I also LOVE the intro "Do you menstruate? Do you know someone who menstruates?" Because right off the bat you establish the fact that even if the viewer themself doesn't, it's important they understand what their colleagues are dealing with.
Also something to keep in mind if you choose the birth control (pill) option to stave off your periods.... if you get a case of "blah belly" and end up with a case of diarrhea that lasts a couple days, you can quite possibly end up getting your period because you're not absorbing the hormones into your system. ALWAYS pack "just in case" supplies. (Hard lesson learned, that stuff is hard to find in the middle of rural China.)
Another option, which can be gross, is to just dissolve the pill under your tongue. You might have to break it up a bit since it's a tablet and not formulated to be dissolved sublingually BUT this is an extremely useful way to get meds in your system while skipping the GI tract without exploring more unsavory options. Works with many pills though be careful with the NDAIDS, they can be highly irritating when not diluted with water and food. But hey, if it's the best option you've got... Beware of gel caps, however, I do not recommend this method for gel caps AND do not recommend that you bring them if you plan to be in a rural area. Tablets are your friend. Also consider dissolving the meds in a small amount of water and sipping on that if you can't directly deal with the taste of the pill in your mouth. Not 100% recommended but it's better than nothing. You gotta get creative sometimes and it can help in a pinch if it's only a few days of that.
When I worked in archaeology I sometimes wondered about this, but was not sure how to bring it up. I'm happy to see this video explaining how women can deal with this natural function in the field so that they can have equal opportunities with men in the more rugged elements of interesting disciplines.
Bless you Emily. Seriously. I was 100% expecting to have to bear through the usual dysphoria that comes with hearing period advice, but you immediately surpassed all my expectations by keeping the pronouns and advice gender neutral. You don't know how happy just this little detail make me as a trans guy going into Biology. I just.....I wish you can see the dumb smile on my face because it's such an easy fix that is so rarely done (especially in scientific videos unfortunately). Hell, even if no one else notices or if you did it on accident, I just wanted to thank you!
+PsychoBabble2168 I couldn't very easily call myself an advocate for diversity and inclusivity in science, and then only talk about gender and sexuality in a binary way. It is important this video be neutral.
The world needs more people like Emily Graslie. I did some work in Central America and of all the medical and personal hygiene advise I got before going, no one and I mean NO ONE knew how to advise me about potential feminine issues. Emily isn't kidding about doing your business in a hole in the ground. A lot of the places I stayed in Honduras had no running water and some had semi-communal outhouses. When my period came I freaked out because I didn't have a very private way to wash my underwear and then I freaked out again when I realized I didn't have the best means for keeping my hands and lady parts clean. I think the stress and anxiety I felt about it shortened my period, because it only lasted two days. But they were some of the hardest two days of my life. I wish I could have seen this video before I went. It would have saved me a lot of trouble.
WOW, ok, so first, I'm a guy, and while my initial reaction was WTF, as I continued to listen, I thought, what a cool video, and message to all those (hopefully), wanna be field explorers, who happen to be women, and what a positive message this was to them, to help allay any fears they may have had concerning female issues and conducting field research. BRAVO Emily! You are an inspiration to all, regardless of gender, and have tackled a subject in a way that is informative, relevant, and important, to all field researchers, regardless of gender. Love your channel, and so totally respect all that you do to bring nature conservation to the forefront. To the field museum, thank you for your visionary leadership!!
+thebrainscoop This is funny, frank, fascinating, and fantastic. Cheers for constantly surprising and impressing. Your work for females in the field (and on youtube) is very appreciated!
Thank you Emily for normalising periods and shedding light on a very real problem that some scientists face in the field. Periods need to stop being a stigma!
Great video, thanks for covering the various options in a no-shame kind of way. I'd only add two things. Thing the first: Skipping the inactive birth control pills can actually cause a person to have various levels of spotting (including period-like heaviness) until they have their next set of inactive pills (sounds great for fieldwork, yes?). Talking with your doctor, then doing a trial run a time or two could be worthwhile, so you can have a bit more of an idea how your body reacts to the process before you're far from home without menstrual products because you thought you'd be skipping that period. Thing the second: hormonal IUDs (like Mirena) can cause lightened periods, or no periods at all. Copper IUDs (like Paragard) actually can actually cause heavier periods with more cramping. It would suck to get an IUD hoping for no periods and ending up with heavier, crampy periods instead! The biggest thing to remember, imho, is that bodies are weird. Anytime something in your routine changes, there's a possibility for period weirdness. This includes things like graduating, getting married, getting sick, having surgery, starting or stopping medication, traveling, the list goes on... Hope this helps someone!
Dear Emily, I work in a library and don't plan on going on any field expedition in the foreseeable future. But nevertheless- this video made me very happy, just because your tone and the information you give is so great! I am a huge fan of your work. You are a true inspiration.
I think this video is great. This is practical and important advice for anyone who menstruates. Two things that should be clarified: 1) not all menstrual cups are cleaned by boiling (namely any menstrual cups made from natural rubber), so if you go the menstrual cup route make sure you know the proper technique for cleaning it. 2) not all IUDs decrease menstrual flow. Hormonal IUDs generally do, but copper (non-hormonal IUDs) generally do not, so if you are planning on getting an IUD inserted in part to decrease your flow make sure you get the hormonal kind.
As a former trail worker who always kept a pencil case of OBs in my pack and swears by nylon underpants, let me say bravo for championing menstrual cups, and for capturing the earthy disinhibition that comes with being in the wilderness. I know Thoreau was lying whenever he related camp dialogue, because no group of campers have ever talked for five straight minutes without talking about poop or farts or other bodily functions. I may be in my living room, but you brought me right back to the side of Mt. OJI in Baxter State Park.
My sister likes to use cloth pads on her field trips (she's an ecologist). It can be changed in a few seconds, and as with disposable pads, if your hands are not absolutely clean it's ok. Also, she likes that they don't have adhesive like disposables, so even if you are outside and there is wind or stuff, there is no risk of having it stick together or have other things stick to it. They are also more breathable and more comfortable than disposable pads, which is great too! But I guess if you have no way of cleaning them for a long time (more than a week) it may not be a good option.
