Since my first period, I have always had this low-key anxiety about carrying a tampon or pad in public – like I have to hide it.
Because I mostly use tampons, I would wait for people to leave or be at their desks, then sneakily take one out of my bag, squeeze it in my hand, and stand up while crossing my arms for extra security. Sometimes I would put one in my jean pocket and then close my blazer so the shape wouldn’t show through…
I also never felt comfortable telling anyone in a professional setting that I was on my period. It always felt like my business and something to be discreet about – that’s how I have felt best.
That anxious feeling only went away when I had a discreet way to carry them or when my workplace provided tampons and pads in the bathrooms.
Curious – how do you deal with it? Do you feel awkward about it, or not at all? Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who still overthinks this.
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Sometimes it feels awkward, sometimes it doesn’t. Honestly, it’s your decision who you share your bodily functions with but I will just grab a tampon from my purse and walk to the bathroom. I’m a grown woman, it’s no secret that my coochie is bleeding and anyone that’s weirded out by that is childish. Do your thang!
When I still had my cycle it’s not like I’d announce I was going to the restroom to change my feminine hygiene product or wave around the new one I was carrying, but if someone would see it it’s not something I cared about,
I’m not sure what the expected reaction would be (granted I consider myself a rational human being but) imagining people going “buhh??? Whaa??? m-m-m-menstrual pads???” makes me laugh more than it makes me feel shame. Granted I’m not waving around a crinkly super pad with mega wings, I keep both pads and tampons in an old ipsy beauty zip bag.
Try to think about the last time you actually noticed someone carrying a pad.
I’m too brazen on purpose to make people like you feel comfortable. I loudly dig through my purse and crinkle the wrapper. If someone asks where I’m going, I respond with “I need to change my tampon” I’m always asking women for tampons if I need, or offering my own if I see someone hopelessly digging in their purse. It’s a very natural and normal bodily function, imagine how readily available menstrual products would be if men bled. I bleed for 8 days every month and go through an entire box of 42 count super tampons. There’s no way I’m not talking about this huge part of my life publicly.
When I worked in an office, I had it in a dedicated bag and took it to the bathroom, but I wouldn’t feel shame or anything if someone knew or saw. The culture there was very liberal though.
I feel nothing, I need it… who’s going to press me
Stop caring, be free.
I don’t announce it but also don’t hide it. I used to work with a woman who would bring her jumbo box of tampons in like she was carrying a sandwich. We also worked in a male-centric industry. No one cared.
Reclaim your dignity! It’s not right to feel shame about a normal function
When I was younger I felt self conscious, but as an adult I don’t care anymore. Also I use the cup so it’s already in my person so I can just go to the bathroom, empty it, clean it, put it back in and no one would know. But even if I needed a tampon or a pad I would just put it in my pocket and go to the bathroom.
I was born in the mid-1950s and for some reason have never been embarrassed about my periods (that I haven’t had for many years now, thank goodness). But then, I never would have announced I was on my period to the general office staff either, but to other women co-workers, sure, no problem. I kept tampons in my purse, and when I needed to change one, I shoved the tampon into my bra to carry it into the bathroom.
The only time I think I was ever embarrassed was when I leaked through my pants once, and walked around the mall for a few hours like that. Yikes. 🙂
If I have pockets, stuff necessary items in there and forget it. Who’s gonna know?
If no pockets, I had a small pouch I carry. Who’s gonna question what’s in my pouch?
I don’t know why you’d be telling anyone you’re on your period? Is that common where you’re from? Otherwise, it’s a bodily function I can’t control. If anyone has an issue with them, they can see themselves next Tuesday. It’s a “them” problem, not mine.
i dont think you are over thinking it. its not like you are putting googly eyes on a tampon and trying to pass it off as the new coworker Tamponio.
Nor do i think its necessarily a bad idea to hide them on the way to the bathroom. last thing you need is someone having a thoughtprocess on your emotions while at work. — Oh she’s cranky because she on her period. —
no one needs that.
Also because i am cranky on my period.
