Thread by @AlixWzl, CN for the film, which contains most things that can happen to [...]

CN for the film, which contains most things that can happen to a womb.

But hey, I looked at the #wombstories hashtag, which is currently a transphobic dumpster fire again (seriously folks, why? Do you have nothing better to do?), so time to dump my own experience. https://twitter.com/bodyform/status/1278352065710997505

https://twitter.com/bodyform/status/1278352065710997505

CN for the rest of this thread, because wombs.

1st period was on summer camp when I was 11. I had no idea what it was. Thought I had got mud up me on a slip'n'slide and couldn't understand why I couldn't shower enough to get clean.

Start sex ed in primary school!

#wombstories

Going forwards, I got period pain SO BAD. Teachers would send me to the nurse because I would go white-grey the first day. I got over not being able to swallow pills. If the cramping started, ibuprofen could no longer help.

Fortunately I was also super irregular.

#wombstories

Actually I was so irregular that I skipped a whole year in uni and went to the GP about it.

Blood tests revealed an inverted FSH/LH ratio, which I was casually told was either a pituitary tumor or PCOS, and I was sent for a scan at 19 and living away from home.

#wombstories

I was given conflicting information about the scan, and later learned they did it wrong as it shouldn't have been transabdominal. But was diagnosed with PCOS and told I was probably infertile as a result.

We need better reproductive healthcare & more understanding.

#wombstories

As I got older, my cycle continued being a nightmare. When I thought I was straight I tried depo injection (constant bleeding on it) and the mini pill. It's not until I came off the mini pill that I realised how much it affected me.

We need better information.

#wombstories

Off any hormones, I got deep depression days mid-cycle, and was exhausted and functionally useless the first 2-3 days of my period. Great for work! Also very heavy in that period. Bleeding through at therapy was a particular highlight.

#wombstories

I used the most 'sensitive' towels (Bodyform and Always, whichever had sensitive ones available) because I ALSO would get ulcers *down there* around my period, which was EXACTLY what I needed to really top it off

Never worked out why; got tested for everything.

#wombstories

Then I came out as trans, and reviewed stuff. Let me tell you that working pads with boxers is An Experience.

Then I saw that @period_aisle was selling period boxers, advertised specifically with a trans man, and I finally felt seen, and I got some.

#wombstories

I've been on testosterone 9 months now. My last period was 4 months ago. A lot of my issues (ulcers, including the mouth ulcers I regularly got just before my period, depression, exhaustion) have gone with them. Long may it last.

But I still need cervical care.

#wombstories

I was meant to get a cervical screening with @56TSoho after seeing them doing ads that were explicitly targeting trans men and non-binary folk for this... And then coronavirus happened, and I had to cancel and I haven't travelled into London since March.

#wombstories

I've been putting it off as while my GP was eventually cajoled into shared care for my T, they are a bit shit in general with this.

I need to either bite the bullet there, or with travelling into London again. Screening is important.

Inclusive services are vital.

#wombstories

Summary:
We need
-Sex ed and body ed starting in primary school, and including all kids!
-Better reproductive health care - better understanding, more empathy, better information.
-Inclusive care, language and marketing: not all people with wombs are women!

#wombstories

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