你應該停止使用衛生棉條嗎？：英語精讀講義

In ancient Rome, tampons were made of wool. 片語搭配

在古羅馬，衛生棉條是用羊毛製成的。

Indonesians used vegetable fibers,

印尼人使用植物纖維，

and Japanese women used rolled up paper.

日本女性則使用捲起來的紙。

The first commercial tampons were launched in the 1930s, 用詞

第一批商用衛生棉條於1930年代問世，

and today women use up to 12,000 menstrual hygiene products per lifetime. 片語搭配

如今，女性一生中最多會用掉12,000件生理期衛生用品。

But is there a better option? 表達脈絡

不過，有沒有更好的選擇呢？

Should you stop wearing tampons?

你該停止使用衛生棉條嗎？

Despite being a completely normal biological process that half the population faces, 文法

儘管月經是半數人口都會經歷的完全正常的生理過程，

menstruation is often taboo.

卻經常被視為禁忌。

The menstrual cycle begins every 28 days on average

月經週期平均每28天開始一次，

and repeats from puberty to menopause.

從青春期到停經，周而復始。

Every month in response to the reproductive hormones progesterone and estrogen, 片語搭配

每個月，在生殖激素黃體素與雌激素的作用下，

the lining of the uterus grows and thickens 用詞

子宮內膜會生長並增厚，

preparing for a potential pregnancy. 文法

為可能到來的懷孕做準備。

However,

然而，

if pregnancy doesn't occur,

如果沒有懷孕，

progesterone drops and the thickened lining sheds. 用詞

黃體素濃度就會下降，增厚的子宮內膜也會脫落。

The menstrual flow is a combination of this uterine lining

經血由脫落的子宮內膜

and blood from the arteries in your uterus,

和子宮動脈中的血液共同組成，

which is a unique trait

這是一項獨特的特徵，

as few other species menstruate at all. 文法

因為真正會來月經的物種少之又少。

In every other mammal other than humans,

對於除了人類、

primates, bats, and the adorable elephant shrew,

其他靈長類、蝙蝠和可愛的象鼩之外的所有哺乳動物，

the endometrium only thickens in response to getting pregnant.

子宮內膜都只會在懷孕後增厚。

During menstruation,

月經期間，

30 to 90 ml of fluid is lost,

會流失30到90毫升的液體，

and 81% of women use tampons

有81%的女性會使用衛生棉條

as the primary method to absorb this blood,

作為吸收經血的主要方式，

at times in combination with pads. 片語搭配

有時也會搭配衛生棉。

Tampons use exceptionally absorbent materials

衛生棉條採用吸水力極強的材料，

like cotton and rayon that interact strongly with water.

例如棉和嫘縈，這些材料具有很強的親水性。

And while cotton and rayon are biodegradable, 文法

雖然棉和嫘縈可以生物分解，

the rest of the tampon isn't,

但衛生棉條的其他部分卻不行，

contributing to 300 lb of waste in a woman's lifetime. 文法

因此一名女性一生會由此產生300磅的垃圾。

The materials also provide an environment

這些材料還提供了一種

that the bacteria Staphylococcus like,

葡萄球菌很喜歡的生長環境，

which can lead to a rare but potentially fatal disease 片語搭配

可能引發一種罕見、卻可能致命的疾病，

known as toxic shock syndrome. 用詞

也就是毒性休克症候群。

As menstrual blood adds neutralizing proteins to the vagina, 文法

經血會把具有中和作用的蛋白質帶入陰道，

which is normally more acidic,

而陰道通常酸性較強，

its ability to kill bacteria is reduced.

因此陰道殺死細菌的能力會降低。

In 1983,

1983年，

more than 2,200 cases of toxic shock syndrome were reported to the CDC.

美國疾病管制與預防中心（CDC）接獲超過2,200例毒性休克症候群通報。

But by 1997,

但到了1997年，

there were only five cases.

通報病例只剩5例。

This decrease is attributed to education about tampons, 片語搭配

這樣的下降歸功於衛生棉條使用知識的普及，

like the need to change it at least every 8 hours, 文法

例如每8小時至少更換一次，

and using the lowest absorbency for your flow.