…but the correct diagnosing makes me crankier
I’m a woman, and prefer not to know when others are on their period. No idea why.
I’m squeamish in general I suppose, and don’t like considering bodily functions for the most part. Even burping grossed me out, and I’d rather someone not do it, or at least cover their mouth. I could never be a nurse. Ever
All this to say, it’s ok to be discreet
Edit: it’s also ok not to be. I have no feelings thinking about bodily functions in general, or seeing period products or gas-x or whatever. It’s just very visceral to me if someone says they are feeling gassy (right then) or having cramps or needs to pee. I start picturing it and feeling it, and, it’s just not pleasant. But also not your job to make me feel pleasant
I work in an office with all women and one gay man. Idgaf.
My office had a little basket in the restroom where we could leave our products. We also had a free dispenser with horrible pads and tampons, which were definitely better than nothing!
Knowing me, if I still bled, I would have a pretty little case for them, because leaving anything loose in my purse is a recipe for disaster and I would not want to be digging for a period product in a pinch.
I carry lipsticks that look a whole lot like tampons and it never occurred to me that people would be speculating about my menstrual status. I just… figured they’d not notice or care. “Oh yeah, that’s Flora, there’s always something in her pocket.”
But I’m thirty-nine, and have lost a great deal of the shame society has tried to instill in me about basic bodily functions. People with uteri tend to bleed from them every month. If grown humans can’t cope with it, that is a them problem.
I forget about them at work, so I just put a little bag with pads and tampons in the bathroom, tucked away on the counter.
Now I don’t need to worry about forgetting them, and if a coworker needs something quick it’s also there for them!
I have a small zip bag that I fill with supplies mostly because it is easier to keep stocked and I can grab it and toss it in any bag when I transfer bags. I just take that to the bathroom if my stuff isn’t coming with me.
I used to try and be discreet, now that I am older, I don’t care. It is a normal body function and I am an adult.
I was like you. It took years to learn that this isn’t something to be ashamed for. I am taking my space in this world and being on my period is part of it. How can society change the view on it when we are afraid of being embarrassed for it.
A great thing in Germany happend a coupe of years ago. You know the blue “blood” on pads and tampons in TV commercials? Well, they are now bright red. Like blood. And that’s a step into the right direction.
If I don’t feel well because of cramping, I am saying so. And in 90% the men are okay with it. Because they grew up with sisters, mothers, aunts. They might be married and just know how much it sucks. Talking about it makes it more normal. Yes, there are always people disgusted by it but you shouldn’t care about them.
I have a small makeup-type bag that I keep period supplies in. It fits neatly under my arm, sometimes in a pocket, and best in the winter when I’m wearing a cardigan. It’s also an easy way to share with someone in need – I can hand them the bag and it’s no big deal.
I no longer have periods – 4 years post hysterectomy! – but I still have my bag in my backpack. In addition to proud supplies, there’s a chapstick, a couple of hair ties, and I think an emergency $20 because I’m an old.
We have all sort of such stuff in our three bathrooms (self-identified male, self-identified female, and a gender-neutral one).
It might be a cultural thing, but I have lots of colleagues who don’t feel any shame to speak of it in public. “I’m having cramps because of my period” is as natural as “I’m having a headache” or even “I’m busy today”.
I feel pissed that women have to suffer the indignity of menstruation. But I don’t feel anything about carrying a tampon and waving it around through the office.
Loud proud and openly in my hand. If anything it’s a red light for no one to mess with me.
I stick it up my sleeve, like I’m off to perform a magic trick! (But now I WFH and it’s the best)
It would be weird if people asked what’s in my hands. Noneoftheirbusiness.
An old boss got nosy about how much time I’d spent in the bathroom. My first response was “yes, I was in the bathroom.” And he pressed, so I went way TMI on what a wretched, crime scene of a period I’d had. Never had questions after that.
I’ll discuss it with anyone, it’s just part of life. Everyone knows what drawer I keep extras in, and all the ladies are welcome to grab whatever they need.
But then I’m a teacher, most of my colleagues are female. And we do sex ed with our students so we all have to talk about it anyways.
