Updated: June 10, 2021
Originally Published: May 1, 2016
Let’s get real: I had every intention of writing a calm, rational piece about the trials Aunt Flo brings to those who already have enough on their plates. I wanted to be the picture of maturity.
But alas, I can’t.
Because Aunt Flo is just the worst and deserves a one-way ticket to oblivion. You know I’m right.
It’s not just the monthly flood of blood or the way your body twists in painful knots. It’s not the way she can transform you from a fierce warrior to a blubbering mess in a heartbeat. It’s not even how she turns your skin into a battlefield or your figure into something akin to a life raft.
No, it goes deeper than that.
She’s the ultimate harbinger of disappointment—the death of a dream. That dream is to expand your family, to give your partner a new little buddy to teach and for your child to grow up with.
What Aunt Flo doesn’t seem to understand is that you were overjoyed when she didn’t show up a few months back. You felt your heart skip a beat. Could it really be happening? You had just stopped the birth control and were ovulating, but it couldn’t be that straightforward—again. You thought your first pregnancy was a stroke of luck.
But then, the positive pregnancy test came. You were elated, but it was short-lived. Just a week later, you experienced bleeding that wasn’t Aunt Flo—it was your hopes fading away. The nurse offered gentle reassurance, reminding you to call as soon as you were pregnant again for proper testing. She advised waiting a cycle to let your body reset, then you could try once more.
That was four months ago.
Now, every month has been a cruel rollercoaster of emotions. You analyze your basal body temperature, logging every detail. You find yourself counting down the agonizing weeks after ovulation, holding your breath, hoping against hope. As the days go by, you wonder when the right moment to test will be. Is it too early? You dive into Google searches like “when to take a pregnancy test” and “early pregnancy signs.” You end up in threads where countless women share their experiences that somehow make you believe you might be pregnant this time.
Suddenly, every little thing about your body screams “pregnancy.” That wave of nausea? Must be morning sickness! The odd smell from across the room? Clearly, your heightened senses. Tender breasts? Your body must be preparing for a baby.
You keep your thoughts to yourself, not wanting to share your hopes too soon. You don’t want to burden your partner until you have solid proof. So, you wait until Aunt Flo is late, and you take that test, holding your breath…
It’s negative. What?!
You rush back online, searching urgently for “late period negative pregnancy test” or “negative test still pregnant.” You breathe a sigh of relief when you read that many women have had negative tests only to find out they were pregnant later, or even bled but still carried on.
There’s still a glimmer of hope, right?
But then Aunt Flo makes her appearance. Yet, remembering those articles, you consider the possibility of implantation bleeding.
But it’s not. Another negative test confirms it.
You curse Aunt Flo. Tears fall silently, and you scream inwardly. You don’t share with anyone that you mistook PMS for pregnancy signs; the embarrassment is too much.
And yet, despite that, you pick yourself up and dive back into the cycle. You bury the frustration and disappointment deep down. Once Aunt Flo has departed, you allow yourself to hope again. Maybe you’ll see her again next month, but then again, maybe you won’t.
If you’re navigating similar challenges, you might find comfort in resources like this one that discusses home insemination techniques or check out this guide for an at-home insemination kit. For more comprehensive support, Hopkins Medicine provides excellent information on fertility and pregnancy services.
In summary, Aunt Flo can be a harsh reminder of dreams deferred, but the journey to family expansion is filled with hope, patience, and a little bit of humor.