cannot remove adenomyosis deposits, a hysterectomy is the only surgical option to fully “cure” the condition. Treatment options such as painkillers or the Mirena coil have been recommended to manage symptoms. Lifestyle can cause an overlap between adenomyosis and IBS symptoms as both are inflammatory conditions and triggered by poor diet. Everything we consume that encourages inflammation is like starting a fire within our body. So what do we want to do? We want to reduce the number of fires we start meaning we must alter our diet.
We all know the usual spiel about avoiding alcohol, excess caffeine, red meat, dairy, gluten (I mean honestly what’s left after that?), but for this condition, it’s important to take a personalised approach and understand what starts the fire in the first place. From there we can learn to manage or alter our diet to avoid or minimise those problematic foods. We don’t need to get rid of all joy from our life, yes I’m talking about that glass of wine on a Friday night, or coffee first thing in the morning - we need to survive, right?
Speaking with a dietician can really help as the more improvements you make to your diet and lifestyle, the more you’ll reduce your symptoms. Although some people find supplements as a saving grace, there have been no supplements that are scientifically proven to reduce symptoms. Everything is highly personal with this condition, and it’s all about finding what works for you. I mean, who knows our body better than us?
Find out more about adenomyosis, endometriosis or other health issues on our Life of Riley blog today.
]]>You consider yourself usually quite balanced and nice to be around. Except… the week before your period. It all changes. You feel a dark cloud descend, can’t control your temper and, on bad months, want to quit your job and all your relationships.
PMS is here and it’s definitely no fun.
Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) is an umbrella term for a host of emotional and physical symptoms people experience in the week before their period and include:
But why do these lovely things come to visit us every month?
Every menstrual cycle our brain and ovaries are in a conversation and it's this dialogue which determines if we ovulate. Every cycle our body recruit follicles (which produces oestrogen) and ovulate (which means we produce progesterone). Around 2 weeks after we ovulate our period arrives. Voilà! Then the whole cycle repeats.
Oestrogen and progesterone are equally brilliant and we need both in the right amount to be healthy and balanced. You can think of them like dance partners, which should ebb and flow in tune with each other.
However, when those key hormones are not in the right proportions PMS symptoms happen, like mood swings, heavy periods and sore boobs. Sometimes this is caused by anovulatory cycles (very common through teenage years and from your late 30s onwards during perimenopause). This is where you have what looks like a totally normal cycle, with your period arriving on cue. But... you haven't actually ovulated so you have zero progesterone to soothe you. That accounts for why some cycles you feel fine and balanced. And others you are thrown by unexpected mood swings.
Perhaps you do ovulate but just didn’t produce enough progesterone. This is most commonly down to stress in our body, whether physical or emotional. Basically, the ingredients our body needs to make cortisol, our stress hormone, are the same that make progesterone. Also, high cortisol levels block progesterone receptors. So it’s a double whammy. Our body produces less progesterone and then what it does produce can’t do the job it wants as cortisol has basically stolen its seat. The reason for this is our body is ALWAYS going to prioritise survival over reproduction.
Another reason for PMS is that perhaps ovulation happened and progesterone levels are ok but actually you have sky high oestrogen levels which causes that hormonal dance partnership to be out of balance. This can be caused by xenoestrogens like BPA and Phthalates in our food, beauty and cleaning products, as well as from alcohol consumption, weight gain and obesity.
One thing to mention when we talk about PMS, is her bigger, badder, big sister PMDD. It involves severe mood changes in second half of cycle with intrusive dark thoughts, fits of rage, panic attacks, brain fog, self harm… it is very, very debilitating. 1 in 20 people with periods suffer with PMDD and it’s important that people get the right support, for example through wonderful organisaitons like IAMPD and LunaHub.
The good news is PMS is not a life sentence. Just because you have a period does not mean you have to suffer with PMS every month. Most people find a HUGE improvement in their PMS by making very simple tweaks to their diet and lifestyle. What helps each person will be different and these ideas are a great place to start:
If you try these suggestions consistently for 2-3 months and see no improvement or your symptoms get worse at any time, definitely see your doctor or naturopath to get more support. (But, pretty please, don’t accept hormonal birth control as a fix for your PMS as that doesn’t get to the root cause of period and mood issues!).
Tara Ghosh is an Arvigo® Therapist and period wellness expert passionate about empowering people with periods to feel strong whatever season of their life they are in. Tara works with people all over the world through her workshops for tweens and teens, as well as those in their 30s and 40s.
]]>Endometriosis (or Endo for short) is caused when bits of tissues that are similar to the lining of our uterus, grow in places that it shouldn’t, usually outside of the womb. This tissue has been found growing in all parts of the body (lungs, heart, brain but mostly commonly in the abdominal area) and if it's not managed or treated, can be fatal.
Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition that is ignited by hormones (that goddamn menstrual cycle again). That's why people typically get flare-up’s before, during or after their period. But depending on where the endometrial tissue is growing, they can experience chronic pain all month long.
Endometriosis is very much under-diagnosed in Ireland, with an average diagnosis taking 9 years between reporting symptoms and receiving a diagnosis. Oh yes, you read that right, 9 YEARS!!
Most people with symptoms get prescribed the pill as a tool to manage and reduce their symptoms. But, and there is a big BUT here, endo symptoms are sparked by our hormones meaning the pill will only mask the problem until we stop taking it. That's why it's common for women in their late 20s / early 30s who stop taking the pill to start experiencing symptoms and begin their journey to receiving a diagnosis.
Although we can look out for symptoms the only way to receive a definite diagnosis is through laparoscopic surgery (or key-hole surgery).
Not many people know this, but there are actually 3 types of Endometriosis; deep infiltrating endometriosis, endometrioma’s (chocolate cysts) and superficial endometriosis of the peritoneal lining - all very medical and scary terms that mean nothing to us mere mortals, but worth mentioning.
We won’t delve into each type today as we don’t want to over complicate things but your consultant should guide you through the meaning of each and what you need to know specific to your condition.
Women usually present to their GP for 2 reasons, they either have pain and want to find out what is causing it, or they are trying for a baby and it isn’t happening. In the latter scenario, approx. 50% of women will go on to receive an endometriosis diagnosis. It’s important to note that chronic pain does not mean severe endometriosis. Some women have no pain or symptoms and may find they have the most severe form of Endometriosis. Keyhole surgery is key (excuse the pun) to understanding your condition as everyone is different.