I used to have some anxiety and awkwardness around it, but then decided ultimately to start openly carrying them with no shame- just for the people who are judgey and don’t like accepting periods as a natural part of life so they can be forced to deal with it and stfu 🙂
Women don’t take their purse to the bathroom?
Same way I feel about carrying a clean Kleenex or bandaid.
I dont care at all. We are 50% of the population. Periods should not be a taboo subject!
I stopped worrying about it by age 30.
Having a period is as routine as brushing your hair. Anyone who has an issue with it is prudish and puritan. Let’s normalize that being a woman isn’t some kind of “less than” or worthy of feeling ashamed.
Stand up, shove tampon or pad in my pocket, walk to restroom. At one office job I had, we knew who kept what in her desk, so we could just grab it if we needed. It’s no big deal.
It was embarrassing when I was a kid but I’m open about it now. I don’t flaunt it but if I’m looking for a tampon, I’m not going to hide it. Had a few in my desk drawer with my pens, couple in my bag, a few in the glove compartment.
But I think I felt different about pads because I didn’t like them. When I had to use them, carrying them around felt weird. I would say my aversion to using them translated into being self consciousness about being seen with them.
I use period panties now.
People with uteruses didnt have a choice in the matter, so anyone who shames others about menstruation should be cursed with intractable hemorrhoids. Tampons and pads are pretty discreet now though, so maybe just keep one tucked into an inside pocket while at work. In all honesty though, your coworkers either wouldnt notice or should (hopefully) be too polite to comment even if they noticed!
I work in healthcare and the majority of my coworkers also menstruate. I personally hate my uterus and periods (yay PMDD), but I dont see it as shameful. I get horrible mood swings from my hormones so I will give my unit partners a headsup if Im having a bad time. My scrub pants have good pockets so its easy to just carry a pad around at all times.
When Im on my period and have to be away from the house for a while, I wear loose pants that have pockets for my pads. If a person is ever dumb or rude enough to comment about me carrying pads, they’ll regret it quickly!
I just own it now. A friend of mine makes bags and I got the cutest little zip pouch from her with period products on it, they’ve got little smiley faces and everything. The zipper pill has a uterus charm on it. I just grab it and take it to the bathroom with me.
Just carry your products in a small toiletries pouch/bag to the bathroom. Truthfully, no one is thinking about or paying attention to you as much as you
I’m so old, I’ve made a habit of showing them around so that my younger coworkers feel less weird.
I work in a tiny office where there’s only one other woman and could not give less of a shit, I will sit there with a hot water bottle, necking painkillers and will carry my entire fucking bag up to the bathroom if I need to. All the blokes live with women, it’s no mystery that we menstruate.
I put them in my pocket or up my sleeve just because I don’t care to advertise my personal business
My office has baskets of free ones in every bathroom so I’ve never had to deal with this.
But I struggle with acne and I often touch up my concealer midday. When I take it to the bathroom I hide the concealer in my jacket pocket or if I don’t have an accommodating pocket I put it in my bra, just for the walk there and back.
I used to feel so awkward taking my bag to the bathroom. My work now provides period products for free which helps so much. I don’t care about taking one when there’s other women in the bathroom
I don’t care but im not showing it off to every person i pass on the way to the br
I’m too old to care. I just grab it and walk to the bathroom. If it makes anyone else uncomfortable that’s their problem. There are bigger and badder things in this world to be upset over than a natural body function.
I hate the shame of something that happens to 50% of the population!! It’s normal!!! I will not be embarrassed for it. It’s not like I announce it, but I do not pretend like it’s something illegal that I have to smuggle in.
I don’t just walk to the bathroom with a tampon or pad in my hand, but I don’t go out of my way to hide it either.
I don’t look around to see if anyone can see me before grabbing one out of my bag and putting it in my pocket and I don’t concern myself with whether the outline is visible in my pocket.
If I don’t have a pocket, I either bring my purse with me, pop it up my sleeve, or close the tampon in my fist (I use the ones without applicators so it’s pretty easy).
