Destigmatizing Periods: An Intergenerational Conversation
Asha K.| Cycle Alliance Intern
When my aunt, Desiree, was 11 years old when she first got her cycle. At that time, she thought menstrual cycles were disgusting. Seeing her older sister get her period was also uncomfortable to her, because she did not want to experience the same cramps, pain, blood, and messiness that she saw her sister going through. My aunt’s mother told her that menstruation was part of becoming a woman, and that she would eventually get it some time in her life. She never received a full conversation about menstrual cycles from her mom, and was left to figure it out on her own. Desiree wishes she…
Vaping, Not the Safe Alternative
Asha K.| Cycle Alliance Intern
Since 2014, E- cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product in the U.S. In 2020, over 3.6 million U.S. youth, mostly high school and middle school students, have used E- cigarettes in the past 30 days. Using one e-cigarette, also known as a vape, is like smoking 20 regular cigarettes. Children and teenagers younger than 18 years old are especially vulnerable to addiction. “Nicotine can change the biochemical pathways in the body, making paying attention more difficult and priming the brain for addiction,” says Dr. Jennsen, a primary care physician and reseacher at…