Research has suggested that in some cases endometriosis is genetic, so it is nothing we have “done” to cause it (leave the self-blame at the door ladies).
When we think about what is normal and what is above normal, we need to remember that period pain should be mild in nature and should not stop you from living your life and getting on with your day. Everyone’s “normal” is different, you know your body better than anyone, and while some people have a low pain threshold others have a high one. If the pain is crippling or severe FOR YOU then no one can tell you otherwise, it's your pain so although we hate to say it, you must be your own self-advocate (did we mention it takes 9 years to get a diagnosis!).
About 18 months ago after a consultation with a nutritional therapist who specialises in women’s health/hormones. She was the first person to ever mention endometriosis, before that a potential PCOS diagnosis was thrown around but nothing concrete. After coming off the pill with the support of said therapist, I changed doctor and went to get my bloods done. This new doctor was the 2nd person to ever mention endometriosis and completely rule out PCOS.
In the end, the diagnosis was not difficult, but the process of being heard was difficult.
I had extremely painful periods from the age of about 13, I was put on the pill at 14. At 19, I was sent to a consultant for PCOS, that was inconclusive so I was put back on the pill. I made the decision to come off the pill and get to know my body and find a root cause. After my periods got worse I went to a nutritional therapist who I mentioned above, then to a doctor, then to a consultant. Once I went to the doctor, because I have private health insurance, the referral to a consultant was relatively quick. I am now 28, diagnosed at 27.
I feel unheard. I was left to do the research myself, thank god I found the nutritionist therapist when I did. Otherwise I could be in my early thirties, coming off the pill thinking I would get pregnant immediately and be facing a diagnosis. Instead of figuring out my cycle at a young age and trying to find the root cause, the pill was used as a quick fix. The pill was used to mask the problem, “out of sight out of mind” springs to mind. What I have found is that a lot of GP’s talk at you, they don’t want to collaborate and find a problem, they can be very dismissive. I also find that finding the right GP is really difficult but it is worth it because you need the GP to give you a referral to a consultant. They are the gatekeeper between you and the consultant. If your GP doesn’t believe you, plays down your pain to general period pain, then you may not get the care you need.
There is not enough importance placed on understanding or improving women’s health in Ireland. You have to be your biggest advocate, and that’s not always easy.
Yes I feel supported, but a lot of my information comes from educating myself through blogs, podcasts etc. A lot of the time you are spoken at, you are overloaded with information and it can be hard to digest
When I was a teenager, I had heavy painful periods so I would have to leave school for 1-2 days a month. I wouldn’t be able to move from the couch and would count the hours and minutes until the next time I could take nurofen plus (panadol simply wouldn’t do, I might as well be eating jellies for the relief it gave).
Since coming off the pill, my period is irregular and light (maybe 2 days at most). However, day 1 of my period is debilitating. I have hot and cold sweats, tired, severe cramps, diarrhea and sometimes vomiting. Similarly, I count the minutes to when the nurofen will either work, or when I can take them again. Once the nurofen has kicked in, the symptoms subside but the uneasy feeling/bloating is always there. Hot water bottle’s are the most underrated household item. Without it, I would not get through my period. My life stops for that one day.
You learn to live around it. I now know my symptoms so I can manage my life around them. I know what to expect. The pain cannot be understood only if you go through it yourself. I have quite a strong pain threshold but every time I get my period, I dread what comes with it.
I now have pain relief in my drawer at work, in my car and at home. If I go away for a night, I bring it just in case. I ensure that if I do get my period, I am prepared. You go about your day as normal but knowing that very few people truly understand the impact getting your period can have on your ability to get through the day. If you complain, it is usually met with a judgment that everyone has period pain, it can’t be that bad, and to basically get over it.
I would like people to know that counting the minutes to when you can take pain relief again is not normal. Being in extreme pain during your period is not normal. Taking the pill for the purpose of solving your menstrual issues is not normal.
Question your doctor, you are paying them for a service, so make sure you get the advice, time and support you need.
For mothers, I would advise that if your daughter is a teenager and she is put on the pill for issues with her menstrual cycle, do not accept this as a solution. Teenagers should learn their cycle, it may be painful to begin with (our hormones don’t actually settle down until we are between 18-22, so they are bound to bring some discomfort until then).
If you don’t find the root cause of the problem now, you will have to find the root cause at some point in the future. All it is doing is kicking the can down the road. It is so much better to have a diagnosis or a reason why now so you can be prepared whether that is starting a family early, egg freezing, surgery to remove adhesions and reduce pain etc. Knowledge is power!
More research into the condition is needed, it is an inflammatory condition so it has the potential to impact every part of the body making it not just a fertility issue but a whole body issue.
Don’t turn endometriosis into a buzz-word, educate our teenagers. Make sure girls understand the condition (some might identify with the symptoms and get checked) but also educate the boys so that they grow into compassionate individuals and foster a great workforce in the future. Fertility and periods should not be a taboo subject for any gender.
I mentioned that I found my nutritional therapist on instagram. Usually social media gets a bad rep, but it was my guiding light and still is. I follow so many doctors, consultants, therapists on Instagram that are so full of knowledge and are willing to share that knowledge for the greater good of helping women.
Finally, a support group sounds dramatic, but I think it would be really beneficial to link women with the condition together by county. As I mentioned, it can be quite lonely when no one truly understands the pain. But it would be hugely beneficial for understanding other people’s experience and to hear positive stories about how they got through it and have come out the other side. So much is unknown when you are in the early stages i.e. diagnosis, surgery, fertility, impact on menopause etc.
So, if you're experiencing severe pain around your period, missing work, unable to participate in daily life, counting the minutes until you can take your next pain killer or have a path worn to the kitchen from filling your hot water bottle, just know that this is not normal and should be raised with your GP. Do not brush these symptoms under the metaphorical “it’s just my period” carpet.
To keep in theme with Endometriosis Awareness Month our next blog with focus on differentiating between Endometriosis and Adenomyosis so watch this space!
In the meantime, check out our other blogs here and find out more about endometriosis and health around periods today.
]]>Let’s just talk about them and let go of all of the awkwardness. Farting or ‘passing wind’, is a day-to-day occurrence. We all do it, so stop acting like you don’t. We’ve all been there, done that, bought the t-shirt. But the one thing you can rely on when it comes to farting, is that we always need to let loose at the most hilarious and inappropriate times - an important meeting, a presentation, even during an interview.
