yogaI can see where Richard Neill is coming from. Tampon and maxi-pad ads are really confusing. The poor British guy wrote on a feminine product brand's Facebook page lamenting the fact that it is because of ads like theirs that he has thought that a woman's time of the month was filled with super fun stuff like yoga lessons, bike riding, and rock climbing. It wasn't until he was an adult, and had a girlfriend, that he realized that the commericals were lies, all lies!, he says.

I feel you, Richard. It's not fair that some TV commercials make it look like getting your period is all fun and games in white pants. They're doing us a disservice. All of us!

Because if Richard grew up thinking that Aunt Flo's visit meant it was time to break out the ivory leotards and have some awesome fun with your smiling friends, I'm sure there are thousands, nay billions of men out there who were also misled.

And these misinformed men later became baffled boyfriends and husbands who were flabbergasted by the reality of their lady love's cramping, fatigue, and irritability. I SAID IRRITIABILITY, GODDAMNIT. AREN'T YOU LISTENING?!

Where are the unitards? They must have wondered, in silence, as they drove to the drug store for pain meds. And the holding hands, spinning in the fields of sunflowers? And the synchronized swimming? I'm sure these dudes were confused as fuck. And now, who's paying the price?

We are. Our relationships. Our relationships are failing because men thought 3-5 days of their month with us was going to be all rainbows and puppies and stretching.

As Richard put it, a woman's period wasn't as fun as promised. "There was no joy, no extreme sports, no blue water spilling over wings and no rocking soundtrack."

No, I bet there wasn't, Richard. But don't hold that against your lady. Point your angry finger of blame at the tampon and pad ads that have lied to you. Don't let your relationship suffer because of some crazy untruths. Stay strong. Stay vigilant. And most of all, stay away from suggesting that GroupOn you bought for a Vinyasa class.

Does your significant other complain that your period takes a toll on your relationship, month after non-blissful month?


Image via lululemon athletica/Flickr