Naabeille Not having yet tried any reusable menstrual products, I never even thought about about cloth pads' lack of stickiness! The number of times throughout my life I've accidentally had a pad flip over on itself and get stuck, ugh!! This is an advantage of cloth pads I hadn't realized. Thanks for bringing it up!!
Not sure if this has been anyone else’s experience, but I’ve had considerably shorter and lighter periods since switching from disposable products to washable pads. I’m not sure why exactly this is the case, but I feel like maybe my body didn’t like chemicals or bleaching agents often found in pads and tampons (I’ve always had terrible reactions to anything scented, for example). They’re fairly easy to take care of at home; I just rinse mine out in cold water until the water runs clear after use, and then throw them all in the washing machine with my regular clothes or towels after my period ends. In the field, I imagine packing them in a waterproof bag (they usually come with one for changing them while out of the house anyway) and washing them when you return from your trip would be fine for one, maybe even two periods if you pack enough to last you without having to wash and reuse them. They don’t take up a lot of space! For a trip three months or longer you’d probably have to have access to reliable hot water and unscented soap to wash them by hand or a washing machine, but for short trips a quick rinse and waiting to sanitize them properly until you get home is completely doable.
I use cloth pads and also find myself in the field sometimes. There are nice zippered fabric bags that separate soiled/clean pads, and you're right, long-term trips make cloth pads less ideal. The metal snaps aren't always reliable and I lost my unicorn-print cloth pad in a public composting toilet once because it unsnapped itself and fell in! Couldn't fetch it out.
Thanks for talking about this, Emily. I'm glad people are overcoming the silly taboo around period talk.The more we talk about it the less people will be misinformed and the more comfortable they'll be to talk about it.
I don't have to deal with this particular problem, but thank you for doing this. It gave me another opportunity to consider what my women coworkers, friends and family have to deal with - often to their unfair embarrassment.
This made me so happy- women in stem talking about how to deal with a period and continue being awesome and doing cool field work. Just so good. Many feminist brownie points to Emily and the team. And also i bow down to women (or people who menstruate) dealing with it in the wild w limited toilet accessibility. I can barely deal w it at home.
I'm a dude, but thank you for this video! I've long known about leave-no-trace and poor hygiene situations, but I've always been curious about how it works for women with respect to periods and risk reduction for yeast infections. I worked in hospitals for a number of years. Let's just say that I'm far from bashful or squeamish about pretty much any normal function of the human body.
+Carl M When you are in a relationship with a woman, you will need to know this stuff. You will be able to go shopping for your gf/wife with confidence and without embarrassment. Also you might find yourself on a field expedition one day, Emily's advice might prove invaluable to one of your fellow researchers. Keep an open mind and learn about everything.
PERIODS IN SPACE THO... I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS (obviously, you are not the one to answer these questions, I just thought that I would share that I am pretty curious)
+Laurie Maybe we should pester SciShow about that one. I'm guessing that gravity factors into periods, uh, perioding properly, so how is that worked around? Were there astronauts who got ill from their cycles in space before it was figured out?
+Laurie Or....I could just use my librarian skills. Since periods still tend to be a taboo topic, I hadn't thought anyone would have put this out onto the internet yet, but I was wrong. See NPR: www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/09/17/441160250/what-happens-when-you-get-your-period-in-space
It might just be a rumour, but I heard that when the first female astronaut went to space, NASA asked her if a hundred packs of tampons would be enough for 3 months. They could calculate quite exactly how much water and food would be needed, but had no idea if there should be one or a thousand tampons :P
I don't quite know if this is the right video to post this on but I'm going to say it anyway. I just wanted to say thank you so much Emily. I started watching you waaaaaaaay back when with your first video on Vlogbrothers, and I remember thinking 'Wow, working in museums looks like it could be a really cool and interesting job'. Because of you, I ended up researching museum work and how to get involved with that sort of area. I'm now a student studying history and archaeology, which I know is a different area to you since you do more sciency stuff, and I volunteer part time at my university's museum helping to give tours and working with the collections with the intention to go into more heritage work once I graduate. I never would have considered working in museums as a possible thing I could do had I not seen your video all those years ago and been inspired by that. Thank you so much for helping inspire me and others like me to pursue work in that area. I cannot thank you enough for helping me find something that I really love and enjoy.
You and Gross Science totally planned this, didn't you? I am so, so happy that I got a lovely sub dermal birth control implant last year. As of now I haven't had a period at all in the last three months! Looking forward to at least two more years of worry-free scuba diving, camping, hiking, etc.
That jingle makes me happy every time. Nice work Mr. Aranda. Or maybe it's because the sound is associated with the entertaining and informative Ms. Graslie.
Note to my friendly Male field guides (and really Anyone...) If your 1st aid pack doesn't contain a week of sanitary menstrual equipment, then it's not correctly prepared. If your training doesn't cover helping expedition members with their potential menstrual needs, it is not enough training. If anyone in your crew thinks there's anything un-professional about dealing with an obviously common biological cycle.... Tell them the Foxberries are Raspberries and laugh as they sign up for a week of the S#!ts...
I am so happy you did this video!! I'm possibly going to the Arctic for 3 weeks in the summer to collect flies and it would be my first time going into the field. I've been thinking of possible ways to handle my period incase it falls in those 3 weeks. So this video totally helpful!!
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this! I've been wondering how one would go about this for such a long time, particularly for prolonged research assignments. I'm imagining all of the waste products that people that menstruate use depending on their flow length, and lugging that in and out just sounds like not a good time. What products are safe to burn? I don't actually know what's in tampons, but I imagine some of them must have some sort of synthetic material. Also I really want an episode on what to do for the explosive diarrhea. The people need to know!
I love this video. I'm a civil engineer who works in the field on construction sites year round. Getting an IUD a couple of years ago literally changed my life. I would recommend this method to people who deal with little or no access to restrooms every month. Packing products and trash works, but it got so tedious after years of it.
I am so happy you made this video. Problems with menstruation aren't something a lot of people think about when it comes to expeditions, or even just camping, and even fewer people talk about them openly and honestly. You're a freaking hero.
Ahhh the unscented wet wipes - the functionality of almost an entire bathroom but in a small, moistened towelette 👌. Thank you for this fantastic video!