Yeah, regular bum-farts are one thing, but have you ever experienced a fart from your vagina? Well, sit back my friend, and prepare to be blown away (excuse the pun, lol).
‘Queefing’ or vaginal farts are very common and completely normal, but there’s no denying that they can be embarrassing.
It happens when trapped air is released from the vagina, usually during sexual activity, exercising or stretching (like yoga). It may also occur when something is inserted into the vagina that allows air bubbles to become trapped i.e. a penis, sex toy, tampon, finger etc. However, some pregnant women experience pouts of queefing.
It may also be down to your pelvic floor structure. A study published in March 2021 in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that more than a third of women with pelvic floor disorders reported vaginal farting. Regardless of the cause, queefing should never be painful so if you’re experiencing painful queefs, why not speak to your doctor and get to the bottom of it :)
Although they sound the same (thankfully) queef’s don’t have the same gassy odour.
Some research has suggested that there is a link between pelvic organ prolapse and queefing (vaginal farts). Prolapse occurs when the pelvic organs drop down due to weakness in the supporting structures, most commonly during or after pregnancy. Queefing can be a sign of a more serious medical condition such as pelvic floor dysfunction or vaginal fistulas. If you are queefing excessively and have a weak pelvic floor, then it is always important to talk openly with your doctor about this.
What’s important here is that the pelvic floor is a muscle and what can we do with muscles? We can exercise and build their strength and resilience.
This is a circular, plastic or rubber, device that fits into the vagina and support’s the tissue that was displaced due to prolapse
Kegels can help make your pelvic floor (the muscles under the uterus, bladder, and bowel) stronger and tighter. It’s basically like pretending you have to urinate and then holding it.
Another way to reduce queefing is by having less vaginal sex, but we will NOT be suggesting this. We’re not monsters goddammit! So let’s focus on completing Kegel exercises to reduce the likelihood of queefing.
Sounds fun and exotic right? Is everybody ready to KEGEL?
First, you need to figure out what muscles to strengthen, imagine you are stopping yourself from peeing mid flow or trying to hold it in until you can make it to a toilet, this is your pelvic floor at work.
To complete a Kegel you should lie down (to begin with), tighten those muscles for 3 seconds then relax for 3 seconds and repeat 10-15 times, do this 3 times a day or as often as you can! Although it sounds like a lot you’ll get used to it, and before you know it, you’ll be doing your Kegels when standing in line getting a coffee, sitting at your desk or driving the car. Once you get in the swing of things, it will be the easiest workout you will ever do, and your pelvic floor will thank you.
Remember, when you are holding the pelvic floor muscle, your abs, bum or thighs should be relaxed (whatever is normal for you), they should not be tight or flexed.
And don’t forget to breathe when doing your Kegels!
Queefing is a normal bodily function that we shouldn’t be embarrassed about. It’s something that happens to all women but we need to be mindful of what is normal and what is excessive. If you have tried working your pelvic floor and you still believe that your bordering on excessive then always seek medical advice.
(Play Rihanna- Work)
Now go ladies, and WORK WORK WORK WORK WORK WORK those pelvic floors!
]]>Don't get us wrong, it's really hard to know where to even start when someone says "love yourself". But a couple of simple changes to your life can have a massive impact on how you feel about yourself, and gradually you could begin to really and truly love who you are and everything about you.
In my opinion, self-love, self-compassion and self-belief are some of the most revolutionary things you can begin to practice on yourself. The changes you can see just from beginning to love yourself are fascinating, but also a total no-brainer and not surprising in the slightest.
So, let's dive in! Here are 6 simple ways to truly start loving yourself:
This one’s a big no no! There’s no point comparing yourself to anyone else in this world because there’s literally only one you. Celebrate yourself and be happy to know that you have so much value in being just who you are.
In order to stop comparing yourself to others, you've got to know who you are. It's never too late to start rediscovering who you are, what you believe in, and what your values are. THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT LADS!
If you’re anything like me, you’ve made a couple of these in your lifetime (lol). You’ve got to let yourself off the hook for your mistakes and imperfections. Cut yourself some slack!
It may not be a whole of fun at the time, but making mistakes is one of the best ways to learn and grow, so embrace them!
This one's REALLY important guys.. The world is full of radiators and drains. ‘Radiators’ are people who radiate energy, positivity and who spur us on. ‘Drains’, on the other hand, drain us of our energy and motivation.
So surround yourself with amazing radiators; those who encourage, inspire and motivate you to be your best self.
(Side Note: Make sure you're a radiator for your friends too ❤️)
It’ll never be the perfect time to make a change or take that leap of faith. But more often than not, you’ll be so happy you did.
Just grab life by the balls; you only get one, so make the most of it. Carpe diem, and all that jazz!
This goes deeper than a self-care Sunday (but don't get me wrong, I'm a SUCKER for a good self-care Sunday). It takes a little more than hopping in the bath surrounded by candles, reading a good book with a luscious face-mask on... You have to speak the love you have for yourself into existence.
Positive affirmations can be such a powerful thing and maybe you don’t believe it now, but if you keep telling yourself how much love you have for yourself, you’ll start to realise how amazing you really are.
Listen to me when I say this... EVERYONE should own a vibrator. The taboo around vibrators is breaking and people are beginning to find out how glorious they really are. Did you know that vibrators were invented as a medical device used to treat hysteria? Uh-huh! And now they're perfect little pleasure bombs that have the capability to give you the best orgasm of your goddamn life.
So do yourself a favour - buy a cute vibrator. And remember, if you have a partner and they're skeptical about using one while intimate, just remind them that the vibrator is our friend, not our foe.
I don’t know about you, but I will CERTAINLY be practicing what I’ve been preaching above and start with these few simple, but really effective ways to get on the path to loving myself.
Because there's no doubt in my mind that you can't begin a relationship, hoping to be loved, if you don't actually love yourself first.
Woah, that just got really deep! Anyways, queue "Love Yourself" by Justin Bieber x
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Some of you may have heard of it due to the HPV vaccine and the roll out in secondary schools (we’re really showing our age now). This may surprise you, but HPV is actually an STI (yep you read that right, a sexually transmitted infection). In fact, it's the most common STI and here's everything you should know about it.
