Toni’s Period Truth
[Originally shared July 20, 2020]
Where do I begin with Toni Junious?? After a rather intense Buti yoga class, Toni, her sister Alyssa, and I connected on dance, movement, and the power of sisterhood. It sparked an immediate curiosity and has led to us supporting each other on social media and even collaborating for an event on Women’s Wellness last year. Toni and Alyssa created Soultry Sisters, a women’s group that advocates for SOULcare, through community and conversation, that has launched into a beautiful platform of connection and education. As Toni pursues her Master’s degree in Public Health in D.C., our conversation around periods and birth control have become even more fascinating. Here, Toni openly shares what her period means to her.
MY PERIOD TRUTH
Ever since I can remember, my periods have been extremely painful with debilitating back pain and abdominal cramps. I would be in so much pain that I wouldn’t want to go to school. But my mom and older sister didn’t experience such pain with their period as I did, so I felt like no one understood what I was feeling. My doctors would give me pain medication and when I would complain that the pain wasn’t going away, they would just increase my dosage. However, even at a young age I knew it didn’t feel right to keep taking so much pain medication. I felt they were only treating the symptoms and not trying to find the root causes of the pain and discomfort.
Trying to find solutions for my period pain only left me feeling more confused and not understood. From what I learned from my doctors, family, friends and online sources, pain and discomfort during menstruation was “normal”. So I learned to self-soothe my pain with heating pads, DIY warm compresses, and pain relief creams. My period pain became something that I thought I would always have to experience and I started to dread it every month.
MY CONTRACEPTIVE JOURNEY
Once I was in college, I realized that my period pain was getting in the way of me attending lectures and I had to find a more effective solution. That’s when my doctor prescribed me hormonal birth control pills. I thought “Ok, great!” — my pain would be gone, my bleeding would be less, and I would have protection from pregnancy. I remember being so happy after finding the right BC pill for my body because my pain was GONE. I was so relieved to finally live my life pain free.
I stayed on hormonal birth control pills for 6 years, and it was great for that time of my life. I didn’t experience any negative side effects of the pill, it was easy to take, and my pain was basically non-existent. However, my lifestyle started to change — I was traveling more and constantly shifting time zones, so taking a BC pill at the same time everyday seemed more like a hassle than helpful. I also started becoming more conscious of the types of food, products, and medicine I was putting into and on my body. I became aware of some of the long-term side effects of using hormonal BC pills, so I stopped taking hormonal BC pills to see what my natural period felt like.
A few months after stopping hormonal birth control pills, my periods became regular and I had no premenstrual symptoms or pain. I was shocked. During this time, I was also seeing an acupuncturist that was helping balance my blood and increase blood flow throughout my body. I felt the benefits of taking a more natural and holistic approach to my period. I was amazed that I finally experienced a period with no pain whatsoever, and it was ALL NATURAL. No hormonal BC pills, no pain meds - just my body healing and regulating itself. This was the first time I felt so connected to my body.
I loved not using hormonal BC pills, but I wanted a form of long-acting birth control. So I started researching long-acting birth control methods and came across the non-hormonal intrauterine device (IUD). After doing more research and consulting with my doctor, I decided a copper IUD would be the best method for my lifestyle. I no longer would have to worry about taking a pill every day at the same time and I wouldn’t be exposed to excess hormones anymore. I knew that with the copper IUD my periods would go back to how it was before hormonal BC pills, which meant some pain and heavier bleeding would come back. But the benefits outweighed the cons for me. I’ve had my copper IUD for a little over a year now and I think it’s a great option for my current lifestyle.
After attending [Brittney’s] cycle syncing workshop last summer, I truly felt empowered in my body. It was my first time learning about the different phases of my cycle and how I can create a routine that’s more mindful and conscious to better serve my body and my energy in each phase. I learned that periods provide valuable information about our bodies and are a beautiful part of womanhood. I love sharing my truth, and through sharing my experiences I hope to help others find what works for them.
Cycle syncing has helped me learn about my body in a more holistic way. I enjoy tracking my cycle because each month I learn more about how I can better nourish my body and what I need to do to help restore it in each phase. It’s empowering to know that my body has the answers if I truly listen. I wish to have more open conversations about periods and reproductive health, so it won’t be as taboo. Periods are a natural part of life. They are not something to be dreaded. We should embrace the beauty of our life force energy and all the power that comes with it.
How do you feel your period will impact your life’s work?
I’m a public health educator and I create a lot of sexual and reproductive health presentations and programs. I’m passionate about sharing period- and sex-positive tools and resources to reach optimal health and well-being. It’s important to come together as a community to share what we are learning and how we are healing to know that we’re not alone and that many of us share common experiences. Through having open conversations about our periods, contraceptives, and sex, I believe we can release the stigma around these topics and live more free and empowered lives.
For fun: what’s your go-to holistic period product or ritual?
I recently started using period underwear and I love it! I love how it’s a sustainable solution for periods, since I can reuse it each month instead of single-use pads and tampons. I drink this womb wellness tea called Yoniverse from Calabash Tea & Tonic. It helps soothe my cramps and drinking tea has become one of my fav rituals during my period. Soultry Sisters also created a women’s wellness essential oil rollerball that I use to topically soothe any pain or discomfort. I also use my golden healer quartz to help release any pain. I put the crystal in my pocket and wear it all day or use it to self-massage my lower belly and back. If my pain is more intense, then I use my natural CBD oil to help relieve any discomfort, and that always does magic!