+thebrainscoop Yep and maxipads are much cheaper than 5x9 dressings and can be used, in numbers, to fill in for a Multi Trauma Dressing. Just make sure they are chemical free.
+Ishkotar Not if they are kept properly packaged and applied clean to the wounds. They are better than using any random clean cloth to stop bleeding. I think you are referring to the use of the pads intended purpose for extended periods of time.
I'm a hiker and I use the cup, it's great because as you said its discrete, doesn't produce any waste and you can wear it for a really long time without worrying about it. It's true that it's difficult to clean if you don't have access to clear water, but I find that using baby wipes to clean it in between works great for a quick solution, and it also serves for cleaning your hands before insertion. I have tried every method of dealing with periods in the wild mentioned here and the cup is really the best ever. Just be sure to pack baby wipes with you just in case =)
Emily, you consistently rock youtube. Thanks for talking about realities of having a kickass outdoor science life, and for making any barriers to being kickass because of an 'ick' feeling feel like just another part of adult life to manage intelligently. Love what you do.
I'm a biologist and work in the field 90% of the summer months and I feel this is definitely something that is not talked about as much as it could be. Kudos to you!
+seigeengine could you please explain why this is not gender neutral? (I'm coming from place of ignorance so don't take it the wrong way) I want to learn.
It takes a special type of sjw to believe menstruation is not gender specific. What is happening to this world, women are making me ashamed to be female.
Indra Vargas This is an issue that only applies to women, is for women, and is about women. This implicitly discludes men. Unless you're using gender in the "societal role" way, in which case, that would be monumentally moronic. Menstruation is not gendered in that sense to begin with. It is about sex, not what sociocultural archetype, or whatever gross mutation thereof, you relate to. That would be like thanking a physics prof post-lecture for giving a fruit-neutral lecture.... technically correct, but complete and irrelevant nonsense.
I love everything about this video. Often times, topics like this are overlooked and it's nice to find something that answers most of our hygienic concerns!
I have encountered rare instances where my crew members who are on their cycle have had problems with heat stress. These are ladies who are experienced surveyors who have had no problems walking in the heat get laid low. It seems to balance itself out after some time and acclimation but it can be dangerous. Just something to keep in mind if something seems off.
I love that you are talking about this Emily! I work as a backpacking trip leader and as such I have a shorter version of this conversation with the women on every trip I lead. I'm so glad you're brining this out into the open so hopefully people can feel less weird about periods.
How I wish to had watched a video like this before! I say no to many invites of male friends just to avoid the embarrassment. I would die if they knew I was having a hard time with my body. A little blood can't stop us! I feel empowered, thank you, Emily!
It's hard to shed the feeling that your period is in some way inadequate, but once you do, it's so empowering. I used to be really shy about it but when you realize half of the worlds population deals with it it's silly to try and keep it secret. People without uteruses have to be aware of it too, so they can know what we deal with and better undestand us. A little blood can't stop us and if others think it's gross, well, they poop don't they? and poop is waaaay more gross than blood.
This is so wonderful! Thank you Emily for introducing these. The pain of doing a six-hour clean surgery with menstrual cramps is nothing compared to those things you fieldworking ladies have to endure...
All the chat about periods and cups and vagina's, then right at the end the inevitable "It still has brains on it" made the water I was drinking come right out of my nose. A somewhat horrific mental image ;)
So great that you covered this! I'm sure there are a bunch of girls who hesitate to do field work over embarrassment over their periods and now there are so quick and easy answers! Thank you!
Thank you for addressing menstrual cups here as well! So much better for the environment, and let's be real, WAY more comfortable once you get the hang of it!
Ah, I remember the first time I had to explain all this stuff to other girls going on a backpacking trip. Glad you always present information in such an accessible way!
Glad there is an episode like this, I'd encourage guys to watch this who work with, or organize field work, so that you have a clue what women may need or are going through so you can at least do what you can to help out.
I needed this video two years ago when I was going on my first archaeological dig. I managed to make it through (conditions weren't too terribly dirty!), but it definitely was a concern of mine. Even now, this video is super helpful and has information that I can carry with me throughout my archaeological adventures. Thank you, Emily! You're awesome :)
So glad to see that you addressed this! I know men must be curious to how a woman can pull off an expedition while having her period. The men I worked with were always respectful and would go out of their way to boil extra water for warm compresses after a rough day or so I would have clean water to wash underclothes more often. In general, men in the field tend to not be squeamish and would rather know how to help then constantly wonder why a woman has to make a pit stop to use the restroom/hole in the ground more often than normal.
Thank you so much for this video! I'm lucky enough to be going on a fieldtrip to Borneo this summer as part of my degree which I am super excited about but will probably be on my period at the time, so this info is really useful! Periods should definitely be talked about more and especially for times and places where they are more problematic.
A couple of things here. Thank you for explaining digital, I've always been confused by that as a male with no experience in that area. Secondly, basic field sanitation is really important for anyone wanting to spend anytime in the field. When I was in the military, it was not unusual for people to be out with "issues" concerning sanitation, food poisoning,etc. Finally, you are absolutely correct when it comes to reporting issues. It is everyone's business for your health and the health of others to be honest about minor issues that may be embarrassing before they become major health concerns that can jeopardize your life.
Great video. Your mentioning at the end about 'whatever happens, happens' made me think that it's lucky you are talking about scientific fieldwork. Things would probably be much worse if you were dealing with just the general public who get terribly worked up and freaked out over basic biology and are actually proud of it. At least a scientific-minded person would step back and say 'this is a basic part of human biology, any reactions I'm having are just stupid and I need to ignore them'. It made me really wonder what menstruation was like before the Industrial Revolution. Houses were built without private bedrooms or much privacy at all, everybody just lived together in a big common room (except for the tiny upper class). I wonder how they dealt with it?
That's a really interesting topic! I have read that they tied cloths between their legs and stayed mostly ostracized from the rest of the family. There were lots of myths about menstruiting women making food go bad, and milk rancid, that mirrors lost their shine if a menstruating woman looked in it, and so on, so they probably just sat in the farthest corner of the house alone waiting out their periods.
king On your next attempt, I recommend actually presenting claims and arguments. How much you type is only important to mush-minded imbeciles afraid of reading.