HPV is a huge family of viruses with over 100 strains. Commonly these strains are broken into 2 categories, low-risk strains and high-risk strains.
Low risk strains:
High Risk strains:
80% of people will contract the HPV virus at some point in their life. Luckily, our immune system is made of strong stuff and often does the job of clearing viral infections for us. However, sometimes our immune system can’t clear the infection for us and it can lie dormant for months or even years. When we’re infected with a high-risk strain of HPV and it goes untreated, that's when it's more likely to develop into cancer.
Well, as we mentioned, it's an STI so it's spread through skin to skin contact during any kind of sexual activity (penetrative or not). This includes vaginal, anal and oral sex or any form of genital contact.
While they're amazing at what they do, unfortunately, condoms alone won’t cut it as they don't cover the entire genital area. The most effective way to protect against HPV is getting the HPV vaccine. This vaccine protects you against the types of HPV that cause 9 out of 10 cervical cancers. These vaccines are cutting cervical cancer rates in Ireland by almost 90% (AMAZING 🤯).
Another way to prevent getting HPV is reducing your number of sexual partners. Yeah.. It may sound obvious but as HPV is an STI, the less sexual partners we have, the less likely we are to contract the virus.
The lovely island of Ireland actually has a HPV vaccine programme that can be accessed by anyone registered with the HSE. This is where girls and boys attending 1st year of secondary school are given the vaccine for free - and god knows we love a freebie ;)
The vaccine is most effective when administered before any hanky-panky (i.e. sexual contact) has occurred which is why it’s typically given to those aged 12-13 years. This doesn’t mean that you can’t get the vaccine if you've already had sex, it just means it won’t be as effective.
Now we know not everyone was eligible to receive the vaccine in secondary school but the good news is, you can still receive the vaccine if you missed the opportunity to be included in the vaccine programme. The only downside is that it's pretty expensive - typically ranging from between €600-800. Our advice is to have a chat with your GP and discuss whether it makes sense for you to receive the vaccine.
Ireland isn't the only country to provide access to the HPV vaccine. Over 80 million people worldwide have received this jab.
More than a decade ago, the NHS in England began providing the vaccine to girls aged 12-13 and recently a study published in medical journal the Lancet found that the HPV vaccine cut cervical cancer rates by 87 percent in women who received the vaccine when aged 12-13. Then in 2019, the NHS also began offering HPV vaccines to children of all genders ages 11 to 13 as well as adults who wanted it.
As well as all this, towards the end of 2020, the World Health Organisation announced their "vision of a world where cervical cancer is eliminated as a public health problem". The program set a goal for countries around the world to vaccinate 90 percent of girls by 2030 and to have 70 percent of women screened for cervical cancer by age 35.
While HPV still holds the spot as the most common STI and cervical cancer remains a threat, there has been so much positive work done to eliminate this cancer from our lives. As with anything in the medical field, there's a lot more to be done about it, but we feel good about where this movement is going - that's for sure!
As always, if you have questions about HPV or the HPV vaccine, please reach out to your healthcare professional.
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Alisa Vitti first mentioned the process of Cycle Syncing in her book WomanCode, and since then, people who have come across the process have come to love it and swear by how much easier it is to manage and optimize their energy levels, focus and intuition.
Cycle Syncing refers to leaning into the fluctuations that come along with the menstrual cycle phases.
It involves making lifestyle choices according to your menstrual cycle phases. This means we're using our menstrual cycle as a framework to live in harmony with our hormones. Rather than doing the exact same thing everyday while our hormones are causing shifts in our mood, digestion, and energy.
Whether it's in relation to food, work events, dating, exercise - literally anything that can be disrupted by our hormones, so we should be taking a closer look at our cycles.
Well, you’re already about ¼ of the way there just by knowing when your period is going to grace you with their presence. The best place to start is by tracking your cycle. Figure out the nuances of your cycle so you can determine the best strategies that will work for your body.
Tell me this, would you leave the house without checking the weather? Then, why live blindly without figuring out the flow of your hormones?
Those who menstruate go through four main phases of a cycle with distinct hormonal fluctuations. These fluctuations have been researched and it’s been discovered that going through the different cycle phases can have different effects on mood, energy levels, metabolism, sleep quality and even vulnerability to injuries.
During this phase, blood and tissue from inside the uterus is shed through the vagina. It's also when you get your period.
The brain lets the ovaries know they need to prepare an egg that will be released. During this phase, our memory and overall awareness is strong.
An egg is released from the ovary into the fallopian tube. Usually happens about midway through the cycle, but can change from cycle-to-cycle. During this phase, our hormones stimulate the centres that make us more social and verbal.
The sac that contained the egg starts releasing progesterone, along with small amounts of oestrogen. In this phase, our metabolism speeds up and our appetite increases.
Often, we tend to eat the same foods on a regular basis to save time, effort and frustration. But the different levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone we fluctuate between each month require different nutritional and detoxification needs.
Here’s what you should eat, drink and avoid depending on where you’re at in your cycle:
Nom.
There's not a whole lot of research on cycle syncing but what we do know is pretty profound. Many people who suffer from endometriosis, unknown to themselves, began cycle syncing. They were preparing themselves for the pain they were due to endure during their period and from that, they began noticing regular occurrences during their cycle.
Claire Baker, period coach and author encourages us to start with simple awareness:
"Charting your cycle every day is important, because it’s not easy to look back. Notice where the strengths and challenges are, and a pattern will emerge after about three months.”
The bottom line is… Your period is kind of a superpower, you just have to figure out how to work it. Find out more today about cycle syncing, menstrual cycle phases and ovulation with our Life of Riley Blog.
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Like some low rate spy, you smuggle the tampon up your sleeve, excuse yourself to use the bathroom and then go through a period (pardon the pun) of mild panic with the dread of how to dispose of the used tampon.
For some reason putting it in the bin fills you with hot shame. Why? No real reason but it just does. The embarrassment of it all is too much to bear but let us tell you a secret. Your friend very likely knows you menstruate and doesn’t judge you; your friend very likely knows you use sanitary products and again doesn’t judge you and your friend is unlikely to root through their bin! Well, we hope so.
However, all this rational thought escapes you and instead of the bin, the toilet seems like an attractive option. It looks like a bin with no consequence due to its magic flush handle, there to flush all your cares away. Or so you think…..
