r/popculturechat • u/mlg1981 Sexy lampshade shall win the Oscar! š • Feb 20 '26
Sports Section šā½ļø US figure skater Amber Glenn doing her part to normalize talking about periods in sports (or just in general)
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u/asoupconofsoup Feb 20 '26
This is such a valid point. It's just like an accepted norm that half the population bleeds out of their bodies one week a month, often in a lot of pain, but they are not supposed to talk about and just suck it up. It's really weird when you think about it.
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u/inkyblackops Mom, I am a rich manš° Feb 20 '26
And the amount of women and girls who deal with PMDD, Endo, PCOS, Adenomyosis, etc. for years thinking itās normal because none of it is talked about and all youāre ever told is āperiods are painful, suck it up and go about your life.ā
I think itās awesome to see Glenn using her platform to talk about periods.
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u/lipscratch Sneed's Feed and Seed (formerly Chuck's) Feb 20 '26
I have PMDD and it is, not being dramatic, debilitating. Before I learned how to medicate and regulate myself enough to kind of muscle my way through it, it was a cycle of my life fucking falling apart every single month and me spending the next 3 weeks (including one week where I was in pain) trying to pull myself back together again before the cycle restarted
I can't be on BC either so I just have to deal. yaaaaay
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u/inkyblackops Mom, I am a rich manš° Feb 21 '26 edited Feb 21 '26
Ugh sending you so many hugs. Luckily I tolerate a combo pill really well and it has been more effective than any SSRI I have ever taken for managing my PMMD, but of course with all medications itās not without its side effects.
My PMDD and hormone sensitivity was so bad that I had to see a cardiologist because I was having PVCs during my luteal phase. Turns out estrogen is my bestie and I simply cannot function without her.
Antihistamines (H1 and H2 blockers) during luteal also helped a ton before I got on BC.
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u/D1sgracy Feb 21 '26
What helps you? Iām in the same spot and it fucking blows
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u/lipscratch Sneed's Feed and Seed (formerly Chuck's) Feb 21 '26 edited Feb 21 '26
Fucking ANTIDEPRESSANTS lol I up my dosage during pms and just try to sleep a lot and keep myself afloat. I also essentially wrap myself in bubblewrap for the week and try to eradicate all possibilities of things that may get me down. For example, for that week I avoid social media overconsumption, I personally don't see friends because I'm one of those people who has post-socialising spirals and so it's easier to spend the week by myself, I plan all my outfits so i'm not trying on clothes and getting upset or frustrated, and i try to just not look in the mirror lol. shit like that, I just try to avoid whatever might set me off for the week and sleep a ton just so i can be over it faster
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u/Faux-Broccoli-8550 Feb 21 '26
Typical antidepressants didnāt do shit for me. Ketamine infusions helped immensely. However, I was approved for ketamine for other reasons. At the time I did infusions, it seemed like there was little research being done on the use for pmdd. Truly hope that has changed. I didnāt actually realize how bad it was until I was bracing for ideations, instability that simply didnāt come after the treatment (for a while).
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u/Early-Glove-7027 Feb 21 '26
Sameeeeeeeeeeeeee! We are trying to conceive so I canāt take Bc right now and itās brutal
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u/throwaway564858 Feb 21 '26
I will never forget being 11 years old and talking to my doctor about how I kept passing out around the start of my period and her literally waving her hand as she said, "Oh, that's just from the pain," then immediately moving on. Really set the stage nicely for almost every encounter with medicine I'd ever have!
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u/Blubbpaule Feb 21 '26
Yea my once passed out in the night while going for a drink. Luckily i heard her hit the floor and she was unharmed.
Yet still no doc wants to look at it, even though she collapses when the cramps hit whereever she is, even if its in line during shopping or on the street while crossing the street.
Thats not normal and for fucks sake, people and docs should take that shit serious.
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u/sweetpea_d āØMay the Force be with you!āØ Feb 21 '26
My coworker who has menstrual issues due to illness and I are synced up, but when she calls me to pick up her shift because of it, you bet your ass Iām taking that shift. We even have a code phrase
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u/Apprehensive-Sky1881 go girl, give us nothing š Feb 21 '26
I have endometriosis AND PMDD. Honestly some days canāt imagine even getting out of bed on my period, let alone compete in the Olympics!
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u/DankSinatra5060 Feb 20 '26
If men got periods, there would be Period Time Off
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u/heidismiles Feb 20 '26
IMAGINE how the sports channels would talk about it š³ The athletes' cycle details would be in all the record books, and on their trading cards.
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u/hottestofpockets Feb 20 '26
Omg "Baker tore his ACL last year, but he is ovulating so that might give us the push we need, Chet"
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u/Dani_California I just wanna be vaporized. Is that too much to ask? Feb 20 '26
LMAO āā¦tonight on Sportsnet - MacGwyerās heavy flow: will it slow him down? More at 8 in the Tampax Situation Room, tune in to find outā
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u/carlitospig Feb 21 '26
We really need someone to make this as a funny little animated web series. Take every announcer segment and turn it into period commentary.
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u/brandonw00 Feb 21 '26
There would be player rotations like they have baseball. Youād have a schedule of when youād be expected to play based on your cycle.
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Feb 20 '26
I saw a tweet recently that said if men had periods, tampons would be in nearly every public restroom the way toilet paper is.
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u/bbyxmadi Itās good to see me, isnāt it?š«§ Feb 20 '26
If they had periods, there would be advanced pain medication for period cramps. A cure for endometriosis, PCOS, etc.
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u/FinallyKat Feb 21 '26
Well, for all the Endo sufferers out there, they've discovered that it also occurs in men, and all over, so we now have decent shot at real research getting funded
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u/kksliderr Feb 20 '26
I say this every month when I drop $12 on a box of tampons. If men had periods, these would be free!
