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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE JUNE 5, 1998
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BIG TIPS
Is it normal for sex to bring on your period?
by M.T. "the Big Tipper" Martone
This morning I hopped out of bed and wiped out on a pile of laundry (dirty, if you must know), and discovered that the dog with whom I share my life had consumed one of my most prized pieces of prison art: one of a pair of tiny shoes made out of elaborately folded and sewn cigarette packs. Rats.
I went to powder my nose, and dropped my bath towel in the toilet, pre-flush. Then I melted a plastic bread wrapper onto the top of my toaster oven, and knocked over and broke the kitchen timer I've had for fifteen years.
Upon returning to the bedroom to dress, I found Kiera happily destroying the other half of the pair. Sigh. I guess now I don't have to wait for the other shoe to drop.
Hey Big Tipper,
I am a lesbian who has never had sex with a man. Recently I became involved in my first serious relationship with a gorgeous woman, and had sex for the first time in this lifetime about three weeks ago. The day after the initial experience I started my period. Kind of strange, I thought, but maybe plausible because I'd never been penetrated before. Two nights ago we did it again for about the fifth or sixth time and yesterday I began my period again.
This is strange for two reasons. One: For the last ten years I haven't had regular periods. In fact, before I had sex three weeks ago I hadn't menstruated since January. Two: It's been less than three weeks since I finished the last period.
Is this normal when you first begin having sex? Or should I worry about this? And if it's normal, how long before your body gets used to it? I need your advice, big sis.
Booty, Bloody Booty
Dear Menstrual Mystery,
Yay, you're having sex with a gorgeous woman! That is a very good thing. And guess what? The experience you're having isn't unusual at all.
I called my nurse practicioner chum Chester for the technical scoop. A lot of women have irregular periods, and although she hasn't seen anything about it in writing (que sorpresa), she's heard many women talk about getting an overdue period, or an early one, right after having sex.
She speculates that the uterine contractions that occur when you have an orgasm trigger the shedding process. Sounds good to me. I've actually yakked with pals about this in the past, and we had speculated about some sort of suction caused by vaginal traffic, but Ches dismissed that possibility. (So much for my common-law medical degree.)
This can just continue to happen through your sexual-menstrual overlap years. You should definitely get a Pap smear to make sure you don't have anything mysterious going on that's causing bleeding that just seems to be
your period.
Another note: It takes a couple of different hormones to kick in that womanly process that we learned about in our darkened classrooms. The filmstrip may not have mentioned it, but you can have plenty of estrogen, but not enough progesterone to provide the hormonal surge that triggers the shedding of the uterine lining, which can lead to endometrial hyperplasia: excessive buildup of uterine lining. If you don't have a period for six months, you need to or you could grow something scary in there. So, then it's time to truck down to your health care provider.
Sweetie, I an happy as a clam for you that you're getting some good loving.
Make sure you take care of your fertile parts so you can continue to for years and years. Smooch!
Dear M.T.,
I am the president and co-founder of Girth and Mirth of Cleveland, which is a social group for gay and bisexual chubby men and their male admirers.
Our treasurer called me and told me about your article in the May 15 issue of the Chronicle. I thought it was very well done. Our club has been formed to help ourselves and the community to understand that fat can be beautiful and very sexy.
I am a man who is 5-foot-4, 135 lbs. I have always liked heavy-set men. My husband is 6-foot, 320 lbs. I try not to let other people's opinions affect me.
Unfortunately, "chasers, "who are people who like heavy-set people, are looked down upon, and I believe that some of them hide their feelings because of the peer pressure. They may like heavy people, but won't act upon it.
Girth and Mirth of Cleveland is currently 45 members strong and growing.
We will be doing a float in the Pride march and a booth at the festival. We have lots of activities planned for our summer— picnics, Sea World, camping, toga party, and an ice cream social. I appreciate the support that you gave us in your article. From the club and myself, “Thank you!” Not Straight, With a Chaser
Dear Chubby for a Chubby, Thanks sweetie. Would I get in trouble if I tried to sneak into the toga party?
For a limited time, everyone who sends a letter or e-mail question to Big Tips will receive a piece of Blessed Mother bric-abrac: a key chain, a little statuette, perhaps a magnet. I am breaking up and dispersing a huge collection over the course of this year, and you are my latest recipients.
For more information on this "Diaspora Project," contact me at: M.T. Martone, care of the Chronicle, P.O. Box 5426, Cleveland 44101, or fax to 216-631-1052, or e-mail to martone@drizzle.com.
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