While the toilet seems like an easy option at the time and lets you escape from own self-made shame spiral the story doesn’t end there for the tampon. It is about to start on its own adventure, with disastrous consequence. With a flush your problems might seem over, but really, they are just beginning.
The tampon may have a tail but that doesn’t make it a fish (please don’t flush fish either, but that’s for another day). The tampon will make its way from the toilet to the intricate wastewater treatment network, possibly swimming into a lake, river or the ocean where it can be a hazard for water quality and marine life. It can ultimately wash up on to a beach where it is not only unsightly but can also be a danger to birds or animals who mistake it for food or can have a damaging effect on the marine ecosystem such as seaweed. Wow, all that because you were too embarrassed to use the bin.
The purpose of this story isn’t to make you feel bad. As we said we have all been there. The purpose of this story is to highlight how our actions can have consequences, even the actions we take in the bathroom. Knowing the negative effects of your actions gives us great power, the power to change our behaviour which does make a difference.
The solution to disposing of sanitary waste is to simply use a bin, it couldn’t get easier than that. Going a step further, you can compost your Riley tampons and pads even after use.
Now the solution to your embarrassment is to realise people menstruate, take a deep breath and throw the sanitary product in the bin. Always Think Before You Flush.
If you’d like to learn more about how to consciously dispose of tampons or pads or learn more about Riley products, then visit our Life of Riley Blog.
This story was brought to you by the Think Before You Flush campaign. It is a public awareness campaign to educate people that only the 3P’s (pee, poo and paper) belong in the toilet, everything else belongs in the bin. The Think Before You Flush campaign is run by Clean Coasts in partnership with Irish Water. For more information go to www.thinkbeforeyouflush.org or look at #thinkb4uflush on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
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However, the narrative that surrounds periods and the menstrual cycle has led women to believe that their cycle is something to be embarrassed about, something that she should discretely manage herself. And unfortunately, this same narrative has perpetuated a huge lack of education which should take place at school, that leaves women less than empowered when it comes to understanding what is right for her reproductive health.
Thankfully, this narrative is slowly being changed and the taboo dismantled. Understanding what actually goes on during your menstrual cycle on a monthly basis is the first step in taking charge of your body and fertility.
The typical female menstrual cycle is on average 28 days and this is likely what you have seen referred to in textbooks if you did cover the female reproductive system in school. However, we now know that a healthy female cycle can be anywhere from 21 - 35 days, the main thing is that it is ‘normal’ for you, i.e. it is usually always around the same length each month. For the purpose of explaining the different phases I will use the textbook 28 days as an example. In this instance, most women will ovulate (release an egg on day 14). This egg will survive for 12-24 hours and waits to be fertilised - this is the only time you can actually get pregnant. However, sperm will survive for up to 5 days inside the female body. So your fertile window is actually about 5-6 days long.
Hormones + Your Cycle
For females, oestrogen and progesterone are the two predominant hormones that fluctuate over the course of the menstrual cycle and ultimately determine why you feel completely different on day 4 of your cycle compared to day 14! Understanding the physiology of what happens over the course of your 28 day cycle is a powerful tool that you can use to your advantage, for example when planning what type of training you are doing at different stages of your cycle. Your menstrual cycle is a powerful indicator of health and your body’s way of letting you know if there’s something just not right! The menstrual cycle is such an important indication of female health that it is now considered to be the ‘fifth vital sign of health’ for women by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
The best way to get on the road to understanding your cycle is to track it, every woman's cycle is completely unique and hence you may feel totally different to how your sister or your best friend does during her cycle. There are lots of brilliant apps available to help you track your cycle, most of them also allow you to record any symptoms you may be feeling throughout your cycle such as cramps, tiredness or poor sleep. Clue, Flo, Eve and Fitrwomen are some of the best ones, pick whichever one suits you best. When it comes to your menstrual cycle, knowledge is power and the more in tune you become with it, the more you will be able to leverage it and put strategies in place to help combat any unwanted premenstrual symptoms (PMS) you may be experiencing.
Exercise, Nutrition + Your Cycle
We all know that there are times throughout our menstrual cycle that we just feel a bit ‘bleughh’ and others where we are feeling like superwoman! There’s good science to explain why everything from your mood, to cravings, to your performance in the gym varies over the course of the month - and it’s all down to our female hormones; oestrogen & progesterone.
It’s worth noting that if you are on any form of hormonal contraception such as the pill, bar or the patch, your natural hormones are temporarily switched off from cycling and you will not experience the hormonal fluctuations outlined below.
Let's have a good look at what’s going on over the course of the month;
Phase 1: Menstruation/ Bleed (Day 1-5)
Your cycle begins on day 1 of your period and lasts approximately 5 days (if you have spotting in the lead up to your bleed these days do not count as menstruation, this is the end of your previous cycle or simply some discharge (which is very normal) ahead of your actual period starting). Oestrogen and progesterone are at their lowest and for this reason you may notice a drop in your overall mood. The drop in hormones is what stimulates the shedding of the uterine lining (your period).
Some women feel menstrual cycle symptoms such as cramps and bloating. Feeling fatigued in this phase is very normal so it’s important to listen to your body and only do what feels comfortable from a training perspective. Research has shown that white cell count is lower in this phase of your cycle - to compensate for this, aim to fuel your body with nutrient dense foods, reduce refined sugar and prioritise sleep to reduce risk of illness or injury.
From a nutrition perspective, women have a heightened sensitivity to insulin in the first half of their cycle (day 1 - 14) meaning that they have an increased ability to to utilise carbohydrates as fuel. Have you ever noticed that you crave carbohydrate rich foods during your period? Or chocolate specifically? Well, it’s not in your head, this is your body’s way of asking you to fuel it with carbohydrates! Recent research has also been able to link chocolate cravings to your body’s desire for magnesium-rich foods! Dark chocolate is an excellent source of magnesium - so don’t fight it, allow yourself a few squares! Try and opt for good quality dark chocolate that has a cacao content of at least 70%. During menstruation your body actually needs approximately 150 additional calories than usual - this is the reason for most women’s increased appetite around this time. It is also beneficial to include some iron rich foods such as red meat at this time in your cycle to replenish any lost during menstruation.