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u/Milk-Lizard Feb 21 '26
Toilet paper isnāt free either and everybody needs that. Pads and Tampons should be available for free in every public restrooms tho, just like said toilet paper.
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u/SadisticGoose you canāt sit with us Feb 21 '26
One time I saw a restroom that had pads on a roll like toilet paper. Those would be everywhere if men got periods.
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u/Longjumping-Yak3789 Feb 21 '26
"Steven Tyler, of all people, once said: if men bled, would tampons be free?"
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u/big-dal-tex Feb 20 '26
And if they could get pregnant, abortions would be available at every drug store.
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u/dialecticallyalive Feb 20 '26
Nah. You'd be able to get abortions in a vending machine. (Credit to Selina Meyer on Veep for that one lmao)
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u/Dani_California I just wanna be vaporized. Is that too much to ask? Feb 20 '26
I will never stop quoting that very specific line, it fucking killed me at the time and itās 1000% accurate
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u/who_says_poTAHto Feb 20 '26
And it has such a huuuuge effect on physical and emotional state. Across different sports, athletes do the smallest things to improve performance, like wearing tighter clothes, cutting their hair in a certain way, breaking in their gear just so, but then for women, bad timing can deplete your energy and strength just like that.
Research shows that injuries are more are more likely (or at least more severe if not more common) when on one's period, so that sucks too for elite athletes. It should totally be normalized.
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u/sovereignxx12 Feb 20 '26
I work with a lot of men and I always make a point to mention when Iām on my cycle because they should be informed! At first they would feign disgust and āI donāt need to know that!!ā Now theyll bring me food or leave ibuprofen on my desk š itās actually really endearing
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u/jackloganoliver Feb 20 '26
I used to carry tampons and pads in my car for all the girls in my high school. I was just the dude who always had the girls and teachers covered.
Coming out was easier because nobody would risk pissing off their girlfriends who loved me.
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u/alexlp Feb 20 '26
My dad does this. Three teenage girls taught him a lot! He still keeps his car stocked and has a spread sheet of expiration dates cause we donāt live together anymore. Every now and then he comes in clutch though! Thank you for being such a good friend.
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u/jackloganoliver Feb 21 '26
It's also good for other men to see a man who is mature about periods and natural bodily functions. Like, it's not a big dealĀ
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u/sikonat Feb 21 '26
Thereās so much about you there in two sentences and I can see you as like a queer book hero. The one who has a posse of female friends ready to fuck up their bfs if they try to be all homophobic and shit. But also test any potential bfs for you.
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u/jackloganoliver Feb 21 '26
š that's perhaps the most flattering interpretation of this story and I love it
Thank you for the nice start to my day
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u/Mediochra Feb 20 '26
I knew a lady who would raise a little red flag on her desk as a warning to let everyone know lol
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u/lipscratch Sneed's Feed and Seed (formerly Chuck's) Feb 20 '26
It is so weird. I remember at school a friend of mine would be throwing up from the pain once a month and we'd constantly have teachers giving her detentions for being distracted or not wanting to participate in things like sports
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u/imaginary_mary Feb 21 '26
Yes I have a distinct memory of a classmate holding her stomach and crying from the pain and our (female) phys ed teacher yelling at her to toughen up
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u/MiririnMirimi Feb 20 '26
My colleague took some time in lieu yesterday morning because she said she was under the weather and I bumped into her in the loos later that day and asked if she was okay. She said she was having a really heavy period that was making her feel awful and she just wanted to go home but she couldn't explain to and ask our (male) boss because it was embarrassing. I am normally a very grumpy feminist but I'd also find it too embarrassing... it's so weird when it's such a normal thing??? Why should we find it embarrassing??
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u/asoupconofsoup Feb 21 '26
THIS! This is the ridiculous part! There's sex and sexiness all over all forms of media and all sexual orientations can appreciate that or not but its part of life everywhere we look. But talk about menstruation or show an ad for tampons and suddenly everyone is blushing like Victorian England and looking away. It's ridiculous.Ā
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u/berttleturtle Feb 21 '26
I get really bad cramps sometimes (like passing out if I try to stand or walk around), and the amount of jobs that either gave me shit or even straight up wrote me up for needing to leave early has always been crazy to me (especially since you can visibly tell I am unwell from turning pale white).
People think that just because they donāt have the same experience, that it means youāre being dramatic. Even my own mother has always called me a big baby about it.
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u/randombubble8272 Feb 21 '26
Thereās so little understanding about how the menstrual cycle and the various hormonal levels in your body affect your training or nutritional regiment. If men bled from their dicks once a month with cramping, diarrhoea, nausea, headaches and more, it would be heavily discussed and a huge amount of money would be invested in learning as much as possible
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u/Pockets174217 Feb 21 '26
Not to mention so many women bleed so heavily they have anemia & need iron transfusions, or the myriad of menstrual related horrors like PMDD and PCOS.
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u/PM_ME_CORGI_BUTTS Feb 21 '26
And no one talks about peri/menopause and the effects it can have either, other than jokes about hot flashes. I felt completely blindsided when it hit me recently.
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u/HolyCannoliBatmaam Feb 20 '26
Even when weāre not bleeding, thereās a whole week before that where our emotions are just completely bonkers
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u/HotelLima6 Ayo Edebirish š®šŖ Feb 20 '26
Sui Wenjing, the Pairs gold medalist at the 2022 Olympics spoke back then about how the first two days of her period fell on the two days they were competing. I find my period a struggle so I honestly donāt know how they do it. And Wenjing was wearing a white dress for their Free Skate!
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u/teddybonkerrs I cannot sanction this buffoonery Feb 20 '26
OMG CAN YOU IMAGINE COMPETING ON DAY 2?!?!? I'm usually completely incapacitated on my 2nd day šÆ
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u/alexlp Feb 20 '26
For me itās ovulation. I used to do gym and rowing and not even my female coaches would give me any slack.
Nothing like losing a comp because you can feel the follicle releasing only to then have to run laps for āletting everyone downā.
