Vagina MuseumSally Ride was the first American woman and first lesbian in space, first flying in 1983. Before she flew, NASA weren't really sure what a woman in space might need, so suggested providing her with 100 tampons. For a six day mission.
Ride's first space flight took place more than 20 years after cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space. Part of NASA's delay in sending a woman to space was that they were worried menstrual blood would flow backwards in microgravity, wreaking all sorts of havoc.
(incidentally, sometimes period blood *does* flow backwards into the pelvic cavity. It turns out that this is usually perfectly harmless, more on retrograde menstruation here:) https://masto.ai/@vagina_museum/111381001900415323
Our podcast episode Space Gynaecology explores gynaecology in space... and what this research might mean for heavy menstrual bleeding back on earth. Featuring an interview with space gynaecologist Varsha Jain https://pod.link/1488645205/episode/YWMxNGJhNWUtMGZhYy00MjVjLTk1MGMtZGE3MTg0MjM0OGFl
Я⊛ḶḶ model ☭can't decide if i should study astromycology or space gynecology. maybe i'll double major.