Phase 2: Follicular (Day 6 - 13)
This is still the low hormone phase however, oestrogen continues to rise over the course of this phase until it reaches its peak at ovulation (day 14). Increasing oestrogen levels are associated with a release of feel-good hormones so you should notice your mood being more energetic and positive in this phase! Oestrogen is an anabolic hormone meaning high oestrogen levels are conducive to building lean muscle. Research demonstrates the benefit of including the majority of strength and high-impact cardiovascular training in this phase as we are much more capable of hitting high intensities during this time in the cycle. In a recent study participants who performed most of their strength training in the follicular phase and significantly fewer strength sessions in the luteal phase had higher lean body-mass compared to the female participants who performed the majority of strength training in the luteal phase. Women also have a heightened ability to recover from intense sessions in the follicular phase. So, if strength training and HIIT is the type of exercise you enjoy, now is your time to take full advantage of that!
Similar to during menstruation, carbohydrates are the preferred fuel source in the follicular phase. Opt for good quality complex carbohydrates such as potatoes, brown rice and wholegrains. Females have a shorter recovery window than males; try to get ~25g of highly bioavailable protein on board as soon as possible after training; greek yoghurt and whey protein are great options to have on hand post-workout.
Phase 3: Ovulation (day 14 - 18)
Ovulation itself typically happens around day 14 but the characteristics of the phase are true for approximately 3 days. Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovaries.
Ovulation is the most important part of the female cycle, regardless of whether you are trying to conceive or not. This is something that often surprises women as most believe our cycle is all about our period but that’s actually not the case! Ovulation is the way our body produces progesterone. Progesterone balances oestrogen and has a calming, anti-anxiety effect on the body, alongside an array of other health benefits from bone, skin and heart health.
Oestrogen levels start to decline after ovulation occurs but then both oestrogen and progesterone start to rise and remain high for the duration of the cycle. Basal body temperature rises after ovulation, this is one of the key indicators that ovulation has occurred. Ovulation can be tracked in a number of different ways, one of which is by tracking your basal body temperature first thing in the morning as ovulation increases your core body temperature by approximately half a degree (celcius), this increase in body temperature remains for the duration of your cycle while progesterone is heightened (the luteal phase).Testosterone is also at its highest during ovulation resulting in a higher sex drive.
Most women feel energetic and confident around the time of ovulation but sometimes the change in hormone levels can impact mood and some women start to feel more lethargic. All types of training are good in this phase. If energy levels drop, lower-impact exercise such as pilates, flexibility work and light jogging are very beneficial. Exercise has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body which has a positive impact on PMS that can start to present in the run up to menstruation.
From a nutrition perspective, fat takes over at this point in the cycle as the preferred fuel source and blood sugar levels are more likely to be unstable. It is important to include good quality protein sources at every meal to help keep blood sugars balanced. New research shows that the current protein guideline of 0.8g per kg of body weight is too low for females, with requirements actually being closer to 2-2.2g per kg of body weight. Adequate protein intake is of key importance for women at every life stage from adolescence to menopause.
Phase 4: Luteal Phase (day 19-28)
Oestrogen & progesterone remain high for the duration of the luteal phase and then begin to decline in the lead up to menstruation. The decrease in hormone levels can impact your ability to get quality sleep, your basal body temperature is also raised which can negatively affect sleep.
When it comes to training in the luteal phase it is important to listen to how your body is feeling as some women can feel ‘flatter’ and more fatigued at this point in the cycle - instead of forcing yourself to make that gym class try opting for lower-impact forms of exercise such as walking, pilates and yoga. The decreased hormone levels trigger an inflammatory response in the body, for this reason it is good to avoid intense cardio and resistance training as this places additional stress on the body. Lower-impact exercise as mentioned above are effective ways of keeping cortisol levels in the body low (high cortisol levels trigger fat storage - not what we want!). Progesterone is also a catabolic hormone that interferes with our ability to build muscle and recover in this phase so this should also be considered when choosing your workouts in the luteal phase.
Focus on regularly fueling your body with balanced meals that include; complex carbohydrates, healthy fats such as eggs, avocados and nuts and protein to help keep blood sugars balanced and cravings at bay. Eating foods rich in vitamin D, magnesium, zinc and fish oils have been shown to help PMS - nuts, seeds, salmon, dark green leafy veg and dairy.
So, What are the Take Home Messages?
It’s incredibly empowering to understand what’s happening in your body over the course of your cycle and know why you feel completely different from one end of the month to the other. You will reap the benefits of learning how to work with your hormones to support your female biology. The impact of which will be visible in so many aspects of your life, from; your training and performance, to your energy levels on a daily basis, to the way you are able to manage stress.
Your monthly cycle is an incredible indicator of health and your body’s way of letting you know if there’s something out of sync. It’s so important that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists states that menstruation is the ‘fifth vital sign of health’, next to the four other key indicators; pulse, body temperature, breathing rate and blood pressure.
Take the time to learn about your own personal cycle, begin to track it and take note of how you are feeling and tailor your training accordingly. Some of my favourite tracking apps are Eve, Flo, CLue and FitrWoman - Natural Cycles is a fantastic option for anyone who is looking for a non-hormonal contraceptive option (the code ‘OneHealth’ will get you 20% off). Try and change your perspective, instead of looking at your cycle as something you have to ‘deal with’ every month, learn to leverage your female hormones and make them work for you!
If you are interested in learning more about this topic, below is a list of resources from women such as Dr. Hazel Wallace, Lara Briden, Alisa Vitti and Dr. Stacy Sims who are doing incredible work in the female health space;
About the author:
Jennie, founder of One Health, is a registered nutritionist who specialises in all things female health. Jennie works closely with clients who are experiencing a variety of hormonal and fertility challenges and empowers women to understand their menstrual cycle and how they can work with it and not against it!
Jennie is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things hormonal health, fertility and nutrition.
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It’s time to go back to basics and learn the fundamentals about our menstrual cycle and why we need a period. It’s not just for the obvious reasons but also for understanding our general health. Our period is our bodies way to show us that everything is healthy but also, flag to us when something is not quite right.
So, let’s keep this as simple as possible, period 101, without any quotes or medical jargon, because who really understands those big words anyway.
A menstrual cycle is the changes a woman’s body goes through in order to prepare for a pregnancy. A healthy menstrual cycle usually lasts 28 days however it can be anywhere between 21 and 35 days for an adult woman (21 and 45 days for a teen). There are 3 stages we need to be aware of in the menstrual cycle:
To keep it simple, in order to have a period, we need to ovulate and in order to ovulate we need 2 key hormones, Estrogen and Progesterone.