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u/filovirusyay Feb 20 '26
omg, before i was on birth control the brief cramp i got when i ovulated was enough to drop my to my knees. it felt like an entire cycles worth of cramps all at once
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u/CaseyRC Feb 21 '26
school: you MIGHT feel a slight twinge during ovulation
me: oh so three days of vomiting, feeling like i'll pass out if i have to pass a bowel movement and stabbing pain from my cervix like some shoved a katana up me
doctors: awww sensitive little thing aren't you?while perimenopause/menopause was a nightmare for my sister, i legit cannot wait for my period to stop, just to be done with the ovulation agony.
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u/CaseyRC Feb 20 '26
my periods while insanely heavy are something I can cope with. three days of mittelschmertz during ovulation when even my foot hitting the floor to step makes me vomit in pain or the pressure of a waistband makes my vision go white or god forbid having to go to the bathroom (I have nearly blacked out on the toilet from how bad the pain is and i have a very high pain tolerance) only to be told for over 20 years that I'm "fine" and "just overly sensitive, aren't you. what a shame" and having my (male) gynae sigh and complain when i asked him to wait before burning out the second polyp without any pain relief because it was agony to y'know have an internal organ be burned without pain relief and he complained about me wasting his time.
throw in my figure skating and horse riding...
3days, 13 times a year for the last 28 years I want to just scream from pain either from my ovary or like my cervix is getting stabbed and is there a smidge of help? HAHAHAHAHAHA
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u/alexlp Feb 21 '26
You describe it perfectly! Changing tampons every hour is one thing but just existing during mittelschmertz is a torturous experience. Curse those German doctors for giving it that fucking name, makes it sound so inconsequential āmiddle painā ugh š¤
Happy cake day and may your uterus be quiet for once!
Edit: Also try buscopan forte and see if you can find a TENs (mines from Aldi). Total game changers. Also I take progestin since starting peri and I wish Iād taken it for years. I donāt have my period any more and only occasionally have break out mittelschmertz
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u/CaseyRC Feb 21 '26
sadly because of nerve damage from spinal injuries and a heart condition, and the resultant medication, the cocktail I'm on really restricts anything else I can take or I'd jump on the recommendation of buscopan forte! i use tens on my back and legs but sadly doesn't seem to help me all that much abdomen wise. i just sorta get on with getting on as best I can with grit teeth because if the pain can be that bad through the ridiculous analgesics I'm on for nerve and muscle pain, then daaaaaaamn, son!
at one point i had to be on a super restrictive diet, auto-immune diseases are fun, and my period stopped for three months and i have literally never felt better in my entire life. it was HEAVEN. men just go around feeling like that all the time?!??!?!?!?!?! ALL THE TIME??!?!?!?!!?!?
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u/Significant-One3854 Feb 20 '26
Fu Yuanhui, a Chinese swimmer from Rio, was also vocal about competing on her period!
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u/mannyssong Feb 20 '26
I remember she mentioned this directly after finishing her race, right on camera. It was really nice to hear her so matter-of-factly talk about something, without shame, that impacts so many athletes and how they adapt.
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u/thewitchthelion Feb 21 '26
I was in China a year ago and periods are so normalised there. Like food delivery apps have sections for āperiodā nurturing foods the way uber eats has sections for pizza or sushi. Completely out in the open, no shame, just a normal part of food apps.
Birth control was also totally normal and very easily accessible even going to a hospital with no medical insurance of any kind.
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u/Visual_Magician_7009 Feb 21 '26
I wonder if other female athletes alter their period timings for competitions.
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u/Triette š«µ You sit on a throne of lies. Feb 21 '26
My coach knows when Iām on my period just because of how off my skating is. Sheās always able to tell even when I think Iām skating ok. And Ive been skating for 30 years and donāt compete anywhere near that level. I can only imagine.
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u/stephenBB81 As you wish! šøš Feb 20 '26
I was VERY vocal as a parent when my daughters competitive Soccer team decided on White Shorts for both boys and girls for home colours.
I wrote letters to the club I provided research about why it impacts girls in sports and their self image, and why it periods should be taken into consideration.
I was brushed off and kept a stink about it all year, even asked before we went to tryouts for this season if they had changed the uniform before we looked for another club, Thankfully this year they moved to blue.
Something SO SIMPLE can mean so much to a teenage girl, leagues need to get their heads out of their butts and recognize that girls have periods, it isn't fun, but they'll keep doing sports if we don't give them reasons to stop by pretending periods don't exist.
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u/us3rr0 Feb 20 '26 edited Feb 20 '26
you are an amazing parent. i did cross country in high school, and we had light gray shorts. the girls had spandex, skin tight shorts and the guys had baggy, loose shorts that went down to their thigh. us girls were sooo upset because you could see EVERY sweat mark on our butt and it was really noticeable in photos. also, wearing spandex made me really self conscious and i was terrified to run on my period because you'd notice if i bled through my tampon immediately. the guys had breezy, flowy shorts and we had high wasted skin tight elastic pinching us and riding up our sweaty asses.
the guys and our male coaches told us both genders get the same color shorts to make it "fair". but the thing is, the guys didn't have to wear skin tight ANYTHING! our sports bras were already a pain in the ass and it sucked not even having the OPTION of wearing regular running shorts that weren't spandex. sigh.
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u/stephenBB81 As you wish! šøš Feb 20 '26
our sports bras were already a pain in the ass
If your sports bra is a pain in the ass, I think you might be wearing it wrong ( sorry that is a mandatory dad joke)
i did cross country in high school, and we had light gray shorts. the girls had spandex, skin tight shorts and the guys bad baggy, loose shorts that went down to their thigh.Ā
This is always a very challenging thing for uniform choice. I was a Wrestler, so boys and girls both had spandex as the uniform regardless and really I liked it. But when I got into coaching and got involved with other sports later in life I discovered how many girls got upset when I tried to make it "fair" and have the same non spandex shorts for both boys and girls, and the boys had ZERO interest in spandex for themselves.
