# Hey Ladies, Thanks for being so biologically high-maintenance! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 6, 2008, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944 "2008-12-06T03:28:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/1 "2008-12-06T03:28:06Z")
The period, pregnancy, hot flashes, cramps, mood swings, childbirth, stalkers, high heels, broken nails, hair dye, fat clothes for ‘those days’. You really got the short end of the deal, and you sure have to put up with a LOT as a result. Good thing. If guys had any of that, the species would die out. So…thanks for keeping the species going! ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/2 "2008-12-06T03:31:33Z")
::Already running before the hellfire and brimstone rains in:: ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/3 "2008-12-06T03:38:53Z")
You’re welcome, honey. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/4 "2008-12-06T03:42:04Z")
> [@Queen\_Tonya](#): > > You’re welcome, honey. She gets it. I say this as my wife’s had a rough couple of days and I’m thinking, ‘If I had to do that 12 times a year for 35 years, plus childbirth, I wouldn’t let a guy NEAR me.’ After the edit window, I realized y’all have about 6 times the acreage to shave too. (or worse.) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/5 "2008-12-06T03:46:27Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > The period, pregnancy, hot flashes, cramps, mood swings, childbirth, stalkers, high heels, broken nails, hair dye, fat clothes for ‘those days’. > > You really got the short end of the deal, and you sure have to put up with a LOT as a result. Good thing. If guys had any of that, the species would die out. > > So…thanks for keeping the species going! I’m so glad someone has noticed. Having a uterus fucking sucks. ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/6 "2008-12-06T03:55:44Z")
Thanks, and thanks to the guys for the upper body strength (all those opened jars, chopped wood, meat on the fire etc) which has made the baby raising so much easier. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/7 "2008-12-06T04:00:30Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > I’m so glad someone has noticed. Having a uterus fucking sucks. After years of being a lazy slug (I mean that with all due affection), my husband took up a weight lifting class. 60 minutes per night, three nights a week. At first, it was really hard on him, but the worst was all the exercises that target his stomach muscles. After the first week, he sat on his chair, moaning and whining about how much pain he was in. Finally, clearly believing he did not receive enough sympathy, he looked to me and my sister and said, “Do you have _any_ idea what it feels like to have your lower stomach cramping all freaking night?” To his credit, he realized what he said about 2 seconds after he spoke. He also added, “Oh my god, is it worse than this? It’s worse than this and you have to deal with it every month?!” ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/8 "2008-12-06T04:13:10Z")
I’ve said it before, and recently: being a woman ain’t for sissies. ---
**Author:** ![amelioration](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e9c0ed/32.png) [@amelioration](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amelioration)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/9 "2008-12-06T04:55:16Z")
Hallelujah! One man has seen the light! Only 2,999,999,999 to go! ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/10 "2008-12-06T05:04:59Z")
> [@](#): > > high heels, broken nails, hair dye, fat clothes for ‘those days’. Umm, I think those are optional. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/11 "2008-12-06T05:08:58Z")
To be fair, some of the things in the OP aren’t biological. High heels, broken nails, and hair dye are all things that, if a woman suffers from them, it’s because she inflicted them on herself. And frankly, I’d prefer that fewer of them did so: Most women look better in their natural pigmentation, not to mention hands that can do things and feet that can walk. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/12 "2008-12-06T05:12:28Z")
Yeah, here’s a shout out to the ladies. Thanks for spending so much time gussying up yourselves. I really appreciate it. Sorry about all the biological issues you have to deal with. Man, I would make a damn ugly woman because I am the laziest fuck on the planet. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/13 "2008-12-06T05:12:33Z")
Somebody’s trying to get laid!😉 ---
**Author:** ![dgrdfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@dgrdfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgrdfd)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/14 "2008-12-06T05:18:50Z")
:rolleyes: So amazing that anyone is able to do it: let alone 3 billion. ---
