At the onset of monthly menstruation, can women "hold it [blood] in?"

[Patch]

@johnpost

yes they can (for a while) with handstands and other inversions.

So what happens in zero-G?

[WhyNot]

@Patch

So what happens in zero-G?

Everything seems to work as normal, according to this weird website: How do female astronauts menstruate in space? - The Straight Dope

[Guinastasia]

@Leo_Bloom

Museum of Menstruation and Women’s Health. Enormous, ever expanding site, now in 18th year.

Interesting site, but the guy who runs it strikes me as creepy as fuck.

[salinqmind]

@KarlGrenze

I can feel it and can hold it in usually long enough to go to the bathroom (if I have access to one nearby). I can also, once it is on its way out, attempt to push it out (because I don’t want to be in the restroom for long periods of time).

Another thing is that it is not a continuous stream even when it does start (well, not all the time, and not for every woman). For many it is most like chunks… say a few ounces at a time, and once that descends, nothing else will come out for some time. This time may vary from anywhere of 10 minutes to hours.

It’s been a few years, but I recall even though it FELT like I was passing “chunks… a few ounces at a time”…this is not accurate. This statement makes it sound like liters of blood and tissue come gushing out every month, and though a heavy flow is common, ounces and cups of liquid and goo are only an illusion, felt by the sufferer. A large clot that is kind of taking its time WILL cause excrutiating cramps.

I think a tablespoon a day is passed in the first couple of days, and less each day after. If I’m incorrect, someone will correct me.

[KarlGrenze]

@salinqmind

It’s been a few years, but I recall even though it FELT like I was passing “chunks… a few ounces at a time”…this is not accurate. This statement makes it sound like liters of blood and tissue come gushing out every month, and though a heavy flow is common, ounces and cups of liquid and goo are only an illusion, felt by the sufferer. A large clot that is kind of taking its time WILL cause excrutiating cramps.

I think a tablespoon a day is passed in the first couple of days, and less each day after. If I’m incorrect, someone will correct me.

Heh, my bad, since I suck at conversions. Yes, I didn’t want to imply that there are lots and lots of tissues passing at once. Change it to a few milliliters?

And no, I didn’t mean to imply that there are cups and cups of liquid coming out. Yes, I was thinking of one tablespoon or less per day. Thanks for the correction.