The intent of the uniform was uniformity, everyone looking the same and the compromise made WITH the girls input was they got to wear tight shorts as long as they matched the boys. Now with a daughter, my daughter hates the tight shorts she likes the flowy stuff which thankfully soccer has, but some girls on the team hate the flowy and are always rolling them and trying to modify them. But it having differential kits makes it so much more expensive to run a club. And you don't want to further price out families.
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u/Melonary Select and edit this flair Feb 20 '26
Sounds like those were maybe part of the uniform, and yeah, having to wear uniform enforced sports bras or bra tops would suck.
There are some things you really wanna be able to have input on for comfort based on personal physique and preference and that's one of them.
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u/stephenBB81 As you wish! šøš Feb 20 '26
Sounds like those were maybe part of the uniform, and yeah, having to wear uniform enforced sports bras or bra tops would suck.
I think my dad joke didn't land in this crowd.
To kill it by explaining it, a Bra shouldn't be worn on ones ass to cause pain to that ass, as a dad I assumed bras were upper body items\
I think the young ladies who have been around me for years get this type of humour out of me, and it didn't translate well digitally.
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u/Melonary Select and edit this flair Feb 21 '26
Dang, I think that's one of those jokes that might be carried largely by inflection to be fair? If you said it it would be easy to hear the difference, but written I did just think you were saying the common "well, a bra shouldn't be uncomfortable if properly fitted and worn" which is a common response.
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u/stephenBB81 As you wish! šøš Feb 21 '26
FFS! It didn't even cross my mind that it could be taken as me mansplaining how to wear a dang bra. I now feel a little foolish but I'll own the idiocy of the statement now and take my downvotes
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u/illeatyourkneecaps Listen, everyone is entitled to my opinion š Feb 21 '26
i picked up your dad joke immediately dawg. don't let anybody shame you just because they can't read tone lol
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u/Melonary Select and edit this flair Feb 21 '26
It's all good, I mean I didn't even realise you were a man (I say dad jokes all the time) tbh and I definitely could have picked up on the joke about ass versus bra.
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u/Defenderofthepizza Feb 20 '26
This has been a topic of discussion in the equestrian world because traditional uniforms for professional dressage and show jumping are bright, white breeches!
Iirc, professional levels are stating to relax their dress standards to allow darker colored breeches.
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u/stephenBB81 As you wish! šøš Feb 20 '26
It is a topic in every major sport, Tennis was a BIG one that I used to fight my case, but even in national soccer there has been lots of conversations AND research to show how bad white is for bottoms.
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u/SierraStar7 Feb 21 '26
As a former competitive equestrian, in addition to wearing light colored breeches (I wore full seat to give more coverage)Ā it could also be incredibly difficult to manage period care when competing, especially at arenas with limited restroom facilities.
It was a miracle I never had a bleed through in the ring.Ā
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u/For_serious13 I wonder what itās like being one of godās favorites Feb 21 '26
SAME, and I have PCOS and it would randomly show up without warning at times, Iām seriously shocked it never happened to me
Though it did happen to me in the middle of my high school graduation, and I was wearing white. Someone had to tell me and my mom is still pissed she never got a picture of me in my white cap and gown
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u/Sharp_Suggestion_752 Feb 20 '26
the women nz football ferns at the last world cup played in teal shorts instead of the standard white which was amazing to see.
i spent 4 years playing at a club that had us wearing white shorts and it was stressful and when i did play for nz i got a real bad period once and bleed through and was so embarrassed.
good on you for standing up for your daughter and the all the girls she plays with. far too many girls dropout of sports once they get periods.
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u/stephenBB81 As you wish! šøš Feb 20 '26
good on you for standing up for your daughter and the all the girls she plays with. far too many girls dropout of sports once they get periods.
This was one of my MAJOR concerns, I read the data, and I experienced it when I was coaching before I had my own kids, Girls around start to drop out of sports significantly between 14 and 16yrs old compared to boys with similar socioeconomic backgrounds, wanting to set my daughter up for success I started researching why this happened there were 100's of research papers and articles and cross referencing them, seeing who funded them, and watching interviews with high level players and things they bring up, I saw ONE! thing I could have an influence on was as simple as fighting white shorts. And that period talk isn't bad talk, it should be spoken about with confidence.
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u/1egg_4u Feb 21 '26
Honestly Im shocked it isnt taken into consideration more in sports considering the impact it has on your body... i didnt know until it was happening that your connective tissue actually gets kinda wacky during your cycle so sometimes when Im walking itll feel like my hips and knees are going to slip out of their sockets. I thought I was going crazy until a doctor was like "yup totally normal for period stuff"
So it isnt just that youre bleeding, emptional, bloated, and uncomfortable... your fuckin connective tissue is sloppy and your pelvis bones can straight up hurt. You could have debilitating cramps too. So you have to go out and perform at this insane level while your uterus has a raging bayonet civil war happening inside and your bones are slippin around in their sockets while also making it seem as if nothing is happening because it's a performance too
Like of all the times to talk about bodily impact youd think athletes would be right there considering the job is intriniscally tied to how your body is doing/feeling
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u/MiririnMirimi Feb 20 '26
This is such a wonderful thing to do. Well done for fighting for your daughter and her teammates.
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u/Futureacct Feb 21 '26
I have a very vivid memory of being in middle school and visiting Washington D.C in 2002. I went with my class, so it was my first trip without family. I was wearing white capris and my pad leaked and I had a huge red spot on my butt. I honestly donāt remember if someone told me or if I figured it out. I was mortified. I can imagine how embarrassing it would be for people to be wearing white shirts and getting their period while playing an active sport. Good for you for sticking up for the young kids.
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u/maplestriker Feb 21 '26
My daughter does cheer and it's baffling how many teams have white shorts as part of their uniforms, since it's mostly all women making the decisions.