It’s one of those things where, like, I’m not ashamed of having my period and I don’t care if someone notices, but it’s also a private thing just like anything else I do in the bathroom so yeah, I’m gonna use a bit of discretion. If we had to bring our own toilet paper to the bathroom I would treat it the same way.
As for telling people you’re on your period at work – no one does that (unless there is a valid work-related reason why it matters). We don’t announce to people that we’ve got to take a shit either, do we?
I have a wee bag made for carrying pads (search for sanitary napkin storage bag). It’s black with pics of lemons, I also have a pink one with something else like berries. I keep some pads and a pack of feminine wipes in it.
I’m not really bothered, more that it’s handy to grab, but it is more discreet.
In school, I used to reach into my backpack, slip a pad up my sleeve, then either keep it in the sleeve until I reach the bathroom, or if I didn’t have sleeves, I’d stick it in my waistband (i wore baggy t-shirts so nothing to see once it was there.
I also did this specifically so I wouldn’t be seen carrying a bag to the bathroom, so no one would “figure out” when I was bleeding.
I don’t at all anymore (continuous use BC) and I’m so much happier for it. Gave me tons of dysphoria – which contributed to the feeling of shame/need to hide products.
I used to be the same as you – always finding a covert way to slip a tampon into my pocket. Then I turned 40…I no longer give a fuck who knows. I actually have a big box of tampons in the front of my locker and have made it known to all that should anyone need one, just pop open my locker and help yourself – guys included, they’re great for nosebleeds lol
Do not be embarrassed, it’s a fact of life. majority of women have periods. Lots and lots of periods. Put the tampon in your back pocket and rock on! Hell put it between your teeth . They don’t like it, they don’t have to look. 🤷🏽♀️
I once called my direct report to inform them I wouldn’t be in the office that day due to a botched IUD insertion the previous day that had my doubled over in pain. She had me on speaker phone and the whole office got to hear about it.
But guess what, I didn’t give a fuck. The majority of my coworkers are males but it’s no surprise to anyone that I have a uterus that comes with uterine complications. I refuse to be embarrassed about that.
I work as a nurse so I just put it in my scrub pocket. But if someone sees me getting it out of my bag in the break room it’s whatever.
My drawer at work had period products for people emergencies
I no longer have periods, but when I did I would carry whatever I needed as-is without a thought.
Most of the time I didn’t have to do that, as I kept period products in a small zipper bag inside of my purse or backpack. That kept them from getting beat up/torn up/opened up and possibly becoming unsanitary from whatever else was in my bag. I’d carry the small bag to the bathroom with me if I had it. If I didn’t, oh well.
Periods happen. Anyone paying enough attention to get offended by what is in your hand is being ridiculous. Literally half of the humans on this planet are women and the vast majority of women have periods. It’s normal and natural.
I switched to loud and proud after I had kids. Going to pump? carrying everything and the sign. Going to manage my period? You bet this big ol’ backup pad because my periods are a mess postpartum isn’t going to fit in my teeny girl jeans pocket. So I’m carrying it in my hand. You need a pad or a tampon?
I have three girls – they’re going to get enough of their own insecurities about god knows what. I don’t want to share mine with them, or for them to feel ashamed about normal human body stuff.
When I was in school, one day another student somehow saw my little purse with pads in it. She took it, held it up and said in front of everyone how gross I am having a period. I was ashamed of my period for many years and only got more comfortable in my 30s. Now I don’t really care and I’m one of the annoying people that love to talk about how much they love their menstrual cup. In my 20s when I used tampons I would hide them somewhere in my clothes (pockets, waistband, bra or even shoes) or I would carry a small purse with me but make sure to refresh my make up to make it look like I took the purse with me just for that.
Periods are part of life so I’m not one bit embarrassed. I just grab my reusable disc or tampon out of my bag and go to the bathroom. I don’t really take measures to hide it on my way there.
I’m too old to care anymore. Women have periods, people can deal with it. Don’t give in to the social conditioning that makes you feel ashamed of a normal and healthy bodily function.
