Mending The Cycle

From the first period to menopause, Lara Briden says women should get on board with understanding their periods and finding their normal. She shares her wisdom for what you need to know, and how you can fix your cycle.

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Since the beginning of time, periods were seen as something to suffer through in silence. From the ancient Roman myths that menstruating women made crops fail, to the Victorian idea that women on their period could turn wine into vinegar, the negative connotations have been around for centuries. Add to that the bulky cloths and later, the sanitary ‘holsters’ used right up until the 1950s, and having your period has long meant you were uncomfortable at best and a social outcast at worst. Fast forward to 2018 and you’re not about to be branded a witch for your monthly cycle, but misinformation lingers on, and we’re still breaking down taboos around women’s health.

The good news is, with social media campaigns, increased education and new attitudes towards menstruation, more people are finally starting to talk openly about periods.

Naturopath Lara Briden, who has recently updated her popular book, Period Repair Manual, says attitudes have changed rapidly, even in the past few years. “When I first released the book in 2015, I was told it wasn’t a good idea to put the word ‘period’ in the title,” she remembers.

“At the time it was still a radical thing to do! But three years later, most people wouldn’t baulk at it. There’s a hashtag now called #justsayperiod, which I think is great. It’s about removing those euphemisms like ‘Aunt Flo’ − just say period! It is what it is.”

As part of the movement to bring menstrual health into the spotlight, Briden’s book covers everything from first periods to menopause, diet and lifestyle advice for menstrual wellbeing, causes of problematic periods, and the signs to look out for that mean you should see a doctor. She shared with us the wisdom and health tips that every woman should know.