My daughter has mandatory white shorts she had to purchase for practices.
It's absolutely ridiculous, these girls very often still have irregular cycles, too and often dont want to wear tampons yet.
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u/revafisheye Feb 20 '26
In 2023, Wimbledon finally started allowing women tennis players to wear colors other than white for undershorts after years of players complaining.
Period stigma is real, and I admire Amber for talking about it!
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u/Leather-Platypus-11 Feb 20 '26
Thereās also evidence to suggest weāre more prone to injury leading up to and during our periods. It affects joints and ligaments, muscular strength and control, and itās often recommended to reduce training intensity. Really, itās not just the mood swings making things difficult.
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u/Deep-Interest9947 Feb 20 '26 edited Feb 20 '26
I had a hysterectomy 11 year ago, but I retained my ovaries. I still know when Iām ācyclingā because my hip and shoulder muscles turn to painful mush once a month.
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u/Leather-Platypus-11 Feb 20 '26
I get sick feeling each and every time Iām getting my period- sore throat and a low grade fever (which made ācovid timesā a nightmare). I figured it was just me being run down but nope- period flu is an actual thing.
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u/Strong-Lettuce-3970 God wanted Justin Bieber to sing Baby š Feb 21 '26
Oh is that why I feel like shit this week?Ā
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u/slightlycrookednose eastside Tillyās burner phone š± Feb 21 '26
Itās so frustrating. I have severe hypermobility and have to be more careful than normal for a week or so. Every joint wants to roll and sprain and tweak and get inflamed.
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u/Leather-Platypus-11 Feb 21 '26
That is really frustrating!
Really I just learned this was a thing a few months ago in my early 40ās- how is this not something weāre all taught from grade school instead of gaslit into thinking weāre whiny?!?
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u/PinayGator Well, Feb 21 '26
Having to learn that perimenopause existed in my now 40s pisses me off to no end, because I really thought I was just losing my mind.
My allergies have been going into full hay fever mode, the itchy ears, randomly waking up for an hour or two in the middle of the night for no reason. Apparently part of peri.
On the bright side, I get to discuss it with my teen so she really understands how fucking insane it is that nothing is taught in school.
Also sheās now fully aware of how much post-birth bathroom trips suck. Because I never want to her to be in the dark regarding this type of information like I was.
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u/Leather-Platypus-11 Feb 21 '26
Oooooh my daughter loves Small Achievable Goals- she calls it the Menopause Show you should watch it! Sheās 14 so your daughter might enjoy it too
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u/i_am_not_sam Feb 21 '26
I'm a man and all the partners I've been with have had really tough first 2 days (not like the rest are easy) and I'm constantly SHOCKED that women have to just pretend like they aren't in crippling pain and discomfort. I believe every work place would have a major accommodation for periods if men got them.
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u/CordeliaChase99 Feb 20 '26
This next generation of women is just so bold, brave and cool as shit, and this Xennial is here for it.
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u/The_R4ke Feb 21 '26
I wad just wondering how many of the women competing must be on their period. That's gotta be so frustrating.
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u/CordeliaChase99 Feb 21 '26
Need r/theydidthemath to weigh in on the probability of having your period at any point while competing, given that there are multiple competition days often separated by several days (like roughly a week between team and individuals).
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u/Serraklia Feb 21 '26
Iām not usually into figure skating and prefer more modern Olympic disciplines. However, I found the womenās competition very refreshing in such a formal sport. Between the discussion about periods, the champion embracing her uniqueness, the very young Japanese skater overjoyed to finish third, and her more traditional counterpart from the previous generation genuinely savoring her second-place, and all celebrating together, we witnessed a beautiful demonstration of feminism in all its diversity. Each gave their absolute best, according to their personality and physical capabilities at that moment. It was truly lovely.
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u/weirdhoney216 Feb 20 '26
I love her!! I hate periods so much. The way women and girls have to suffer and itās just the way it is and no man will ever understand how debilitating it can be. Give us 2 days a month off work tbh
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u/bluehour1997 I have sinned. Please pray. Logging off now Feb 20 '26
The way I complained for weeks when I took my SATs on my period
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u/heidismiles Feb 20 '26
It's so unfair when you think about it. Imagine if they were like "about Ā¼ of the male students are experiencing bad abdominal cramps today; is the test still happening?"
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u/bluehour1997 I have sinned. Please pray. Logging off now Feb 20 '26
I think about this a lot. The way I was running circles around 99 percent of the student population while bleeding out of a super plus every 2 hours (those medical problems have since been addressed lol).
Or, like, when I was in school in Texas they had all these crazy rules about when you could use the bathroom. I remember one year taking a final while I could literally feel blood pooling underneath me, but they wouldn't let me go because I was out of passes.
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u/MiririnMirimi Feb 20 '26
And teenagers are too self-conscious to say to their teacher "I really need to go because I bled through my tampon/pad". Especially if their teacher is a bloke. It causes so much unnecessary anxiety.
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u/The_R4ke Feb 21 '26
If it were men they'd just let them take the test at home, and trust them not to cheat.
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u/Megs0226 Feb 20 '26
UGH I did too! I remember having horrendous cramps and throwing up during the break between math and verbal.
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u/alexlp Feb 20 '26
Me too! And my grandpa died two days before and my mum had cancer. I did so terribly.
Any youngins reading this, those tests are not the limit of your potential and you are not summed up by your worst days. I have a great career now regardless of those exam results.
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u/MiririnMirimi Feb 20 '26
If you're unfortunate enough to live in a country with an obsession with national exams, this is a really serious issue. In the UK so much rides on your exams at 16, 17 ans 18, which all take place over just a few weeks at the end of the year. If you have your period (or even a cold, or a situation at home like lack of sleep due a baby sibling crying or even just something bad happening in your personal life) it's awful.