You rock! My first back country backpacking trip (as a junior in high school) coincided with my period and I was terrified/horrified, etc. I was SO embarrassed to have to ask my aunt (a very experienced backpacker) for advice, and ended up using o.b. tampons (for the first time!) in the middle of nowhere in the Sierra Mountains. So glad you're vocal and smart and relaxed and funny! Could have used you back in the 1980s!
OMG! You are just the best! THANK YOU for this straightforward, funny, and much needed approach to a normal healthy biological function - that no one wants to talk about! Sharing!
I wondered about this after your videos when you were on you expedition... Never thought I get a whole video of explanation! Very informative and interesting :)
Emily, you are so awesome for posting this practical and detailed information! Back in the day, we didn't talk about such things. So weird. I'm glad that women of your generation can frankly discuss these topics. Yet one more reason that you rock!
Warning from experience, if you're in a canoe or a situation where your lower half will get wet, pads are not the best option because they will soak up the water and unstick themselves from your underwear. I used to use tampons while canoeing throughout the day and then switched to pads while at the campsite.
Emily, I am glad you covered this topic. I've often wondered how women are able to participate in expeditions, safaris and other long-term outdoor situations. Very appreciative of the work you do. I'm really proud of you and told my students you're my favorite scientist :)
Three cheers for honest advice on a real problem. I hope that I speak for many females in STEM careers that dialogue such as this does wonders for creating an inclusive environment in a challenging field. As for the menstrual cup, if you do not want to use food equipment, rinse it first with boiled water and then soak in rubbing alcohol. This sterilizes it and avoids the drama of menstrual substances in contact with cooking surfaces (females may be fine with it, but others without periods are more likely to have a stigma against it). The downside is that you have to pack out rubbing alcohol, but this is also a multi-use substance. Also, silicone melts at 1414 C.... so a boiling pot should be fine.
I love the frank, unembarrassed way this video was presented. I really think that we need to remove the taboo of talking about periods. It shouldn't be an uncomfortable topic for anyone, even people who don't get periods, and, as is obvious from this video, there are situations in which it's very important to talk about!
I have been evangelizing menstrual cups since I got one almost 7 years ago (you can use the same one for ~10 years). Yes, they do take some getting used to. It took me three or four months using one before I was comfortable enough to go without a pad or panty liner, but I haven't used a single one of those since. It is so cheap, it is so sanitary, it is so comfortable. GET ONE.
great job Emily. you took a serious problem and addressed it with the gravity and humor that make it possible to talk about these things without getting or being embarrassed. Good advice for you women. Us guys have our own little problems but none as great as this one for gals.
I love this video so much. Emily you and your content are so wonderful and filling a gap on the Internet that desperately needed to be filled. It's so refreshing to watch videos like this that matter-of-factly answer extremely important questions and advise other people with vaginas in the field. Which reminds me, I appreciate that there was no use of friendly euphemisms in this video. Always looking forward to your next upload!
I actually put off doing field work in the past because of periods; I know I missed great internship opportunities, but I didn't want to be without running water during that time of the month. Now that I'm graduating in April, I'm considering looking for such opportunities once more, and was wondering exactly what researchers who have periods dealt with them. I use cloth pads, but have been interested in cups for some time. Seems like the best solution for where I might end up. Thank you so much!
I know this video is a bit older now, but it came up on my feed the week before I would be doing field work a few miles away from any bathroom, which happened to be the week of my period. Thank you!
I also LOVE the intro "Do you menstruate? Do you know someone who menstruates?" Because right off the bat you establish the fact that even if the viewer themself doesn't, it's important they understand what their colleagues are dealing with.
Ellie its also very trans-inclusive verbage
Also something to keep in mind if you choose the birth control (pill) option to stave off your periods.... if you get a case of "blah belly" and end up with a case of diarrhea that lasts a couple days, you can quite possibly end up getting your period because you're not absorbing the hormones into your system. ALWAYS pack "just in case" supplies. (Hard lesson learned, that stuff is hard to find in the middle of rural China.)
+Renlish A possible point in favour of a hormonal implant if deciding to go that route ?
Ath Athanasius
Yep, definitely for those who are able to use the implants. (Sadly I'm not one. Poo.)
+Renlish If you don't mind me asking, why can't you? Allergies?
Youthro
The implants and IUDs like Mirena are progesterone based. This hormone is bad juju for me. :)
Another option, which can be gross, is to just dissolve the pill under your tongue. You might have to break it up a bit since it's a tablet and not formulated to be dissolved sublingually BUT this is an extremely useful way to get meds in your system while skipping the GI tract without exploring more unsavory options. Works with many pills though be careful with the NDAIDS, they can be highly irritating when not diluted with water and food. But hey, if it's the best option you've got... Beware of gel caps, however, I do not recommend this method for gel caps AND do not recommend that you bring them if you plan to be in a rural area. Tablets are your friend.
Also consider dissolving the meds in a small amount of water and sipping on that if you can't directly deal with the taste of the pill in your mouth. Not 100% recommended but it's better than nothing. You gotta get creative sometimes and it can help in a pinch if it's only a few days of that.
When I worked in archaeology I sometimes wondered about this, but was not sure how to bring it up. I'm happy to see this video explaining how women can deal with this natural function in the field so that they can have equal opportunities with men in the more rugged elements of interesting disciplines.
Bless you Emily. Seriously. I was 100% expecting to have to bear through the usual dysphoria that comes with hearing period advice, but you immediately surpassed all my expectations by keeping the pronouns and advice gender neutral. You don't know how happy just this little detail make me as a trans guy going into Biology. I just.....I wish you can see the dumb smile on my face because it's such an easy fix that is so rarely done (especially in scientific videos unfortunately). Hell, even if no one else notices or if you did it on accident, I just wanted to thank you!
+PsychoBabble2168 I couldn't very easily call myself an advocate for diversity and inclusivity in science, and then only talk about gender and sexuality in a binary way. It is important this video be neutral.
+thebrainscoop huzzah! it is noted and appreciated by many!
+thebrainscoop Honestly girl, I respect the hell out of you.
+thebrainscoop And that's yet another reason in the ever-growing list of reasons why I love this channel and your work, Emily. Manymany thanks!
yesssss. literally what I came to the comments section to say.
