Meet Gem Campbell, aka The Blood Slut. As a sex coach and menstrual cycle expert, Gem is all about empowering people to live in harmony with their bodies, love their labias, and sync their lives with their cycles.

 

Name: Gem Campbell aka The Blood Slut

Pronouns: They/them

Day job: Founder of The Blood Slut: Labia Insecurity Sex Coach & Menstrual Cycle Dietitian & Coach

Location: East Coast of Australia

 

Describe your work in one sentence.

I empower women and queer folk to have more pleasurable periods, to live in sync with their cycle and to love their vulvas regardless of size, colour or shape!

 

What’s your journey been like? How did you get here?

My undergraduate degree was in nutrition and dietetics. In my final year of study in 2019, I listened to a podcast hosted by a sexologist, became obsessed, and decided I wanted to study Sexology. Giving friends sex and relationship advice has always come naturally to me, and I love talking about the taboo. When I found out I could make it a career, I was like, FUCK YES.

Around this time, I broke up with my ex and got my Mirena IUD out because I felt like I’d lost my entire personality. This started a life-changing journey of reclaiming the wisdom of my menstrual cycle. I learned about the Fertility Awareness Method, began living in sync with my cycle, and started sharing the experience on Instagram. Naturally, I started helping others fall in love with their cycles too.

“Blood Slut” was first the name of the final module of my course, Blood Magik, then my Instagram handle, my podcast, and now, it’s what I’m known as. In 2022, I launched The Blood Slut, offering private and group coaching to help people live in sync with their cycles, overcome labia insecurities, and embrace a labia-loving life. I’ve reclaimed the word slut after being slut-shamed as a teen and young adult for simply liking sex and having “a lot” of it (whatever “a lot” even means - that’s subjective).

 

What inspired you to start your podcast on periods and beyond?

I started my podcast Blood Slut in 2022 when I launched my business. I’d dreamt of hosting a podcast for a while and thought, fuck it - I love to yap, socialise, and talk to people, so this is gonna be fun!

On the pod, I cover everything honestly. While the focus is menstrual cycle and sex education, I also dive into mental health, disability, nutrition, spirituality, and how these topics intersect. I have ADHD, and I’m a manifesting generator, so I’m passionate about many things. I’ve also been through much tough shit, so I share my healing journey and how to unfuck yourself, basically, haha!

 

Why streamline your work as a PMDD and Menstrual Cycle Coach?

I lived with PMDD for 2.5 years and only recovered in early 2024. I love teaching about it because I know the struggle - I used to want to die for 1–2 weeks every month, and it was pure hell. I still deal with PME (premenstrual exacerbation) of Chronic Migraine and other health conditions, so it’s an ongoing journey.

In 2022, while deep in the pits of PMDD, I did a 6-month program on syncing life and business with the menstrual cycle. It awoke something in me - I realised I had to teach people about the menstrual cycle. I’d always been fascinated by it personally, but having just studied Sexology, I’d planned to pursue sex coaching. Instead, I put that on hold to create Blood Magik, a self-paced course that helps unpack period shame and use menstrual blood rituals to connect with your body, reclaim your power, and own who the fuck you are.

Learning to honour my cyclical nature and body has been central to moving from self-loathing to deep self-understanding and love. I truly believe my strong relationship with my cycle and womb was key to my PMDD recovery.

 

How would you explain PMDD to someone unfamiliar?

PMDD is a severe form of PMS caused by the brain being highly sensitive to hormonal changes after ovulation when estrogen drops and progesterone rises. A hormonal imbalance does not cause it, although some with PMDD may also have one. Symptoms include anxiety, panic attacks, depression, insomnia, pain, breast tenderness, fatigue, and headaches, but they only occur in the luteal (premenstrual) phase and sometimes carry over into the period.

 

What helped your PMDD symptoms?

• Eat a balanced, diverse diet with plenty of fruits, veggies, spices, and herbs to support your gut microbiome.
• Taking loratadine 10mg daily (an antihistamine) helped my symptoms significantly. Consult your pharmacist or doctor before trying it.
• SSRI’s and the contraceptive pill can help manage symptoms (this wasn’t my choice, but they can be lifesaving).
• Magnesium from supplements and diet can reduce insomnia, headaches, migraines, and anxiety. Consult a dietitian before starting supplements, as they can be harmful if misused.
• Ensure every meal includes protein, complex carbs, fibre, and healthy fats to balance blood sugar and promote digestion, preventing PMDD-related mood swings.
• Regular exercise, especially dancing, helped me process emotions and release tension.
• Chinese herbs from an acupuncturist trained in Chinese Herbal Medicine.
• Frequent remedial massages helped relieve body tension and promote relaxation.
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy was key in my healing, as I believe my PMDD was triggered by unresolved childhood trauma. I recommend therapies like EMDR, hypnotherapy, and DBT for trauma processing over just talk therapy.
• Medicinal cannabis, particularly CBD oil, has been helpful for me.

NOTE: Remember that just because these strategies worked for me, they may not work for everyone.

