Ammre (right) at her GTA Certification Dinner - Photo Courtesy of Ammre Ulrich
Many women dread getting a pelvic exam from their gynecologists just once a year. Ammre Ulrich has gotten 13 in one day.
A medical marvel? Excruciating torture? Nope, just another day at work as a GTA.
I had never even heard of GTAs before Ammre became one. In fact, the first words that came to mind when hearing the abbreviation “GTA” were “Grand Theft Auto”, because my little brother has a Playstation 2.
But as far as my friend Ammre is concerned, GTA stands for “Gynecological Teaching Associate”, not a felony.
You could win this Sampler Pack!!! Photo Courtesy of Lunapads.com
Lunapads has given me a wonderful opportunity: to hold a contest for Cephaloblog readers* to win one of their Sampler Packs (a $25 value)!
If you’re already a reusable menstrual product user but haven’t experienced the comfort and reliability that is Lunapads; you’re already a Lunapads user but could use some more; or you’re new to reusable pads altogether, enter to win this contest!
Sampler Packs include a little bit of everything to get you started with Lunapads – one maxi pad, one maxi liner, one maxi wing liner, and one mini pantyliner – in a color/pattern of your choice! Be sure to check out Lunapads’Â fabric swatches so that you can pick your favorite if you win (I recently got my sister a set in the Cupcakes pattern, because she’s a baker – too cute!).
Here’s how to enter:
1) Leave a comment on this post telling me why you want to switch to reusable menstrual products; or, if you already use reusable products, why you think women should switch to reusable methods.Â
2) Be sure to include a valid email address with your post, so that I can let you know that you won and get your shipping address and fabric choice.
The best comment wins!!! A consolation prize will be awarded to all who enter (and provide a valid email address with their comment)!
The Lunapads Contest Giveaway IS OFFICIALLY OVER! Entries are being evaluated and a winner will be announced by June 5, 2009.
* Female readers, that is. This contest is open to any and all women, worldwide, so please feel free to share the link to this post with anyone. However, if a male reader comments and is able to make a great case for why his female significant other, mother, sister or daughter should switch to/continue to use reusable products (and will promise to give the Sampler Pack to the woman in question), I won’t discount his entry!
Just one more reason to love Lunapads: Not only do they make the best designed washable cloth pads on the market, they’re willing to share their secret.
Despite what a great tutorial this was, honestly, my favorite part of the post was their reasoning for providing such instructions:
“The videos and pattern download were created in response to two needs: first, as a possible option for those who can’t afford Lunapads, or to support those who prefer to make things themselves, just because. Second is to offer it as an instructional tool for women in Africa to make pads for themselves and/or as commercial products, as well as for crafters in this neck of the woods who want to make pads to contribute as donations to Pads4Girls.”
I just love that a company that makes money selling reusable pads is willing to provide a simplified DIY pattern for those who aren’t able to afford their product and to help others in need.
I am currently reading a really amazing book that I bought as a present for my sister but have yet to give her (oops, hi Kel, hope you’re not reading this!): My Little Red Book.
My Little Red Book is a collection of stories from a whole range of different women about getting their first periods. Since I have always felt I had a pretty memorable first period story myself (but then again, who doesn’t?), I was very excited to read this book and hear others.
I am not even halfway through the book yet, but the other night I read a first period story that I identified with so much I just had to share it.Â
Yesterday, I talked about some great eco-conscious reasons to make the switch from disposable menstrual products to menstrual cups. Today, I’ve got plenty of other reasons why switching to a cup is a great idea, even if you don’t give a fig about the enivornment.Â
1) We’re in a recession! Why flush your hard-earned cash (or dwindling savings) down the toilet – literally? Buying a menstrual cup may cost more than buying a box of tampons, but think of how many more times you’ll have to buy that box of tampons in the next ten years. If you’re internet-savvy, you can find different brands of menstrual cups for as little as $20. That’s like four boxes of tampons – that will last you a decade.
Well really, that was a bull shit disclaimer that I had to include because I dared to discuss menstruation in a magazine for college students. You would have thought I was trying to talk about fellatio in a magazine aimed at kindergartners. I think that all men – especially men like Al Gore – should want to know about menstrual cups, too. Why?Â
I will never not be grateful for hormonal birth control and the fact that I can legally have my uterus sucked out with a man-made vacuuming device if I don’t want to be pregnant. Therefore, I am unlikely to start tracking my period with a lunar calendar (because I am currently on hormonal birth control, so my reproductive system follows whatever schedule I tell it to) or induce an abortion using herbs like parsley and pennyroyal, anytime soon. Never say never though, because I do think the whole menstrual and lunar cycles aligning thing sounds pretty cool.