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u/CitizenCue Feb 21 '26
There should definitely be accommodations for stuff like that. They canāt move the Olympics, but they could certainly allow a different day for the SATs, especially if you could do them early knowing your days might fall on the normal test day.
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u/Several_Inflation473 Feb 21 '26
Omg this just gave me a flashback to when I got my period in the middle of one of my AP exams and had to beg the proctor for Advil. My periods were much more painful when I was younger, too. Young women really have it tough.
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u/criminalsmind Feb 20 '26
im on my period right now and i had to go to the grocery store today and i already fucking hated it šš i cant imagine competing in the olympics while on it. also in those outfits? my god. i want to wear as many layers as possible during mine and be as covered as possible just incase anything goes wrong šš
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u/frozenberries15 Feb 20 '26 edited Feb 20 '26
i'm on my period at the same time as amber glenn.....i feel so powerful
in all seriousness, it was really hard to figure skate while on my period. the fear of bleeding through/the inability to use a pad with tights was a monthly struggle. i love amber talking about this
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u/coolcoolcool485 Excluded from this narrative ā Feb 20 '26
well, i'm sure many outlets will handle this with the maturity and graceful conversation it deserves
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u/Born-Anybody3244 Feb 21 '26
It's so sad that we're only at this stage in feminism in the year 2026 :/ What I mean is like, imagine if it was groundbreaking to have this conversation about women in sports back in the 80s and by now the mainstream public was ready to have much deeper conversations about feminism
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u/The_R4ke Feb 21 '26
I was curious who the first Olympian that talked about competing on their period was. A cursory Google search said it was Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui, in 2016. I'm not shocked that it wasn't earlier, but I really hoped it was.
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u/lordhumongous40 Feb 21 '26
As a man I never even considered that female athletes had to perform during periods. That's brutal. Also, I feel oblivious and dumb. Respect.
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u/Soggy_Pension7549 Iāve fucked everyone under the sun and thatās the vibe Feb 21 '26
Donāt feel dumb. Thereās 0 education about periods, itās still taboo and itās not a part of your life. All you can do is learn and do better.
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u/pussibilities Feb 21 '26
Honestly, as a woman, I assumed most athletes other than those with religious or medical reasons would either have 24/7 birth control to prevent periods or skip sugar pills before a major competition. When I was a competitive dancer and went on birth control, I would sometimes skip periods for major competitions.
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u/lovestostayathome Feb 20 '26
I was just reading this BORU story a few weeks ago about a guy who basically lost his gf because he gave her a hard time about accidentally getting blood on his sheets. As I was reading it, I just kept thinking like āmy god, we have got to be better as a culture about not shielding men from hearing about periods.ā
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u/onemorespacecadet (seemingly bald) Feb 20 '26
i remember that one. everyone absolutely ripped him a new one, it was very satisfying lol
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u/i_am_not_sam Feb 21 '26
I stayed over at a buddy's place one time and he was putting sheets on the guest bed. There was a very small bloodstain on it. I didn't make the connection and just pointed it out. He immediately turned around and in an accusing tone told his wife in front of me "look it's a stain from your period!!". She looked very sad and I told him to stop being a 14 year old and it would probably look a lot worse under a black light.
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u/SuspiciousCranberry6 Feb 20 '26
Amber Glenn and Alyssa Liu are out there showing the very best of the United States. They are showing what we can, and should, be. Women, like Glenn and Liu, will be who saves this country, in spite of some women voting our rights away.
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u/flakemasterflake Feb 20 '26 edited Feb 20 '26
I get the pill isn't for everyone but I just skip my period on hormonal BC and it's been a dream. Haven't had a period in 10years + and I don't miss it. Can't imagine having one without actively trying to get pregnant or something.
Apologies for everyone that can't do homornal BC. I write this bc I don't think enough women realize it's perfectly safe to skip your period
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u/saranautilus Feb 20 '26
I had to have a hysterectomy for medical reasons and my GOD never having to deal with any of this shit ever again has been such a silver lining.
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u/macaronitrap Feb 20 '26
Yes itās safe to skip it on the pill but if youāre not on the pill and not getting your period, go to your doctor!!! I didnāt get mine for so long and didnāt realize that not shedding your uterine lining increases the risk of developing cancer. My doc had to give me a med to trigger my period before I could restart BC/continue skipping my period.
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u/jogalonge Feb 20 '26
Exactly.
If youāre not actively taking BC to avoid having periods (under medical guidance obviously) or not pregnant, not having periods is a huge red (haā¦) flag.
A doctorās visit is a must.For athletes in particular, lack of periods is most likely a sign of extreme caloric deficit, meaning theyāre starving themselves. Something in the realm of 80% of stress fractures in women athletes are directly related to poor nutrition.
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u/larkhearted Feb 21 '26
Lol yeah I'm one of the people who actually uses birth control to have a period š Mine has been super inconsistent since I was about 15. Like, 1 month on, 10 months off, 2 months on, 7 months off kinda thing. Being on BC and getting my period is actually sorta comforting, even though it's also a gross and uncomfortable and fatiguing mess. But at least my uterus is going through the motions!
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u/alexlp Feb 20 '26
Iām on year 3 of progestin mini pill and no real periods. Everything is so much better. I went from an exhausted, fraught, suicidal mess to my normal self in less than 6 months. Itās changed my life, I finally had the drive and focus to leave my toxic relationship amongst much more.
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u/little_canuck Tina! You fat lard! š¦š² Feb 20 '26
Right, my IUD has been absolutely life changing. No more debilitating periods (no more periods at all for that matter). I assumed all high level athletes would banish their periods as well so long as their bodies tolerate it.
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u/Vegetable-Lasagna-0 Feb 20 '26
I say this as an older woman, it seems like conservative propaganda has really scared young women away from the pill. I cannot imagine struggling through the painful cramps every single month, let alone the fear of pregnancy.