The world needs more people like Emily Graslie. I did some work in Central America and of all the medical and personal hygiene advise I got before going, no one and I mean NO ONE knew how to advise me about potential feminine issues. Emily isn't kidding about doing your business in a hole in the ground. A lot of the places I stayed in Honduras had no running water and some had semi-communal outhouses. When my period came I freaked out because I didn't have a very private way to wash my underwear and then I freaked out again when I realized I didn't have the best means for keeping my hands and lady parts clean. I think the stress and anxiety I felt about it shortened my period, because it only lasted two days. But they were some of the hardest two days of my life. I wish I could have seen this video before I went. It would have saved me a lot of trouble.
WOW, ok, so first, I'm a guy, and while my initial reaction was WTF, as I continued to listen, I thought, what a cool video, and message to all those (hopefully), wanna be field explorers, who happen to be women, and what a positive message this was to them, to help allay any fears they may have had concerning female issues and conducting field research. BRAVO Emily! You are an inspiration to all, regardless of gender, and have tackled a subject in a way that is informative, relevant, and important, to all field researchers, regardless of gender. Love your channel, and so totally respect all that you do to bring nature conservation to the forefront. To the field museum, thank you for your visionary leadership!!
Here's a special episode to answer some of your FAQ's about menstruating and field work! Happy exploring!
+thebrainscoop I really had no questions about this topic, but I was still fascinated to learn about it.
+thebrainscoop It blows my mind how I never see a ring on your finger. You might be the perfect woman. Btw Im 26, m, with a BS in biochem ;) lol
+thebrainscoop This is funny, frank, fascinating, and fantastic. Cheers for constantly surprising and impressing. Your work for females in the field (and on youtube) is very appreciated!
YAY
+thebrainscoop I have always wondered about it! thanks for doing this video!
Thank you Emily for normalising periods and shedding light on a very real problem that some scientists face in the field. Periods need to stop being a stigma!
Great video, thanks for covering the various options in a no-shame kind of way. I'd only add two things. Thing the first: Skipping the inactive birth control pills can actually cause a person to have various levels of spotting (including period-like heaviness) until they have their next set of inactive pills (sounds great for fieldwork, yes?). Talking with your doctor, then doing a trial run a time or two could be worthwhile, so you can have a bit more of an idea how your body reacts to the process before you're far from home without menstrual products because you thought you'd be skipping that period.
Thing the second: hormonal IUDs (like Mirena) can cause lightened periods, or no periods at all. Copper IUDs (like Paragard) actually can actually cause heavier periods with more cramping. It would suck to get an IUD hoping for no periods and ending up with heavier, crampy periods instead!
The biggest thing to remember, imho, is that bodies are weird. Anytime something in your routine changes, there's a possibility for period weirdness. This includes things like graduating, getting married, getting sick, having surgery, starting or stopping medication, traveling, the list goes on...
Hope this helps someone!
Dear Emily, I work in a library and don't plan on going on any field expedition in the foreseeable future. But nevertheless- this video made me very happy, just because your tone and the information you give is so great! I am a huge fan of your work. You are a true inspiration.
I think this video is great. This is practical and important advice for anyone who menstruates. Two things that should be clarified: 1) not all menstrual cups are cleaned by boiling (namely any menstrual cups made from natural rubber), so if you go the menstrual cup route make sure you know the proper technique for cleaning it. 2) not all IUDs decrease menstrual flow. Hormonal IUDs generally do, but copper (non-hormonal IUDs) generally do not, so if you are planning on getting an IUD inserted in part to decrease your flow make sure you get the hormonal kind.
As a former trail worker who always kept a pencil case of OBs in my pack and swears by nylon underpants, let me say bravo for championing menstrual cups, and for capturing the earthy disinhibition that comes with being in the wilderness. I know Thoreau was lying whenever he related camp dialogue, because no group of campers have ever talked for five straight minutes without talking about poop or farts or other bodily functions. I may be in my living room, but you brought me right back to the side of Mt. OJI in Baxter State Park.
My sister likes to use cloth pads on her field trips (she's an ecologist). It can be changed in a few seconds, and as with disposable pads, if your hands are not absolutely clean it's ok. Also, she likes that they don't have adhesive like disposables, so even if you are outside and there is wind or stuff, there is no risk of having it stick together or have other things stick to it. They are also more breathable and more comfortable than disposable pads, which is great too! But I guess if you have no way of cleaning them for a long time (more than a week) it may not be a good option.
Naabeille Not having yet tried any reusable menstrual products, I never even thought about about cloth pads' lack of stickiness! The number of times throughout my life I've accidentally had a pad flip over on itself and get stuck, ugh!! This is an advantage of cloth pads I hadn't realized. Thanks for bringing it up!!
Not sure if this has been anyone else’s experience, but I’ve had considerably shorter and lighter periods since switching from disposable products to washable pads. I’m not sure why exactly this is the case, but I feel like maybe my body didn’t like chemicals or bleaching agents often found in pads and tampons (I’ve always had terrible reactions to anything scented, for example). They’re fairly easy to take care of at home; I just rinse mine out in cold water until the water runs clear after use, and then throw them all in the washing machine with my regular clothes or towels after my period ends.
In the field, I imagine packing them in a waterproof bag (they usually come with one for changing them while out of the house anyway) and washing them when you return from your trip would be fine for one, maybe even two periods if you pack enough to last you without having to wash and reuse them. They don’t take up a lot of space! For a trip three months or longer you’d probably have to have access to reliable hot water and unscented soap to wash them by hand or a washing machine, but for short trips a quick rinse and waiting to sanitize them properly until you get home is completely doable.
I use cloth pads and also find myself in the field sometimes. There are nice zippered fabric bags that separate soiled/clean pads, and you're right, long-term trips make cloth pads less ideal. The metal snaps aren't always reliable and I lost my unicorn-print cloth pad in a public composting toilet once because it unsnapped itself and fell in! Couldn't fetch it out.
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN EMILY? I HAVE MISSED THIS CHANNEL SO MUCH!
+Bryson Duce We post a video every other week, friend!
+thebrainscoop Is there a Patreon or something if we should crave more brain scooping?
+thebrainscoop I thought I was your friend, pal! =[
+arbaces I thought I was your pal, guy!