I never had a problem. I also told my students before (i am a teacher and I taught very age between 12 and adults in their 20s and 30s) if you feel like I am looking grumpy today it’s not because of you but because I have period cramps, so don’t worry. for me it never has been a big deal.
I work in a small office that just expanded and built 2 new offices and a bathroom. Now we have our own bathroom in this wing and I can keep my period products in a basket in the cabinets, we have room for 4 baskets for the 4 people who work back here.
I don’t really care. I shove it in my pocket or bra.
I don’t like people knowing I’m on my period but that’s because I am private about my general state of being. I don’t like to tell if I’m not well either unless I’m so unwell that I have to stay home from work.
I have a cute bag I keep them in and bring it. But if someone needs one I will gladly offer and walk across the room to hand it over. You wouldn’t be nervous to ask for a bandaid or toilet paper. It’s just a body. If people make it weird they’re the problem.
Carry that thing like an Olympic torch!
I openly announce it/ask for one. I carry it openly. If someone asks what I’m doing I answer honestly. I’ve never seen a reason to be ashamed of it.
I personally don’t feel weird about it. The men that I work with are mostly married, so I imagine that periods are super normal to them. Women don’t care at all unless you need to commiserate, which is kinda fun for bonding.
I don’t feel shame necessarily, but I def still do carry a little bit that “always be ladylike” habit with me. I tend to just bring my whole bag with me if I’m out public, or if im out on a trip I pack a little makeup bag with some pads and tamps to bring with me. Just feels ‘wrong’ somehow to walk to the bathroom while carrying a tampon yk?
I used to feel awkward about it but then I had an incident at work where I gave a pad to another female coworker who needed one and two idiot male coworkers saw the handover and made a fuss about it. They literally thought they had witnessed a drug deal in break room and kept giving us shit for it, up to jokingly threatening to report us. Only my female coworker flatly telling them that it was a pad and what it was for got them to shut up.
It was extremely annoying but it made me realize that if men could be that shamelessly stupid in public then why the hell was I embarrassed about needing to use a basic hygiene product. I no longer hide it. I’ll get my pad out of my bag and carry it in plain view to the bathroom and I will tell anyone who asks me what it is.
I have a coworker that gets vocally upset if he sees an unused tampon in its wrapper. Like someone’s literally just grabbing it to go to the bathroom. So now whenever he’s around and I need to change my tampon I loudly announce to him that it’s time for an oil change 😂 He stopped berating/shaming my female coworkers, I’m assuming out of fear that I would start talking to him about oil changes every time
Been a long time since I’ve worked in an office but I imagine all I did was take my purse to the bathroom with me. I don’t think I’ve ever carried one individually. I think it’s pretty normal to take your purse to the bathroom, lots of people touch up their makeup throughout the day or whatever.
I have always had a small bag inside my purse with menstrual products in it and just take it with me when I use the toilet. Alternatively, since I use OB tampons and panty liners I’d stick one of each in my pocket while getting ready in the morning while keeping the pouch in my purse as backup.
It’s not as if there should be any surprise a woman may need products.
Keep a small sling purse in your desk. Grab it every time you go to the bathroom. You can maintain your privacy.
Mmmm I have a note at work that says please allow frequent restroom breaks. I don’t care who says what as long as a stall is vacant and you GTFO my way!
For many years I would do everything I could to hide them in my hand or pocket. In the last few years, I stopped caring so much. I’ll carry a full conversation with someone while holding a tampon or pad. I figure, if they stop me on the way to the restroom then they have no right to be offended by anything I may be holding. There’s nothing that I do for work or in my personal life that can’t wait 10 minutes. If they look at it funny, I just say something smartass about them questioning mother nature or ask if they are grossed out by the way women’s bodies work.
Twirl it in your fingers like a baton
I carry my purse everywhere I go just as a default, so if I need to bring period products with me… well, they’re already in my purse. Along with my hairbrush, deodorant, tide pen, and a dozen other things I might need in the bathroom.