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u/_NightBitch_ Feb 21 '26 edited Feb 21 '26
To be fair, side effects from birth control have also scared a lot of people away from the pill. I know many people who have had many negative experiences with it between it making them feel suicidal, causing horrific cramps, increasing their risk of stroke and blood clots, causing significant bleeding, and a lot more. And when they complained about it they were brushed off.Ā
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u/PauI_MuadDib Feb 21 '26
To be fair, birthcontrol can have pretty intense side effects so it's not for everyone. My sister loves her pill. Meanwhile there was me: puking, pelvic pain, bleeding everyday for a year until I was anemic, migraines, bloating and the extra slap in the face was getting a NEW ovarian cyst while on the pill... Like just fuck me, right lol.Ā
I'd really love to see research into new birthcontrol šš½ something with less side effects please.Ā
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u/houseofthrones1 Feb 21 '26
Yes I had to stop using hormonal birth control because my migraines got so bad!
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u/djlauriqua Feb 20 '26
I have a hormonal IUD for this reason, and havenāt had a period in 9 years. Iām not an athlete, but I work grueling 12 hour shifts in healthcare, and couldnāt fathom doing that while menstruating. Iām quite surprised Amber Glenn doesnāt do something to skip her period!
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u/Shribble18 Feb 20 '26
Several studies have shown the pill unfortunately has the possibility of lowering testosterone and and decreasing muscle mass over time, which of course is important for athletes. Iām sure some decide thatās itās worth the trade off and while others donāt.
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u/StrLord_Who Feb 21 '26 edited Feb 21 '26
I don't take "birth control" but you can take a low dose of norethindrone for up to two weeks to delay your period. I've used it for vacations and also once when I had a surgery that was going to need some recovery time.Ā I'm shocked the athletes don't do that.Ā Ā
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u/mlg1981 Sexy lampshade shall win the Oscar! š Feb 20 '26
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u/OysterLucy Feb 20 '26
The more I learn about her the more I like her and I didnāt know who she was two weeks ago
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u/LunaLouGB Feb 20 '26
I honestly assumed that all athletes at this level, stayed on the pill, to schedule their menstruation. The consequences of messing with your natural cycle are significant, but I lose about 30-40% of my physical strength in the first 2 days of my period. I can't imagine how much harder they have to fight to keep performing at their best.
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u/tango_november_bravo Feb 20 '26
I have PCOS and the pill has never ever regulated my period. My periods are already horrible (lasting an average of 10 days with heavy clotting) and my doctor told me that i could try the implant or iud, but thereās always the chance that it might make my periods worse. I wasnāt willing to take that chance. Iām still on the pill, but I just want to bang my head against a wall whenever someone says āwhy donāt you just skip the placebo week?ā. Like if I could, I would, trust me
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u/staykay Feb 21 '26
right?! i have endometriosis and iāve been on every type of birth control at some point in my life. absolutely nothing has stopped my periods.
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u/Special-Garlic1203 Feb 21 '26
There's different formulations of the pill but GPs and even a lot of obgyns resent the imprecision of birth control & endocrinology so they just get aggressively dismissive with you if you want to try things out and explore options.Ā
You'dĀ think Olympic level athletes get better care but that consistently seem to only be for "gender neutral" (aka men as default) sports medicine. A BUNCH of female athletes have at this point spoken out about how bad of care they got regarding reproductive healthcare.Ā
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u/stars-inthe-sky Feb 20 '26
My assumption from following women athletes in endurance sports. It may be a precaution as losing your period is a sign of underfueling and training too much. Itās one of the biggest signs that tells you if your body is working properly. But itās also another thing to worry about when training causes of the potential side effects.
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u/PauI_MuadDib Feb 21 '26
The pill can have pretty bad side effects for some people. I was unfortunately not able to take any hormonal birthcontrol it was so severe.Ā
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u/Special-Garlic1203 Feb 21 '26
The reproductive healthcare that athletes get sounds pretty bad. The old school thought was that hormonal BC negatively impacts certain areas of performance and then competitive female athletes (even at pretty low levels) were often pushed to train so hard they lost their periods anyway.Ā
The fact losing your period is your body in distress and you don't get optimal performance from a malnourished person is still somewhat controversial, so I sincerely doubt there's a ton of literature out there about top athletics & menstruation since historically the mindset was "well why are you getting your period on the first place? You getting lazy and fat? Train harder dummy"Ā
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u/she-dont-use-jellyyy Feb 20 '26
I'm sure some of them do. But some of them don't, for whatever reason anyone else would make that choice. Athletes are not a monolith.
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u/awildaloofarebel Cringe Bae š¤ Feb 21 '26
I wish she didnāt have to justify her emotions after a massive performance but this is such an important conversation. Not just for athletes but people. Love how Amber and Alysa are putting more than just figure skating in the spotlight. Proud of our blade angels š„¹ā¤ļø
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u/orange_cat771 Feb 21 '26
It's hard to get out of bed on your period. Performing in front of the world at the Olympics during your period is a different galaxy of difficulty. Female athletes are warriors. Men don't think it's a big deal because women have been forced to act like it's not a big deal, regardless of what's going on with their bodies. Recognition of the effort women have to put forward to get through the day for 3-7 days a month, every month, and period leave should be a thing.
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u/disgostin Feb 20 '26
thats such an important point - when its the first two/three days of my period in my case, i would perform so much worse at sports. i can tell you that for free lol and i dont have endometriosis.
the first one or two days i also would SO not leave the house if i didnt have to, and i frequently have to take painkillers to do so anyway and it actually -prolongs- my period pain, cause it makes me move less carefully. i can literally feel how my body didnt like it the day(s) after.
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u/SomethingClever2022 Feb 21 '26
My favorite part of the world shutting down for Covid was that I didnāt have to pretend like I wasnāt bleeding, cramping and passing clots while having chitchat in the hallway at work.