Estrogen comes in many different forms but the one we want to know about for periods is Estradiol. Estradiol is your happy hormone and is prominent in the first 2 (ish) weeks of your cycle (Follicular phase). Estradiol elevates your mood, promotes healthy bones, muscles, brain, heart, skin and metabolism (that’s why you feel like you can take over the world in the first 2 weeks). However, the main job of estradiol is to grow and thicken the uterine lining so that we can grow a baby (important stuff!). Like most things, there is a catch 22? The more uterine lining, the heavier the period.
So now we know about the follicular phase and the importance for female health, what is the next phase and how do we know when the follicular phase is over? It is over when we ovulate!
Ovulation is the release of an egg. You either ovulate or you don’t (there is no in-between). The average day of ovulation is day 14 but not to worry if it doesn’t happen then, every cycle is different. If it happens later, don’t panic, it just means you have a longer cycle.
Side Note: Want to know how to work out your predicted ovulation date? Count back approx. 2 weeks from the 1st day of your next period.
Once your egg is released it will be whisked away to your fallopian tubes (very romantic) where if a sperm is present, the egg will be fertilised, if not then the uterine lining will shed approximately 2 weeks later. Yep, you guessed it, this is what we know as our period. So why is ovulation so important? Simply put, you need to ovulate to produce progesterone and you need progesterone to have a period.
Remember earlier when we said that the main function for estradiol was to grow and thicken the uterine lining? Well progesterone’s job is to lighten it. Progesterone counterbalances estrogen and is known as a natural pain killer. It also reduces inflammation, builds muscle, promotes sleep and calms your nervous system. When it comes to healthy periods (or pregnancy), we need progesterone.
FYI: You can only get pregnant 6 days of the entire month (whaaaaattttt?). You see, sperm can live for 5 days in the vagina, and ovulation is approx. 1 day. So, if you have unprotected sex 5 days before ovulation, you may become pregnant. However, if you have unprotected sex any other day of your cycle, it is impossible to become pregnant. Better start tracking those dates ladies!
After we ovulate, we enter into the luteal phase which will last between 10-16 days and brings you up to the first day of your period where we start the cycle all over again (phew! What a month).
If you have any questions or would like to know more please don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing hello@weareriley.com or leaving a comment below.
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Did you know that the amount of plastic in 1 pad is the equivalent to 5 plastic bags (yikes!). Clearly, our periods, are affecting our environment. However, did you also know that our environment can impact our periods? Yep - read more here.
]]>Clearly, our periods, are affecting our environment. However, did you also know that our environment can impact our periods. Yes, you heard right, our environment can affect our periods.
Most people know that there are toxins in our environment, it’s inevitable. However, most of us are led to believe that these toxins are in such small amounts that they won’t impact our general health, right? Wrong! Many (not all) toxins in our environment are hormone disruptors and affect our hormonal control system. This means that these toxins, even in low doses, can lead to our body creating too much of one hormone and not enough of the other causing an imbalance (quite the conundrum indeed).
In 2013, the Environmental Working Group created a list of the 12 worst hormone disruptors. It is called the Dirty Dozen (we love the name too). Here is an overview of what they are and what it means for us women. Don’t let the names scare you off.
CODE RED! CODE RED! This toxin mimics estrogen and leads to an imbalance as well as blocking our ability to metabolise it. BPA is usually found in (some) plastics marked “PC” or on receipts. Yes receipts. The paper used to print your receipt is coated in BPA so make sure you are washing those hands after handling receipts or refuse them. Saying no to receipts is saying no to synthetic estrogen.
These bad boys affect hormone signaling in both males and females. They have been linked to the causation of endometriosis and have a devasting effect on sperm. The bad news? It is quite hard to avoid dioxins as they are present in animal foods like meat, fish, milk, eggs and butter (all the good stuff!).
This herbicide was used in Ireland to control maize weed however (thankfully) it is now banned in the EU. It is however the 2nd most used herbicide in the US so keep an eye on the origin of your fruit and veg.
Although billons of cells in our body die everyday (which is natural), phthalates signal our body to kill cells prematurely, therefore affecting our hormones. Phthalates is used in the manufacturing of plastic, food containers, household products etc.
According to Food Safety Ireland, Perchlorate occurs naturally in the environment but it also arises from the use of some fertilisers and from the manufacture, use and disposal of a toxin used in rocket propellants, fireworks, explosives, flares and air bags. If you ingest too much of this toxin it can affect your thyroid hormone balance.
These chemicals can disrupt our thyroid function and are pretty tough to avoid as they are present in mattresses, couches, furniture, carpets etc. The best thing to do is to make sure that your materials have passed the fire regulation laws and toxic chemicals law before purchase.
Lead is a heavy metal (and not the AC/DC kind) that can damage almost every organ in the body. When examining the damage to hormones it can lead to decreased sex drive and disrupt the hormone signaling that regulates the body’s major stress system (HPA axis).
This can be found naturally in some soils leading it to become present in drinking water. It can lead to acne and insulin resistance.
RED ALERT! RED ALERT! Mercury is the ultimate hormones disrupter. When coal is burned, mercury gets into the air and ocean leading to mercury contaminated seafood. It directly affects women’s hormones and hormone control systems interfering with normal hormone signaling.
This chemical is used in the production of non-stick cookware and waterproof clothes (*throws non-stick frying pan out the window immediately). They can alter female hormones and appears to never break down or leave the body which is very worrying. Scientists are still figuring out the long-lasting effects however it was found to affect the thyroid and sex hormone levels when studied in animals.
A common pesticide used today. It can affect thyroid and ovarian hormones. Tip: Buy organic fruit and vegetables where possible and always wash them before use.
Can be found in paints, cosmetics, cleaning products and brake fluid. It is linked to issues with fertility and in order to avoid exposure, avoid these two ingredients: 2-butoxyethanol (EGBE) and methoxydiglycol (DEGME).
Scientific bit over.
Now onto the good stuff, the solution. How can we reduce our Toxic Load? There are many ways we could look at this, from the food we eat, to the products we buy, to what we put on our skin. It’s really important to remember that even a small change can be a big win in the long run (eyes on the prize). We have listed 5 small changes you can make to reduce your toxic load and the number of synthetic hormones entering your body causing chaos.