I’m a teacher and occasionally a student would see me walking around the hall with my purse and ask if I’m leaving for the day. But since I literally always have my purse, it’s not embarrassing or anything. I could just as easily be going to a meeting, or lunch, or to use the bathroom whether on or off my period.
Isn’t this what a purse is for?
Honestly? When I was in middle school, I saw a girl thrown an opened but unused pad at a bunch of guys in the back of our bus because they wouldn’t stop bothering her. The squealing and screeching and hysteria & muscle spasms those boys had were hilarious.
Ever since, I have figured anyone who is bothered by that kind of thing is someone I want to bother. It has yet to be proven wrong and I’m in my forties. Fly and be free!
I put it in my pocket if i have pockets, or if i don’t ill hold it in my hand with my sleeve covering it
Good tip I read on this sub is to tuck a tampon into your bra if you don’t have pockets.
I have also taken my lanyard off and carried that it my hand with a tampon for some “camouflage”. I don’t really care if anyone sees period items but my workplace is so sociable, I’m likely to run into a coworker or a student and end up in a hallway discussion on my way to the bathroom. I don’t really want to be holding just a tampon that whole time 🤷🏻♀️
I care only when I’m at work because I work with all guys, and most are immature af.
When I was young I was very insecure about it. Now that I’m 40 I don’t give a single flying fart who sees or knows.
I have this small makeup bag that I carry pads and stuff in. I take it to the bathroom whenever I need to swap, it’s pretty discreet. I figure at first glance it just looks like I wanna touch up my hair or makeup. I work with mostly women so we are all pretty open about the time of the month anyways, we order ibuprofen to keep when some of us may be cramping. But if you want a discreet way a cute little makeup bag could do the trick.
I never felt embarrassed but I did invest in a cute little toiletry bag and would just take that into the cubicle with me it would have pads, wipes, small bags, hand sanitizer, ibro/para.
When I had a period, I just brought my purse to the bathroom. No one batted an eye.
I just had them in a cute little zip pouch to take with me. No big deal. But I was in a healthcare setting where we often overshared. Talking about being on our periods was normal. The zip pouch is great outside of work too. Goes neatly in a purse, bag or whatever.
When I was a younger woman, we’d just carry our purse with us to the bathroom. No one paid any attention
I feel about the same level of awkwardness as anything I do in the bathroom. It is not something I’m embarrassed of but, also not something i jump to have conversations about either?
People in gen Z I find are a lot more open and bring up their period as a topic of conversation, and I appreciate them for that, but I still prefer to be relatively private, myself.
I will remind myself to stop hiding my tampon on the way to the bathroom. It’s a normal biological process. Men can see my tampon.
I do the period underwear thing now, so I don’t worry about it. But I used to just stick a pad in the back pocket of my jeans and change it out when I had time.
Of course, I work in a VERY female-oriented field (teaching) and my department had a pad/tampon station in one of the cabinets in case anyone needed (and that included grabbing one for a student if necessary).
I think it’s more the culture of where I am, and the fact that we’re all really friendly with each other.
I assumed that’s why we carry purses. Whether it’s feminine hygiene products, or make up or a toothbrush and toothpaste, or just because I’ll stop at a vending machine on the way back and need change, I carry my purse.
I’m an adult working in an office with other adults. If they feel weird about unused feminine hygiene products, thats a them problem. Ita ridiculous and infantile to be grossed out by some cotton wadding. As long as you’re not waving it around, no one should care two hoots.
I don’t think I’ve ever been uncomfortable or ashamed to carry pads or tampons but I will admit that I hide my menstrual cup like it’s drugs. It’s currently in a ziploc in a pouch in a purse in a tote bag in my closet.
I just bring my purse into the bathroom.
I put a small bag in my big bag with all my pads/tampons/liners. Ladies probably know why Im bringing a bag to the bathroom one week a month but guys always think its makeup or something else. Guys dont notice or care
I just stick it in my bra.
I use a menstrual cup now so I don’t have to worry about it but when I used tampons, it wasn’t even a thing. Reach in, grab a tampon and put it in my pocket and go to the bathroom. Thinking someone will see and recognize a tampon in your pocket is just anxiety-induced paranoia.