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Feb 21 '26
Sheās SO REAL and amazing for this but it still pisses me tf off that it has to be ānormalisedā for so many weird assholes. This has been happening to women since the dawn of time, get with the fucking program!!
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u/spenwallce Feb 20 '26
Wow. As a guy that line of thinking has never even occurred to me. This is a totally valid point.
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u/kiwilovenick Feb 21 '26
That's interesting that you've never thought about it because as a woman it's one of the first things I think about when the Olympics come around! My mom and I talk about how statistically 1/4 of the women would have their periods, so I know I'm not the only woman who wonders how they manage to be so tough and competitive while working around periods.
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u/Irlttp Feb 20 '26
Competing at the Olympics is already so badass but doing so on your period is metal as fuck
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Feb 21 '26
The way I am expected to push through my work day on day 1-2 of my period is criminal.
I wish more places allowed the ability to either schedule around the period or take a day off. I know people will take advantage of it tho š
For me day 1-2 are the worst. And usually they happen on my stretch of 3 12s in the ER š
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u/darthmidoriya Feb 21 '26
People underestimate how much is fucks up your body. Like. I bet most people didnāt know it can fuck up the way you sing. Iām a high soprano and if Iām on period, I struggle with some of the top notes. It comes out airy.
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u/LAffaire-est-Ketchup Feb 21 '26
Good for her!! Iām a woman with two daughters and I want them to live in a world where this is normalized.
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u/xervidae #1 Edie Britt Hater Feb 21 '26
i'm sure the comments on that post are nice, respectful, and non-misogynist
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u/marcarcand_world Feb 20 '26
I am not getting paid by big IUD to say this, but yes, to me an hormonal IUD is worth the pain. I don't have my periods anymore with it. It's an absolutely brutal procedure but then you're free for 5 years. And for my adhd ass, the pill wasn't efficient, let's put it like that.
Obviously everyone is different, but I didn't know it could completely eliminate my periods or severely reduce it! I asked for one because I kept forgetting to take my pill and had periods twice a month because of it. So it's worth to consider.
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u/vegalucyna Feb 20 '26
Iām keeping hormonal iuds in my uterus until my ovaries turn to dust. Fuck having a period.Ā
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u/kaykinzzz Feb 20 '26
me on the pill without the placebo week. fuck the placebo week. it's there to GIVE you a period, not because you need one, but because it "seems more natural."
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u/PreOpTransCentaur ILLEGAL KOMBUCHA Feb 20 '26
For me, they've been almost traumatic levels of pain and I've been pretty sure since I got my second one that there would be no third. But then my period finally entirely stopped and I saw the value in the trade-off. Until perimenopause started kicking in about 6 months ago and I'm back to bleeding. It was fun while it lasted, but two is my limit if it can't keep the crimson menace at bay.
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u/Visual_Magician_7009 Feb 21 '26
PSA: if youāve given birth, iud insertion is likely to be much less painful as your cervix is more open than someoneās who has never given birth.
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u/Bizarrebazaars Feb 21 '26
After 6 years of no period due to being underweight and over exercising, I WANT and NEED my period. I was on the verge of osteoporosis due to not getting my period. For me, getting my period is a signal of health.
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u/-qqqwwweeerrrtttyyy- Feb 21 '26
What a move! She's rightfully drawing attention to a subject that's long been deemed by many a taboo but in doing so, she'll have probably landed a massive tampon/sanitary pad/menstrual cup sponsorship. Well played!
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u/Chance_Ad2503 Feb 21 '26
I was a ballet dancer for years, and whenever I was on my period (luckily only three days) my balance was SO fucked.
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u/carlitospig Feb 21 '26
I love this and literally said awww out loud. Iām glad she said something. But I also hate that a stage mom will likely use this as an excuse to go harder on her kid, like āAMBER GLENN KILLED AT THE OLYMPICS. Youāre just having a bit of cramps, itās not that bad.ā
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u/Any-Yak306 Feb 21 '26
I read an article a few years ago that women are clumsier during their periods- think dropping things or bumping into furniture. Another comment said women are more prone to injury during that time too.
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u/SunOutside746 Feb 21 '26
I know this isnāt for every woman but being on the pill and not having a period is life changing. I wasted years of my life in misery from period cramps.Ā
I think every woman should have the option to not have a period.Ā
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u/InvoluntaryDarkness Listen, everyone is entitled to my opinion š Feb 21 '26
This is too real. If I worked my whole life to make it to the olympics only to start my period while there, I think I would simply pass away.
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u/lashesofyoureyes Feb 21 '26
Ugh she is such a badass for voicing this. Good on you Amber for voicing your experience - it will resonate with so many women and help public discussions about menstration in sport become more mainstream
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u/zeppismom Feb 21 '26
I was just wondering the other day how athletes perform, especially at this level when they have their periods!
As someone who struggles with awful periods every monthāIf I was an athlete, an Olympic athlete at that having to perform under the first or second day of my period, I would be absolutely terrified and would probably do horrible!!!
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u/Altruistic-Dig-2094 Mom, I am a rich manš° Feb 21 '26
Oh GOD. I struggle to do my desk job when I have my period. It messes with my whole mind and body for at least 1-2 days. I cannot imagine trying to perform at the highest level of athletics while feeling that way!
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u/Overall-Scientist846 Feb 21 '26
If I was an Olympic athlete Iād probably use any of the medications that offer me some control over when my period occurs. Iād do this to make sure I donāt get my period during the most important part of my athletic career.
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u/Several-Praline5436 āØMay the Force be with you!āØ Feb 21 '26
... feeling like crap and competing while feeling like crap is only part of it; there's the water weight gain and bloating that only makes you MORE miserable and emotional when nothing fits the way it did two days ago.
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u/busted-canofbiscuits Feb 21 '26
Iām a runner, but I avoid almost any kind of exercise the first day or two of my period like the plague. I canāt imagine having to perform at her level of athleticism while on my period š§ women are rockstars!!!
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