Thanks for talking about this, Emily. I'm glad people are overcoming the silly taboo around period talk.The more we talk about it the less people will be misinformed and the more comfortable they'll be to talk about it.
I have wondered about this topic in regards to remote fieldworkers. Military women in combat could also have related issues. Good topic.
I don't have to deal with this particular problem, but thank you for doing this. It gave me another opportunity to consider what my women coworkers, friends and family have to deal with - often to their unfair embarrassment.
This made me so happy- women in stem talking about how to deal with a period and continue being awesome and doing cool field work. Just so good. Many feminist brownie points to Emily and the team. And also i bow down to women (or people who menstruate) dealing with it in the wild w limited toilet accessibility. I can barely deal w it at home.
I'm a dude, but thank you for this video! I've long known about leave-no-trace and poor hygiene situations, but I've always been curious about how it works for women with respect to periods and risk reduction for yeast infections.
I worked in hospitals for a number of years. Let's just say that I'm far from bashful or squeamish about pretty much any normal function of the human body.
Why am I watching this? Fascinating.
Same, I finished watching the video before asking myself that. Still, pretty interesting stuff.
+Carl M When you are in a relationship with a woman, you will need to know this stuff. You will be able to go shopping for your gf/wife with confidence and without embarrassment.
Also you might find yourself on a field expedition one day, Emily's advice might prove invaluable to one of your fellow researchers.
Keep an open mind and learn about everything.
Maxx B I frequently get sent on missions to get tampons, but nothing expedition-level.
+Maxx B Haha, sounds kinda gay bro
culwin Where do you get the notion that vagina stuff is gay?
PERIODS IN SPACE THO... I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS (obviously, you are not the one to answer these questions, I just thought that I would share that I am pretty curious)
+Laurie menstrual cups ftw
+terravidia Moon cup XD
+Laurie Maybe we should pester SciShow about that one. I'm guessing that gravity factors into periods, uh, perioding properly, so how is that worked around? Were there astronauts who got ill from their cycles in space before it was figured out?
+Laurie Or....I could just use my librarian skills. Since periods still tend to be a taboo topic, I hadn't thought anyone would have put this out onto the internet yet, but I was wrong. See NPR: www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/09/17/441160250/what-happens-when-you-get-your-period-in-space
It might just be a rumour, but I heard that when the first female astronaut went to space, NASA asked her if a hundred packs of tampons would be enough for 3 months. They could calculate quite exactly how much water and food would be needed, but had no idea if there should be one or a thousand tampons :P
I don't quite know if this is the right video to post this on but I'm going to say it anyway. I just wanted to say thank you so much Emily. I started watching you waaaaaaaay back when with your first video on Vlogbrothers, and I remember thinking 'Wow, working in museums looks like it could be a really cool and interesting job'. Because of you, I ended up researching museum work and how to get involved with that sort of area. I'm now a student studying history and archaeology, which I know is a different area to you since you do more sciency stuff, and I volunteer part time at my university's museum helping to give tours and working with the collections with the intention to go into more heritage work once I graduate. I never would have considered working in museums as a possible thing I could do had I not seen your video all those years ago and been inspired by that. Thank you so much for helping inspire me and others like me to pursue work in that area. I cannot thank you enough for helping me find something that I really love and enjoy.
Thank you so much for making this, Emily! I love the openness to this.
"Not like you insert it with your iPhone" - this made me laugh out loud. This is such a freaking fantastic video.
You and Gross Science totally planned this, didn't you?
I am so, so happy that I got a lovely sub dermal birth control implant last year. As of now I haven't had a period at all in the last three months! Looking forward to at least two more years of worry-free scuba diving, camping, hiking, etc.
That jingle makes me happy every time. Nice work Mr. Aranda. Or maybe it's because the sound is associated with the entertaining and informative Ms. Graslie.
Note to my friendly Male field guides (and really Anyone...)
If your 1st aid pack doesn't contain a week of sanitary menstrual equipment, then it's not correctly prepared.
If your training doesn't cover helping expedition members with their potential menstrual needs, it is not enough training.
If anyone in your crew thinks there's anything un-professional about dealing with an obviously common biological cycle.... Tell them the Foxberries are Raspberries and laugh as they sign up for a week of the S#!ts...
Tell them the snozberries taste like snozberries.
I am so happy you did this video!! I'm possibly going to the Arctic for 3 weeks in the summer to collect flies and it would be my first time going into the field. I've been thinking of possible ways to handle my period incase it falls in those 3 weeks. So this video totally helpful!!
This is the BEST video I have seen in a LONG time, and possibly my favourite youtube vid of 2016. Thanks for looking out for us, Emily!
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this! I've been wondering how one would go about this for such a long time, particularly for prolonged research assignments. I'm imagining all of the waste products that people that menstruate use depending on their flow length, and lugging that in and out just sounds like not a good time. What products are safe to burn? I don't actually know what's in tampons, but I imagine some of them must have some sort of synthetic material.
Also I really want an episode on what to do for the explosive diarrhea. The people need to know!
I love this video. I'm a civil engineer who works in the field on construction sites year round. Getting an IUD a couple of years ago literally changed my life. I would recommend this method to people who deal with little or no access to restrooms every month. Packing products and trash works, but it got so tedious after years of it.
As a dad of 2 teens (who are not shy) I learned a few things. Thanks Brainscoop.
I am so happy you made this video. Problems with menstruation aren't something a lot of people think about when it comes to expeditions, or even just camping, and even fewer people talk about them openly and honestly. You're a freaking hero.
This is so great! I love it! Will be super helpful when planning my camping trip this summer! Thank youuuuuu.
Ahhh the unscented wet wipes - the functionality of almost an entire bathroom but in a small, moistened towelette 👌. Thank you for this fantastic video!
Maxi pads can double as wound dressings.
+Bill Hughes And tampons can help with nosebleeds! Really, no reason not to carry them in first aid kits, even if you don't menstruate.
+thebrainscoop Yep and maxipads are much cheaper than 5x9 dressings and can be used, in numbers, to fill in for a Multi Trauma Dressing. Just make sure they are chemical free.
+Bill Hughes Nothing is "chemical free".
+Ishkotar Not if they are kept properly packaged and applied clean to the wounds. They are better than using any random clean cloth to stop bleeding. I think you are referring to the use of the pads intended purpose for extended periods of time.