並依照自身經血量，選擇吸收力最低但夠用的款式。

On top of this, 表達脈絡

除此之外，

tampons can lead to vaginal dryness

衛生棉條也可能造成陰道乾澀

and breakage in the skin,

和皮膚破損，

leaving you prone to further infection. 片語搭配

讓你更容易發生其他感染。

On average,

平均而言，

women spend close to $100 on tampons and pads a year,

女性每年花在衛生棉條和衛生棉上的金額接近100美元，

which are often taxed as luxury goods

這些用品經常被當成奢侈品課稅，

despite being a basic necessity.

儘管它們是基本生活必需品。

Protests have influenced governments like Canada to remove the tampon tax, 文化背景

抗議行動促使加拿大等國政府取消衛生棉條稅，

but in many lower-income nations,

但在許多低收入國家，

the high price of tampons causes girls to miss school. 文法

衛生棉條價格高昂，導致女孩缺課。

In South Africa,

在南非，

9 million girls ages 13 to 19 miss school

有900萬名13到19歲的女孩會缺課，

because of a lack of menstrual hygiene products

原因是缺乏生理期衛生用品，

or facilities to change them throughout the day.

或白天沒有可供更換用品的設施。

One alternative solution to tampons is a menstrual cup. 文法

衛生棉條的一種替代方案是月亮杯。

It's a non-absorbent reusable barrier cup that collects blood.

它是一種不吸收液體、可重複使用的杯狀裝置，用來收集經血。

The cost of the cup is significantly less than tampons, 文法

月亮杯的花費遠低於衛生棉條，

and is reusable for multiple years.

而且可以重複使用多年。

It can also be worn for 12 hours,

每次還可以使用長達12小時，

meaning women can change it at home

也就是說，女性可以在家中更換，

as opposed to school or work. 片語搭配

不必在學校或工作場所更換。

And it creates substantially less environmental waste.

而且它產生的廢棄物要少得多。

In a study where women aged 19 to 40

一項研究找來了19到40歲的女性，

who had previously used tampons

她們先前一直使用衛生棉條

as their main method were given menstrual cups

作為主要生理期用品。研究人員讓她們改用月亮杯，

for three cycles,

連續三個月經週期，

and 91% said they would continue

結果91%的人表示會繼續

to use the cup and recommend it to others

使用月亮杯，並推薦給其他人，

despite the learning curve. 慣用語

儘管這需要一段學習與適應的時間。

Period blood could also save your life.

經血也可能救你一命。

Scientists are developing diagnostic tests 用詞

科學家正在開發一些診斷檢測，

that women can use at home

讓女性可以在家使用，

to monitor early signs of cancer, 片語搭配

利用經血監測癌症的早期跡象，

reproductive diseases, STIs, and endometriosis using their menstrual blood.

以及生殖系統疾病、性傳染病和子宮內膜異位症。

Additionally,

此外，

stem cells found in menstrual blood

經血中發現的幹細胞

are more powerful than those found in bone marrow. 文法

比骨髓中的幹細胞潛能更強。

These stem cells can differentiate into nine different types of cells, 用詞

這些幹細胞能分化成9種不同類型的細胞，

meaning period blood might provide a potentially unlimited,

這表示經血或許能成為一種取之不盡、

easily collected, inexpensive,

容易採集又價格低廉，

and without ethical dilemma

而且不會引發倫理兩難的

source of stem cells for regenerative medicine.

再生醫學幹細胞來源。

From gross and taboo to normal 表達脈絡

從被視為噁心又禁忌，到成為正常現象，

to potentially lifesaving,

再到可能拯救生命，

periods are pretty cool. 用詞

月經其實很酷。

Period. 慣用語

句點。

If you want to learn interesting scientific hacks

如果你想學一些有趣的科學妙招，

to minimize physical pain and emotional pain

幫助減輕身體疼痛和情緒上的痛苦，

during your period,

讓生理期更好過，

head over to my channel Ask Kimberly.

就到我的頻道 Ask Kimberly 看看吧。

Or you can check out my other videos 片語動詞

你也可以看看我的其他影片，

where I tackle all kinds of relationship issues 用詞

其中會探討各式各樣的感情問題，

as a relationship expert and a therapist.

我會以感情專家和治療師的身分進行解析。

Thanks to my brother Mitch

謝謝我的兄弟 Mitch

for having me on the channel, 片語搭配

邀請我來這個頻道，

and subscribe for more weekly science videos.

也別忘了訂閱，每週收看更多科學影片。