However, I do have a shy bladder. If someone is in the bathroom with me, it’s like my muscles seize up. I have to flush the toilet or wait for them to leave (or be in a super crowded bathroom with lots of hubbub) to start peeing. I don’t get it.
I walk around with my period pouch which I will happily open in full view of everyone if someone asks if anyone has a spare pad or a tampon.
It doesn’t bother me or the majority of women I work with. My workplace has period products in the bathroom. I use a menstrual cup, which last for 12 hours sometimes too. This would be an option if you’re comfortable wearing it and then you wouldn’t have to change at work.
I do not give one single iota of a fuck.
I used to try to be discreet when I was a teenager and in 20s. Now? Lol please.
I leave a basket of all types of period products out in the bathroom and I do not care who sees.
Would you carry toilet paper to the bathroom?
Nothing to be ashamed of.
I cannot speak to the feeling of using female hygiene products but as a male I can tell you I don’t care if you have to use the restroom. I don’t wanna know if you need to go take a shit or have a smoke or change a pad, because and again, I don’t care what you do in there. I think I’m in the majority but sure I can recognize there are probably some perverts that live for that information.
Lastly, anyone out there feeling some type of way about changing their products for whatever reason, please don’t sweat it. While unlikely to happen during your average work day, toxic shock syndrome is a far worse thing than embarrassment.
I kept a cosmetic bag in my desk. It contained things like period products and a toothbrush and toothpaste. Sometimes I did brush my teeth at work so when I carried my bag to the restroom no one needed to know whether I was applying makeup, brushing my teeth or doing anything else.
Nah, I just carry it in my hand.
And no, I would never tell anyone at work about bodily functions.
I’m usually wearing an outfit with pockets, so I’ll stick it in my pocket. I don’t do a whole routine to distract people or something, but I probably am overly cautious when getting one out of my bag.
I have my menstrual cup now, which holds me for 8 hours the first 2 days and 12 hours every subsequent day. I also fully work from home, but I recently went to a bachelor party and shared a room with a male friend of mine. Definitely like… Snuck around with my soap when it was time to empty, clean, and reinsert. My dad was one of those guys who would leave the room when my sister, mom and I talked about “women stuff” and told me my “vitamins” arrived when my birth control would come in the mail. I guess that had a lasting effect on me. I’ll totally tell other women that I’m on my period, but I don’t want a house full of guys knowing that I’m washing blood down the toilet/sink and scrubbing silicone that inserts into my vagina. Even though I know the groom and the guy I was roomies with for the weekend would be 100% chill about it because they both live with women. I just feel awkward about the vulnerability and intimacy of the process.
Get yourself a nice little zipper pouch for your supplies. Mine says Shark Week. I almost bought the one that said Snatch Pads.i found them on etsy. Yes, I’m shameless.
They make them in non descript dainty floral too.
Do you carry a purse or bag? I just take your whole purse and walk out. Sometimes I take a smaller bag like makeup bag that I keep in my large purse that has all my toiletries in it.
Um most women bleed so I don’t care lol
I have a small bag I keep all my stuff in. Idgaf. I pull tampons out even if the office is full. I don’t care who hears. We’re all adults. I will l tell my manager and some co-workers if it’s particularly bad so they know why I’m grumpy lol
I used to, but after 18 years of having a period and realizing society is wrong for shaming people for having their period, I blatantly carry my pads to the bathroom in full view of whomever may be around. I have yet to encounter someone immature enough to make a rude remark about it.
If i have yo actually experience it, others can handle knowing that im experiencing it. I dont advertise, but i done hide
I’m old (56) – almost past the point of needing feminine products but unfortunately not quite done yet – anyway, do younger women just not carry a purse anymore? I’ve had pads and/or tampons in a pocket of the purse since 7th grade and I take it with me to the bathroom if a) I need a pad, b) need a comb, c) am not comfortable leaving my purse somewhere.
Its kinda like what I tell my kids. No one in public is thinking about or looking at you nearly as much as you think. They’re too busy being self conscious about their own shit.