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I don’t know how to feel about this: our trans roommate made ‘tea’ from our used tampons We discovered our trans roommate has been making tea out of our used tampons because she can't afford hormonal pills.

I’m a student at a popular, liberal university, living in a house off campus with 5 housemates. I’ve lived here two semesters already and plan on staying until August when I get my own place.

A few months ago we took on a new roommate — let’s call her Jessica. Jessica is a transwoman, which is fine with everyone there. We all get along and occasionally hang out.

Jessica did seem a bit weird sometimes, but we figured she was nice enough and wasn’t hurting anyone so it was all okay.

I recently let her borrow my hairdryer and she forgot to give it back to me after she left for class. I usually wouldn’t do this, but I was in a hurry and my hair was wet so I decided to go into her room to get my dryer.

What I saw was so disturbing. The smell in the room was terrible, like a public bathroom. There were bottles of urine everywhere. But worst of all… there was a ziplock bag with used tampons under her desk. On top of her desk was a plastic cup with one of the used tampons, and water.

For illustration purposes only.

I ran out and threw up. I didn’t know what to think. I woke up one of my other housemates and told her what was going on. She looked with me and was shocked. We took pictures to show our other roommates.

Once everyone knew and Jessica came back we had a house meeting. The 5 of us told her we knew what she was doing and asked her why. She screamed that we shouldn’t have went into her room and that we’re being transphobic. We told her we want her out by the end of the month and that we will refund her entire rent from this month to make up for the short notice.

She cried and told us that she can’t afford estrogen and doesn’t have insurance for hormonal pills, so people online told her that drinking period blood was a DIY way to transition.

Does that even work?

I feel really bad for her, but I can’t do this… none of us can. Are we wrong for telling her she has to go?

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3 thoughts on “<span class="entry-title-primary">I don’t know how to feel about this: our trans roommate made ‘tea’ from our used tampons</span> <span class="entry-subtitle">We discovered our trans roommate has been making tea out of our used tampons because she can't afford hormonal pills.</span>”

  1. — consuming tampons especially boiled cannot be good for you —– maybe you should start helping her pay for diy estrogen wich is legal btw

    Reply
  2. I can kind of see the logic tbh. #resourceful

    *I wonder if the teamaker is following a recipe?

    How many used tampons for a valid dose of hormones?

    Is it just bringing the water to a boil and then dropping the tampons in-the strings will make them easier to dip and steep?

    Do all the hormones rise to the top so you only have to scrape the froth?

    Do you put a little milk or sweetener in the tea?

    Does it make your tounge red?

    Can you use a maxi/mini pad-whats the ratio compared to tampons?

    Reply

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