For example, fake tan, deodorant, or moisturiser are all products whose very essence is to soak into the skin.
(Riley recommendations (tried and tested))- TanOrganic for...yes, you guessed it… tan and Wild or Indeora for natural deodorant)
Remember products that are washed off quickly such as cleanser, body wash and shampoo have less of an effect on our toxic load as they do not infiltrate our pours.
Similar to point 1, but if you can’t go organic/natural (and we all know how tight finances get at the end of the month), opt for products that are phthalates and paraben free (companies will usually highlight this on the packaging, it’s a badge of honor these days).
Yes, there are chemicals in the products we use for our period. More and more we see influencers or ads talking about the menstrual cup as the only alternative to reducing toxins that we are exposed to with sanitary products. They also suggest the menstrual cup is the only option to help the environment but not anymore… *Enter Riley*…. Okay okay, we won’t go into full blown sales pitch mode but what we will say is that Riley is made with 100% certified organic cotton (none of that synthetic stuff) AND are fully compostable (except the tampon applicator, that can be recycled). So now you can help the environment and your hormones, it’s a win win.
See #10 of the Dirty Dozen.
We are all guilty of refilling that water bottle when we are on the go. However, it is really important to use either steel or glass water bottles if we intend to refill them. When plastic bottles are heated (sun exposure beside a window, sitting in a hot car or office) they release toxins into the water and when we ingest them it can lead to elevated levels of estrogen (not the good kind that makes you happy and increases sex drive but the bad kind that gives you painful cramps and sore boobs).
This means there will be less harsh chemicals being ingested by you or anyone else, who washes the floor, scrubs the toilet or disinfects the house. All of which can influence your hormone balance.
Now, we are off to throw away our plastic bottles and nonstick cookware and go get us some sustainable organic tampons. Anyone know of a good brand?
As a business, we are motivated by the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's). Our commitment to providing eco-friendly period products addresses SDG #9, #12 and #13. At Riley, we feel incredibly strongly about this. We believe that periods shouldn’t cost the earth. Thanks for being part of the change.
If you have any questions or would like to know more please don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing hello@weareriley.com or leaving a comment below.
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More and more women who want kids are choosing to delay parenthood as they opt to travel, focus on their careers, or wait to find the right partner. But the issue is that, as we grow older, the eggs in our ovaries become increasingly likely to have genetic problems. That’s why ‘social egg freezing’ is becoming more common; freezing for future use when they are ready to conceive as opposed to doing so for medical reasons. Millions of women are deciding to take control and freeze their eggs.
So want to know what’s involved in freezing your eggs? I’ve just been through the process so read on to learn about my experience.
First Steps
To begin you’ll need to find the right fertility clinic for you. It’s useful for this to be near to where you live as you will be visiting it a lot throughout the process, especially coming up to the procedure as there may be daily scans.
After you make an enquiry, typically there will be a number of appointments over a few months. These include:
Once that’s complete and everything is in order, you will have another consultation likely with a nurse. Here you will get more information about the medication you need to take, the actual procedure of collecting the eggs, and discuss timelines as the procedure will be based around your cycle.
Medication
The nurse or doctor will explain the medication you have to take in detail which you’ll receive a prescription for. The meds are to stimulate your ovaries to produce a number of eggs. In Ireland these are covered under the Drugs Payment Scheme so you might need to register for that. Of course, with most medication, there can be side effects and these should also be explained to you in detail.
As the process is based around your menstrual cycle, you will decide with the clinic which month you will like to go with. Then you’ll inform the clinic on Day 1 of your period and that’s when you start the medication. It is recommended to have this on hand prior to your period in case there are any delays with your pharmacy getting the medication in.
I had to take oral tablet medication for 10 days, before going in for a baseline scan. I didn’t experience any stark side effects from these oral tablets. I definitely felt more emotional than usual however that could have been down to a number of different factors.
After this the clinic advises when you need to begin your daily injections. Usually these injections are required to be taken for 7-14 days with scans in between to check how you're reacting to them and if the ovaries are being stimulated as expected. There are both morning and evening injections that are started on different days and need to be taken at very specific times. Needless to say, it’s best to ensure your social calendar is pretty free during this time! I had to take injections for 11 days and had to attend 5 scans during this period. My bloods were taken at every scan also.
Then if everything is looking ok, the nurse or doctor will let you know when you are due in for your procedure. This was very touch and go for me for a couple of days; there was a worry that I was being over-stimulated and it wouldn’t be safe to proceed with the actual egg collection. This was definitely a huge worry for me, having got so far in the process. Luckily, the doctors advised very carefully on how much or little of the injections to take each day and I was told 2 days beforehand that they were confident I could proceed. I think it's worth mentioning that this could happen though; you could go through everything else I mentioned above, as well as being incredibly mentally prepared and paying a lot of money, to then be told that it would not be possible to proceed. It’s definitely a risk and something to be aware of.
Day procedure
For me, the day procedure was unexpectedly easy. Once I was checked in and shown to my bed, I got changed into a patient gown, emptied my bladder, and the nurse and anaesthetist came by to ask me a few questions and tell me a bit more about what to expect. Then I was brought into the surgery room and given a general anaesthetic to be put to sleep.
When I woke up I was back in the original bed. I definitely felt incredibly drowsy for a few minutes and experienced a bit of pain. The nurse gave me some painkillers and when I came around fully I had a cup of tea. After checking my blood pressure and telling me how many eggs were collected, I was free to go. Not all of the eggs collected would be mature enough to be frozen, but the clinic advised I would find out the next day.
Of course, after a general anaesthetic you will need to be collected. They also recommend taking the rest of the day and the following day off work. I was in and out of the clinic within 3-4 hours and before I knew it, I was back in my own bed resting up. I did experience mild pain the following day and also some bleeding for about a week, which is perfectly normal.
Next Steps
Now that my eggs are frozen, I just leave them there and pay an annual fee to keep them on ice. If I ever need to use them (in my case, if I cannot get pregnant naturally), the eggs will need to be fertilised with sperm and then it will be another process that is a well-established version of IVF.
Cost Breakdown
So what do you think? Thinking of putting that tick-tock in your head on hold for a while longer? Have you been through this process already or would you ever consider freezing your eggs? We would love to know why or why not. Let’s open the conversation. Leave a comment below.