Episode 41 - Periods, Power & Plastic-Free Solutions: Redefining Menstrual Health with Amy Orr

By Jessica Garrison

We are joined today by another familiar face from our panel show, Amy Orr. She was in the episode, “Getting Real About Periods - Breaking the Silence on Menstrual Health,” which is a great resource for this episode and everything Amy talks about. Amy is a learner, curious, passionate, and angry, which I think many women can relate to that rage aspect that comes with being a woman. 

While discussing how she supports other women in living unapologetically, Amy told us about her business she founded, Youme, which actually started from the lack of minimal waste/plastic-free options in her area. This has developed into a business that has done so much for women and is opening up the conversation of periods within different communities. Amy’s business offers period underwear or period cups that can be washed and reused. This saves a person from not only wasting a lot of plastic, but it also saves money because you aren’t constantly buying pads or tampons. Amy also shares how she goes to different schools, educating children about their period health and providing safe products for them to use. This generosity is spread in other areas, too, such as public restrooms where people can take whatever they need, as much as they need. 

I admire Amy for creating these conversations because it isn’t easy to bring up and it isn’t always easy to get people to listen. Women’s bodies especially are considered taboo, like we shouldn’t talk about them…well at least women are not allowed to talk about women’s bodies. We go through so much that seems weird or abnormal when it really isn’t. We think we’re alone because no one ever talks about it, so how are we supposed to know that someone is experiencing the same thing? 

Amy says growing up she didn’t have anyone to talk to about sex. Not just the act of sex, but also her sexual health and reproductive organs. So she hid these layers and continued to build other layers upon these hidden experiences. She doesn’t want other people to have misconceptions of sexual health or go down the wrong path due to misinformation. Sometimes in a conversation, people will say, “This might be TMI, but…” and I immediately wave it off. Most of the time it isn’t something that’s too much information, but it’s something that a woman is experiencing that they feel shameful about. Amy is a constant reminder that what you’re going through isn’t strange or shameful. Maybe something is abnormal, but that just means it’s even more important to get the information out there so people know what to look for before it’s too late. 

This is life changing, even life saving work, that Amy is doing, and I hope she continues to get recognized for this. You can support Amy’s journey as well as the Youme journey by visiting her website, but you can also have these conversations yourself. Open up a dialogue about your periods or reproductive health or menopause or whatever it is you’re going through. Remember that your body is normal, and there is nothing to be ashamed of.

Ways to Engage: If questions come up about your period or sexual health, write them down. Take them to the doctor’s office and ask, or ask if your friends have any experience with your questions. It shouldn’t be taboo to talk about normal functions of the female body, and you’re not alone in your situation, though it may feel like you are.