Multi-use product. I like the way you think.
As a female earth science undergrad I am so thankful for this video!
Thanks! This was really cool, and actually something I wondered about when you first announced your trip to the Amazon.
I'm a hiker and I use the cup, it's great because as you said its discrete, doesn't produce any waste and you can wear it for a really long time without worrying about it. It's true that it's difficult to clean if you don't have access to clear water, but I find that using baby wipes to clean it in between works great for a quick solution, and it also serves for cleaning your hands before insertion.
I have tried every method of dealing with periods in the wild mentioned here and the cup is really the best ever. Just be sure to pack baby wipes with you just in case =)
Emily, you consistently rock youtube. Thanks for talking about realities of having a kickass outdoor science life, and for making any barriers to being kickass because of an 'ick' feeling feel like just another part of adult life to manage intelligently. Love what you do.
I'm a biologist and work in the field 90% of the summer months and I feel this is definitely something that is not talked about as much as it could be. Kudos to you!
I love this kind of content!!! please make more advice videos for women in the science field!
This is honestly so great! Informative, not at all squeamish, and gender neutral. Super great!
+themaddiemads This was not at all gender neutral.
+seigeengine could you please explain why this is not gender neutral? (I'm coming from place of ignorance so don't take it the wrong way) I want to learn.
It takes a special type of sjw to believe menstruation is not gender specific. What is happening to this world, women are making me ashamed to be female.
+Indra Vargas I'm like 90% sure it is, I might have to rewatch the video but I don't remember any parts that were gendered.
Indra Vargas This is an issue that only applies to women, is for women, and is about women. This implicitly discludes men.
Unless you're using gender in the "societal role" way, in which case, that would be monumentally moronic. Menstruation is not gendered in that sense to begin with. It is about sex, not what sociocultural archetype, or whatever gross mutation thereof, you relate to. That would be like thanking a physics prof post-lecture for giving a fruit-neutral lecture.... technically correct, but complete and irrelevant nonsense.
We watched your video on the Olinguito in my university class!
always such a relief to hear open and honest talk about periods. Thanks! You go girl!
I love everything about this video. Often times, topics like this are overlooked and it's nice to find something that answers most of our hygienic concerns!
I have encountered rare instances where my crew members who are on their cycle have had problems with heat stress. These are ladies who are experienced surveyors who have had no problems walking in the heat get laid low. It seems to balance itself out after some time and acclimation but it can be dangerous. Just something to keep in mind if something seems off.
I love that you are talking about this Emily! I work as a backpacking trip leader and as such I have a shorter version of this conversation with the women on every trip I lead. I'm so glad you're brining this out into the open so hopefully people can feel less weird about periods.
How I wish to had watched a video like this before! I say no to many invites of male friends just to avoid the embarrassment. I would die if they knew I was having a hard time with my body. A little blood can't stop us! I feel empowered, thank you, Emily!
It's hard to shed the feeling that your period is in some way inadequate, but once you do, it's so empowering. I used to be really shy about it but when you realize half of the worlds population deals with it it's silly to try and keep it secret. People without uteruses have to be aware of it too, so they can know what we deal with and better undestand us. A little blood can't stop us and if others think it's gross, well, they poop don't they? and poop is waaaay more gross than blood.
This is one of the greatest videos I've ever watched. Thanks for all the advice, the experiences and the sense of humor!
This is so wonderful! Thank you Emily for introducing these. The pain of doing a six-hour clean surgery with menstrual cramps is nothing compared to those things you fieldworking ladies have to endure...
All the chat about periods and cups and vagina's, then right at the end the inevitable "It still has brains on it" made the water I was drinking come right out of my nose. A somewhat horrific mental image ;)
what an inclusive, informative, and respectful video, Emily! thank you so much for all you do xx
So great that you covered this! I'm sure there are a bunch of girls who hesitate to do field work over embarrassment over their periods and now there are so quick and easy answers! Thank you!
Thank you for addressing menstrual cups here as well! So much better for the environment, and let's be real, WAY more comfortable once you get the hang of it!
this is such a wonderful and informative video for women entering the fields of science!! I never thought about it like this! good job :)
Thanks, Emily! I've done fieldwork in the Amazon twice and this was still informative for me.
Ah, I remember the first time I had to explain all this stuff to other girls going on a backpacking trip. Glad you always present information in such an accessible way!
As an earth and environmental sciences major going on my first fieldwork trip in March, I thank you so much for this video!
Outstanding information for expeditions or just a weekend hike... thank you!
You are just so impressive Emily. Thanks for everything you do.
Amateur explorer here! This is one of those videos I never new I needed. So informative! Thank you
Glad there is an episode like this, I'd encourage guys to watch this who work with, or organize field work, so that you have a clue what women may need or are going through so you can at least do what you can to help out.
I needed this video two years ago when I was going on my first archaeological dig. I managed to make it through (conditions weren't too terribly dirty!), but it definitely was a concern of mine. Even now, this video is super helpful and has information that I can carry with me throughout my archaeological adventures. Thank you, Emily! You're awesome :)
So glad to see that you addressed this! I know men must be curious to how a woman can pull off an expedition while having her period. The men I worked with were always respectful and would go out of their way to boil extra water for warm compresses after a rough day or so I would have clean water to wash underclothes more often. In general, men in the field tend to not be squeamish and would rather know how to help then constantly wonder why a woman has to make a pit stop to use the restroom/hole in the ground more often than normal.
This needed to exist, now it does. GREAT!
Thank you so much for this video! I'm lucky enough to be going on a fieldtrip to Borneo this summer as part of my degree which I am super excited about but will probably be on my period at the time, so this info is really useful! Periods should definitely be talked about more and especially for times and places where they are more problematic.
This is great! Thanks for the knowledge, Emily! I feel like I can do anything now.
You are awesome. Thank you so much for being such a wonderful role model and educator.
A couple of things here. Thank you for explaining digital, I've always been confused by that as a male with no experience in that area. Secondly, basic field sanitation is really important for anyone wanting to spend anytime in the field. When I was in the military, it was not unusual for people to be out with "issues" concerning sanitation, food poisoning,etc. Finally, you are absolutely correct when it comes to reporting issues. It is everyone's business for your health and the health of others to be honest about minor issues that may be embarrassing before they become major health concerns that can jeopardize your life.
