What is FlowSense and how is it useful?
As you approach your teens, you will start to notice changes in your body. You might get spots. Your voice might change. You might discover hair growing in new places, like down there or under your arms. Emotionally, you might also find your mood changes a lot and feelings become more intense. Whatever it is, the most important thing to remember is, you are not alone. These changes are all normal, and every one of your classmates, both male and female, will be experiencing them too.
In today’s post, we’re focusing on one particular part of growing up: periods, or as it is scientifically known, menstruation. For any girl, having a period can be stressful. But it is even more stressful when you can’t see.
Perhaps you’re nervous about your period starting, or maybe you’ve had it for a while and you’re struggling. Either way, we understand, which is why we’ve put together this guide for managing a period with sight loss.
What is a period?
A period is an event in the menstrual cycle that occurs when the lining of the uterus sheds, resulting in bleeding through the vagina. This usually happens once every month, and lasts for 3-7 days.
When does it start?
Periods typically start around the age of 12, but it can be earlier or later.
How does it affect me?
Just before or during your period week, you may experience physical and emotional symptoms. These can include stomach cramps; bloating; headaches; breast tenderness; acne breakouts; back pain; low energy; mood swings; and feelings of anxiety or depression. When your period has finished, you should find the symptoms pass. But if they continue, they could be associated with something else, so it is important to consult your GP.
What are sanitary products?
Sanitary products are products that absorb or collect period blood. These include: pads; tampons; or menstrual cups.
Everyone is different, but when you are first starting, pads tend to be easier to use.
How will I know if my period has leaked through my knickers?
First thing’s first, do not worry. Every single, menstruating girl will experience leaking at some point. Of course, it’s easier said than done not to worry. Particularly if you can’t see colours, it’s difficult to identify stains on your clothes, which can be very distressing. You might also be an environment where you don’t feel comfortable to ask a sighted person to check for you.
The best thing you can do to minimise leaks is to be prepared. If you’re on your period, or you know it’s due, make sure to stock up on sanitary products. For peace of mind, it’s always a good idea to wear thinner pads or panty liners in the lead up to your period, and to keep an emergency stash of various products in your bag for when you are out and about. Moreover, during your period, it’s important to change pads or tampons frequently throughout the day. Most health guidelines recommend every 4-8 hours, but this will depend on the heaviness of the flow. You can tell this by feeling how saturated your pad or tampon is. Changing sanitary products frequently is also essential, as it prevents the build-up of bacteria or infection.
Should I track my period?
Tracking your period helps you to roughly estimate when it is due. This involves logging the start date and duration of your period every month. While there are menstrual apps to help you log this information, not all of them are VI-friendly. So, if you’re having accessibility issues, you could make notes in the Notes app on your phone or a Word document on your laptop / Braille device.
Tracking your period will help you to better prepare not just physically but also mentally and emotionally. For example, if you often feel a bit low during your period, plan even more self-care for that week. This could be planning your favourite comfort meals or setting aside time to relax and do things you enjoy.
Is there technology that can help me manage my period?
As menstrual blood and regular discharge feel similar in texture, it can be hard to work out when your period has started. However, there is an exciting new product to help with this.
Designed by Muna Daud, FlowSense is the world’s first period blood detection device for blind and partially sighted women. It works by measuring the PH of vaginal fluids. Both period blood and regular discharge have different PH levels. Therefore, by analysing these differences, the device can accurately distinguish between fluids, helping you to know if your period has started or not. Clever right?
It’s also super simple to use. All you have to do is swab your underwear or a sanitary pad with one of the testing strips, and place the swab inside the device. Its sensor will then analyse your sample and let you know the result through audio feedback: three vibrations if the fluid is period blood, and one vibration if it is regular discharge. In addition, the device can log results in an accompanying app, thus empowering VI females to track their periods independently and make informed decisions about their health.
At the moment, FlowSense is still in the development phase. But Muna hopes it will be available on the market in coming months.
To learn more, you can check out the FlowSense website at flowsense.co
Where can I find support?
If you’re struggling with your period, it’s important to speak to people you trust, such as a parent, a friend or GP. There are also books or audio books that can provide information such as Girl Guide to Puberty by Skilled Fun, which is available to download on Audible.
