Periods have the ability to make many of us feel a bit crap about life, but we rarely articulate our feelings.
That's why Layla Ehsan, an illustration student at the Rhode Island School of Design, has created a series of water colour illustrations titled Menstriusms.
"When I started these, my period had just begun and I needed to find a way to tell the world how bad I was feeling," Ehsan tells HuffPost UK Lifestyle.
"The first couple of days are always pretty rough for me - cramps, bloating, the works - but I'm generally reluctant to complain too openly about it.
"I wanted to inspect and defy those taboos that keep us from talking about our periods and how they make us feel."
Ehsan's illustrations certainly sum up how we feel when mother nature calls....
Menstriusms By Layla Ehsan
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Open Image Modal (credit:Layla Ehsan)
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Open Image Modal (credit:Layla Ehsan)
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Open Image Modal (credit:Layla Ehsan)
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Open Image Modal (credit:Layla Ehsan)
(05 of07)
Open Image Modal (credit:Layla Ehsan)
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Open Image Modal (credit:Layla Ehsan)
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Open Image Modal (credit:Layla Ehsan)
Nicknames For Periods
(01 of13)
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Open Image ModalWhat it sounds like: A really cool and urban aunt who likes to listen to hip hop and buy vinyl records
But what you're actually referencing: Aunt Flo only visits once a month (a 28-day cycle to be exact). She is kind of uncomfortable, annoying and her conversations never stops flowing...
(03 of13)
Open Image ModalWhat it sounds like: Your really really really old aunt who has a kind soul.
But what you're actually referencing: Similar to her sister Aunt Flo, Aunt Rose seems to be the nicer of the two: Because we all know things like rose petals and rose bushes resemble menstruation.
(04 of13)
Open Image ModalWhat it sounds like: Like you have a giant wound and you can't stop bleeding. Ever.
But what you're actually referencing: You're being pretty literal here, but yes, a period means you're bleeding from your vagina.
(05 of13)
Open Image ModalWhat it sounds like: A really trendy urban cafe.
But what you're actually referencing: The dot/dots that appear on your liner, pad and sometimes on your bed sheets and underwear. Also, dot = period.
(06 of13)
Open Image ModalWhat it sounds like: Not just any friend, but a really annoying friend you don't like.
But what you're actually referencing: Sometimes we try to make the best of what life throws at us by staying positive and remembering our periods can be our friends.
(07 of13)
Open Image ModalWhat it sounds like: When the plumbing went wrong ... for a week.
But what you're actually referencing: Again, the leak refers the constant flow of blood coming out of your body. We also assume people are referring to leaks they get on their pants or bedsheets. The worst.
(08 of13)
Open Image ModalWhat it sounds like: Time of the month sounds like a hush-hush thing that happens to your body that only you and members of a secret club understand.
But what you're actually referencing: TOTM refers to time of the month when your period is taking place — just so we're all on the same page.
(09 of13)
Open Image ModalWhat it sounds like: A newsletter or a magazine that comes out once a month
But what you're actually referencing: To add emphasis that everything is cool with your flow and your period only happens once a month.
(10 of13)
Open Image ModalWhat it sounds like: Teenage slang
But what you're actually referencing: PMS actually stands for premenstrual syndrome, and isn't a synonym for your period at all.
(11 of13)
Open Image ModalWhat it sounds like: A dirty old cloth you use to wash your dishes and floor
But what you're actually referencing: The rag is closely related to the pad or tampon we wear during periods... and how uncomfortable it is. It's also an unfortunate visual.
(12 of13)
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