Thanks so much for dispelling the myth of bears and periods!
Great video. Your mentioning at the end about 'whatever happens, happens' made me think that it's lucky you are talking about scientific fieldwork. Things would probably be much worse if you were dealing with just the general public who get terribly worked up and freaked out over basic biology and are actually proud of it. At least a scientific-minded person would step back and say 'this is a basic part of human biology, any reactions I'm having are just stupid and I need to ignore them'. It made me really wonder what menstruation was like before the Industrial Revolution. Houses were built without private bedrooms or much privacy at all, everybody just lived together in a big common room (except for the tiny upper class). I wonder how they dealt with it?
That's a really interesting topic! I have read that they tied cloths between their legs and stayed mostly ostracized from the rest of the family. There were lots of myths about menstruiting women making food go bad, and milk rancid, that mirrors lost their shine if a menstruating woman looked in it, and so on, so they probably just sat in the farthest corner of the house alone waiting out their periods.
king On your next attempt, I recommend actually presenting claims and arguments. How much you type is only important to mush-minded imbeciles afraid of reading.
You rock! My first back country backpacking trip (as a junior in high school) coincided with my period and I was terrified/horrified, etc. I was SO embarrassed to have to ask my aunt (a very experienced backpacker) for advice, and ended up using o.b. tampons (for the first time!) in the middle of nowhere in the Sierra Mountains. So glad you're vocal and smart and relaxed and funny! Could have used you back in the 1980s!
Thank you so much for posting this! I always wondered about how this would work
This is something I have always wondered about. Thank you!
Digital... insertion?
Technology has come a long way indeed.
OH WAIT digital as in with fingers jesus I was confused for a while there
+SeraphimKnight I seriously wanna know what you were imagining, ahahaha!
+SeraphimKnight I thought I was the only one thinking that!!! Google corrected me on that though
+simplename000 She clears that up at 2:33, but I was also confused with that term :p
+SeraphimKnight Data knows all about digital insertion.
Thank you for this video. It's nice to see someone talking about often-ignored subjects in a straightforward manner.
Yeah, Mirena for sure. I know someone who uses one (it's an iud), didn't have a period for over a year using it.
OMG! You are just the best! THANK YOU for this straightforward, funny, and much needed approach to a normal healthy biological function - that no one wants to talk about! Sharing!
I wondered about this after your videos when you were on you expedition... Never thought I get a whole video of explanation! Very informative and interesting :)
Emily, you are so awesome for posting this practical and detailed information! Back in the day, we didn't talk about such things. So weird. I'm glad that women of your generation can frankly discuss these topics. Yet one more reason that you rock!
Warning from experience, if you're in a canoe or a situation where your lower half will get wet, pads are not the best option because they will soak up the water and unstick themselves from your underwear. I used to use tampons while canoeing throughout the day and then switched to pads while at the campsite.
Emily, I am glad you covered this topic. I've often wondered how women are able to participate in expeditions, safaris and other long-term outdoor situations. Very appreciative of the work you do. I'm really proud of you and told my students you're my favorite scientist :)
This was great! I've been curious about what you found out since you brought up the question before you left on your expedition.
Wow, I found this way more interesting than I expected! Thanks, Emily!
As someone who is setting off to do field work I am super happy you made this video
This is a fantastic video about something I have often wondered about but didn't want to ask! Thanks for the frank, honest, and detailed conversation!
I am glad you clarified "digital."
Three cheers for honest advice on a real problem. I hope that I speak for many females in STEM careers that dialogue such as this does wonders for creating an inclusive environment in a challenging field. As for the menstrual cup, if you do not want to use food equipment, rinse it first with boiled water and then soak in rubbing alcohol. This sterilizes it and avoids the drama of menstrual substances in contact with cooking surfaces (females may be fine with it, but others without periods are more likely to have a stigma against it). The downside is that you have to pack out rubbing alcohol, but this is also a multi-use substance. Also, silicone melts at 1414 C.... so a boiling pot should be fine.
I love the frank, unembarrassed way this video was presented. I really think that we need to remove the taboo of talking about periods. It shouldn't be an uncomfortable topic for anyone, even people who don't get periods, and, as is obvious from this video, there are situations in which it's very important to talk about!
Emily, you are a gem. Thank you so much for this video!
I have been evangelizing menstrual cups since I got one almost 7 years ago (you can use the same one for ~10 years). Yes, they do take some getting used to. It took me three or four months using one before I was comfortable enough to go without a pad or panty liner, but I haven't used a single one of those since. It is so cheap, it is so sanitary, it is so comfortable. GET ONE.
"It still has brains on it..." That's really not what I want from sanitary products!!
Great informative video though, as always :)
+Claire Lane
"It still has eggs on it."
+Claire Lane That's a classic line from a long time ago, so they put it at the end of every video.
BariumCobaltNitrog3n I know, I've been watching since the beginning :)
Claire Lane
Yes!
great job Emily. you took a serious problem and addressed it with the gravity and humor that make it possible to talk about these things without getting or being embarrassed. Good advice for you women. Us guys have our own little problems but none as great as this one for gals.
I love this video so much. Emily you and your content are so wonderful and filling a gap on the Internet that desperately needed to be filled. It's so refreshing to watch videos like this that matter-of-factly answer extremely important questions and advise other people with vaginas in the field. Which reminds me, I appreciate that there was no use of friendly euphemisms in this video. Always looking forward to your next upload!
I actually put off doing field work in the past because of periods; I know I missed great internship opportunities, but I didn't want to be without running water during that time of the month. Now that I'm graduating in April, I'm considering looking for such opportunities once more, and was wondering exactly what researchers who have periods dealt with them. I use cloth pads, but have been interested in cups for some time. Seems like the best solution for where I might end up. Thank you so much!
This is so important! Thanks for talking about it!
This is one of my favorite Brain Scoop episodes!!! This is a great topic I never thought about before.
I know this video is a bit older now, but it came up on my feed the week before I would be doing field work a few miles away from any bathroom, which happened to be the week of my period. Thank you!
Wow! Thank you, next year I'll be hiking for several days straight and I was just wondering about how to deal with my period.