**Author:** ![beanpod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9adbd/32.png) [@beanpod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beanpod)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/15 "2008-12-06T05:45:30Z")
Awww, how sweet. My husband is very sympathetic about female troubles, too. In return, I’m careful not to accidentally whap him in the balls. (Hey, it takes a surprising amount of attention, especially when I’m sleepily climbing out of bed for a glass of water.) Funny guy realization story: (A bit TMI, so I’m spoilering it…nothing horrible, but period descriptions. Warning for the squeamish.) [spoiler]My period started when we were fooling around–a few months after we started dating. It was the first time he’d seen such a thing in the flesh, so to speak. I noticed that his hand had gotten messy, and apologized, embarrassed. He stared, frozen and horrified, and then his jaw dropped open at my matter of fact clean up and reassurances. “ARE YOU OK!?!” “Yeah, I’m fine, sorry about the mess.” “The…MESS? You’re…that’s a LOT of blood!” “Nah, it’s normal, it’s just gross.” “I…are you sure I didn’t hurt you or something?” “Haha, no you didn’t. I thought it might start today or tomorrow anyway. Should have thought about it.” “Well, I’m sorry we… _gestures vaguely_” “What? Why?” He gapes at me again and says “I…if I were bleeding like that, no way in hell is anything going on down there.” “I’m fine, I promise–do this every month you know. Just a few cramps, now that I think about it.” “You…are…do you need some…tylenol or something?” “No way…at least not on the first day. I usually get cramps on the second day when it gets heavier, and then they get better throughout the week.” “IT gets WORSE THAN THIS?!!” Took me a half hour to calm him down. [/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/16 "2008-12-06T05:51:04Z")
Hence, “Ladies Nite”, where the cover is lifted, the drinks are cheap and there is more sausage than at Hickory Farm! ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/17 "2008-12-06T06:46:27Z")
My solution to these problems: 1. Screw makeup/heels/nails/etc. That’s just silly. Never been into that nonsense. 2. Cut all my hair off, invest thirty bucks in hair clippers, spend ten minutes a week total on my hair. 3. Find a monophasic birth control pill that works for you. Don’t take the placebo pills, because there is _no_ medical reason to do so\* - not ‘for most of the year’ but ‘at all’. Et voila - other than bras, there’s no ridiculous concerns to deal with! \*I am not your doctor, nor anyone’s doctor, not any form of doctor. This is, however, what a doctor has told me to go ahead and do. ---
**Author:** ![Myrrajh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/87869e/32.png) [@Myrrajh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrrajh)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/18 "2008-12-06T06:56:00Z")
Well, hey, nice to be appreciated! And thanks to the guys for, well, everything that makes us feel special. Holding doors, hugs, a long look, cooking, warming up our cars on those frosty mornings…you’re awesome. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/19 "2008-12-06T09:42:14Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > My solution to these problems: > > 1. Find a monophasic birth control pill that works for you. Don’t take the placebo pills, because there is _no_ medical reason to do so\* - not ‘for most of the year’ but ‘at all’. > > \*I am not your doctor, nor anyone’s doctor, not any form of doctor. This is, however, what a doctor has told me to go ahead and do. Not everyone wants to be on birth control pills, though. And even if you do, you might want the monthly bleeding to insure you are not pregnant. I’m on a pill but will still feel what at least FEELS like Mittelschmirtz (fun condition where you get awful pain when your ovary drops the egg into the uterus). Technically I’m not supposed to be ovulating on the pill because my body is tricked into feeling that it’s pregnant. You’re damn right I prefer to bleed then, to make sure that all systems are safe and locked down, so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944/20 "2008-12-06T09:55:15Z")
I gotta say I don’t think I’m any more high maintenance than a man. Birth control pills and the magic of the DivaCup means my period amounts to pretty much nothing. I’m not subject to any bizarre mood swings. I try to keep looking good without spending a ton of time and money on myself- a man could easily spend the same time shaving that I spend on my makeup. I don’t feel particularly burdened by my gender. So while plenty of other women may appreciate it, I say keep your praise. I can keep up with the guys just fine, thank you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-ladies-thanks-for-being-so-biologically-high-maintenance/475944.md?page=2)