LadiesBladewing
Posts: 944
Joined: 8/31/2005 Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: candystripper However, i am 52 yrs old and have seen probably 40 different ob/gyns and have never been told anything like the Op describes. No MD has said anything like the period being a "down time" when the body cleanses itself. candystripper I was a bit surprised to read the comment from the OP's doctor, but only because this particular comment usually comes from midwives -- in particular, those who are strongly involved in the mind/body healing community. The idea is that the time of the period is a time when the body is cleansing itself, and on an emotional/spiritual level, a woman is most open, and both more powerful and more vulnerable than at any other time of her cycle, as she casts off the vestiges of an incomplete 'creation' within her. Most midwives on this track won't tell women that they can't participate in any activities, though (including sex). They -will- tell her to be aware of her body, and to take a little bit of time during this cleansing to let go of any other garbage she may have in her life, since her whole system is geared to that cleansing phase. The only other time I've heard comments of this ilk is among very OLD ob/gyns -- where it is usually meant in the same vein as the "weaker sex" comments that show up in various places. These same physicians will tell a woman that she shouldn't exercise during her period, or have sex, or even do things like go to work -- because she's going to be weak during her period, and should save her strength. To the best of my knowledge, there is -no- evidence that this is true, and in fact, most women feel better, and suffer less from cramps, bloating, weight gain and mood swings when they -do- have sex, exercise, and participate in work and other activities that keep them motivated and creative. The only exceptions are for some women who bleed -very- heavily (more than 2 super pads in an hour and unable to use tampons because of the heavy flow) due to uterine cysts or dysmenorrhea, where increased activity or sexual activity has increased the incidence or duration of this heavy flow. For these women, MODIFIED activity is useful in keeping the blood flow regulated, and in preventing hemmorrhage. Another exception is for women who are pregnant, and for whom sex causes premature contractions. Some bleeding is normal for many pregnant women, if there is cervical contact during sex, since the cervix is very friable. However, for a woman who is prone to premature labor, the hormone prostaglandin in semen can cause contractions, and even with a condom, the normal contractions caused by orgasm can trigger premature labor. There is no reason for a woman in her third trimester with -no- history of premature labor to avoid sex. As long as there is a position where the woman is not flat on her back, and there is not undue pressure on the abdomen, sex in the third trimester can be both pleasant and helpful (the prostaglandin in semen can assist the woman's body in preparing for birth by providing hormonal support for the softening and thinning of the cervix). I've even recommended gentle intercourse during labor -- particularly for women who couldn't relax and whose labors had stalled. For some women, on a spiritual level, the time around the menstrual cycle is a time for introspection and retreat. I can respect this, as it held this connotation for me, as part of my own spiritual journey. Now that I no longer have periods, I miss the regular reminder to look inside myself and cast off that which was no longer useful -- and I am looking for new ways to create patterns to remind me of the necesary cleansing times in our lives. If it were one of my acolytes at the "dedicant" level (where they had already confirmed their dedication to our path), or a servant who also walked the spiritual path that I do (or another that makes this distinction -- I believe some of the Native American and the Orthodox Jewish paths both do, along with a few others), as I said earlier, this would be a consideration that I would make and one of the commands to my servant or acolyte. It was certainly not something I expected to hear an allopathic medical practitioner say, though. It is actually nice to know that some may take these kinds of connections into consideration. LZ
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"Should have", "could have", "would have" and "can't" may be the most dangerous phrases in the English language. Bladewing Enclave
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