h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Got to admit, I too would draw the line at oral servicing at that time - again for hygiene reasons. I don't find the idea that nice, either . My husband has commented that I tend to pounce on him more at that time of the month than any other, and yes, it definitely helps menstrual cramps .

<<"I look like Count Dracula's messy eater cousin">> I had to laugh at this, even if it is rude!

'Women are supposed to get pregnant asap, and keep getting pregnant until they hit the menopause.'

They would be more likely to die in first!

alji

Well, yes, probably. But the point is that periods are pretty unnatural because they're not really supposed to happen.

D'you wanna tell my womb that? Cos I don't think it's read that theory!

The reason it ain't supposed to happen is, like I said, you're meant to get married and have kids as soon as you hit puberty, and keep having kids until a) you die, or b) you hit the menopause. It's how we females are meant to work. We developed a nicer system of only getting pregnant once or twice (or more if you like) but it means we have to put up with periods.

I'll buy into the breeding theory Deakie....medically speaking, there's a basis of truth in what you say.

But getting married to have children constantly?

Forgive the levity, I have a very literal mind sometimes!

The only problem with that theory is that it's cobblers. If women were meant to pregnant continuously, then there would be a *much* higher rate of (natural) pregnancy. Some animals (cows for one) have a 75% chance of getting pregnant after having intercourse once. They also go into heat when they are ready to conceive. We don't.

We're designed to shag pretty much all the time, precisely because we're (well, half of us) not designed to get pregnant immediately.

Yeah, have to agree with Pedro there. Is there any evidence that, historically, fertile women were always either pregnant or breastfeeding? (although I do agree that women had less periods then we do now, had their children earlier etc)

The custom of women going to a separate area to menstruate once a month is cross cultural suggesting that it was a significant enough event to warrant the custom evolving.

Also, I'd guess that the cultures that have women continuously breeding are the ones where natural means of contraception and abortion have been supressed.


Can someone explain why oral sex during menstruation is more unhygenic than at other times?

Its important to remember that in cultures which weren't influenced by victorian attitudes, women breast feed for 5 years minimum. Which makes it far more reasonable to believe that women were either pregnant or breastfeeding most of their lives which is also why they had less periods.

talking of breastfeeding for so long....

what are your responses to that?
would you breastfeed a child till they were ready to start school???

personally, i couldnt, even i wanted to, but to me they should only be doing it for about a year or until their teeth grow and they start to bite as they suck..
its nice to be able to keep that bond going, but they also have to learn to feed and drink by themselves.

Women who breastfeed for 4 or 5 years don't do so exclusively. Once the child has other sources of nutrients and is breastfeeding less mothers usually become fertile again.

Kaz, I understand the argument you put forth. I'm just not convinced it's historically accurate (or at least not entirely. I'd like to see the evidence).

Interesting you mention the Victorians because that is an example of a culture where women bred continuously and probably no longer had such easy access to methods of contraception and abortion. European women in NZ had huge families in the 1800s (my great grandmothers' generation often had up to 10 kids).

However when you look at other cultures especially indigenous or pre-industrial ones, the knowledge about contraception and abortion is very evident. The idea that only post-industrial women have had choices about pregnancy doesn't appear to be based in reality.

Like I said, women bled less in the past but to say "that periods are pretty unnatural because they're not really supposed to happen" (as was said earlier) just doesn't make sense. If they are so unnatural (or rare) why do so many cultures have the custom of women bleeding together once a month?

Serenity I think the point is that the childs health is put first, before school. Its how we used to live and how some countries still do. We now live in a country where we are encouraged to wean as soon as possible and pack our kids off to school as soon as possioble, not all countries are like that, luckily.

I've seen articles that women weren't designed to have this many periods. They'd get to 14 and get married. Remember that although contraception isn't a modern day invention, it actually working reliably and being available to anyone who wants it *is*.

So those 14 year olds would have lots of children because there was nothing stopping them. When you can't read or write, there's no electricity and no tv, what else are you going to do with your leisure time?

>>women weren't designed to have this many periods. <<

I think this it true but it's a matter of degree. I just don't agree with the previous assertion that having periods was unnatural, because there have always been times when women have made choices to not have children as well as the point that Pedro made that women don't get pregnant everytime they are fertile. i.e. women have always had time when they bled.


>>So those 14 year olds would have lots of children because there was nothing stopping them. When you can't read or write, there's no electricity and no tv, what else are you going to do with your leisure time?<<

No winkeye so I assume that is a serious comment What culture are you thinking of Mina that had no recreation before the invention of writing and electricity?

You assume wrongly.