 

Do you think there’s a connection between stress and PMDD?

Yes, like any chronic health condition, PMDD can be worsened by stress and high cortisol levels, so stress management is key to both managing and recovering from PMDD. I recommend:

• Spending time alone in nature or at home with minimal stimulation to help your brain process.
• Listening to sleep hypnosis at night, like the Sleep Cove podcast, to aid relaxation.
• Using an infrared sauna for stress relief (I use a sauna blanket, which is convenient for daily use).
• Eating regularly (every 2-3 hours) keeps blood sugar levels stable.
• Staying hydrated and replenishing electrolytes after sweating.
• Eating plenty of colourful fruits and vegetables to support a healthy gut microbiome, which affects neurotransmitter production (like serotonin).
• Dancing is great for stress management. It’s accessible anywhere and can help reset the nervous system when one is overwhelmed.

 

What’s one small habit to feel more balanced with PMDD?

When you feel the rage building up and are at risk of lashing out at your housemate or partner, stop immediately. Don’t speak to anyone and walk to your bedroom. Put a "do not disturb" sign on the door or lock it so you won’t be bothered (because we know that won’t end well). Then, do whatever you need to release the rage from your body. Often, underlying rage is sadness. Let your body process it somatically. This might involve bashing a pillow, punching the air, shaking your body, dancing to my Patriarchal Rage playlist (I can share the link), or screaming into a pillow. Once the anger subsides, sit down, close your eyes, and do some EFT tapping to continue processing. Finally, lie down and play relaxing bilateral music or guided meditation (I have a premenstrual meditation available on my website) to help regulate your nervous system.

 

How do you help clients empower themselves through their cycles?

I teach people to live in sync with their menstrual cycles and hormonal rhythms. This involves learning about each phase and integrating cycle syncing into their work and personal lives. I also guide them in connecting with their menstrual blood through blood rituals, which I cover in my online course, Blood Magik.

 

How can someone start syncing with their menstrual cycle phases?

Start by sitting quietly with your womb and body daily to become familiar with how it communicates. Track your cycle using a journal or app (or both) for a few months. I recommend Cycles Journal by Rachel Amber (use my code BLOODSLUT for 10% off; I earn a commission) - it's great for beginners and advanced trackers. I use both Cycles Journal and the Read Your Body app. By doing this consistently, you'll notice your unique cyclical patterns. From there, you can explore the menstrual blood ritual and unpack period shame, which I teach in my course, Blood Magik. I also cover this in-depth on the Blood Slut podcast.

 

Are there benefits to aligning your lifestyle with your cycle?

Absolutely! You'll have more energy, feel rested, and know when to rest vs. when to work hard. You'll feel more balanced, regulated, and organised. You'll make time for pausing, reflecting, and flowing rather than constantly pushing at full speed. You'll also likely become more productive and efficient and optimise your creative flow.

 

What's one way to start feeling empowered by your cycle today?

Pause what you’re doing, even now, as you read this. Place your hands gently over your womb space, close your eyes, and be present with your body. You can ask your womb or body what it needs right now. For guidance, I’ve created a free Womb Healing Immersion.

 

How can we change the narrative around body acceptance, including vulva diversity?

We grew up watching porn with performers who typically had very short, barely visible labia minora, and due to the lack of vulva diversity education in sex ed, many of us didn’t know that having longer labia minora was normal. I know people in their late 30s who still struggle to love their longer labia because their insecurities are so deep-seated. We were misinformed growing up - our vulva was often referred to as a “vagina,” a completely different part. We also saw Barbie dolls and bikini models with flat genital areas, often photoshopped to remove any bulge, reinforcing the expectation to look flat with a thigh gap. These unrealistic beauty standards stem from patriarchal structures that profit off our insecurities.
We can change the narrative by:

• Talking more about vulva diversity: Ask friends how they feel about their vulva and if they connect with and honour it.
• Sharing vulva diversity content online to raise awareness of all vulva types.
• Getting educated: Regularly expose yourself to photos and drawings of vulvas; I recommend @the.vulva.gallery.
• Following sex educators like me to learn more and call out misconceptions - find me on Instagram @thebloodslut.
• Calling out misogynistic comments about vulvas – a classic one is “beef curtains.”

 

How can we make language around periods more inclusive?

I encourage using gender-inclusive language. Instead of just saying "women" when talking about periods, say "women and people who menstruate" or "women and people with a uterus." Or say, "people who menstruate."

 

Can you describe what period self-care means to you?

I rest as much as I can, creating space during my period to allow creative juices to flow and intuitive, spiritual downloads to come through.

 

Why do you think periods are STILL such a taboo topic?

One word: PATRIARCHY. Anything related to the female reproductive system is taboo because that’s how a patriarchal society is set up. We are meant to submit, be quiet, and not talk about our “problems,” which include periods. We’ve all been socialised and conditioned to feel so much shame around periods and menstrual blood, and it’s been modelled to us that we should keep it hidden because it is embarrassing, even though it’s a natural part of life and is happening all around us 24/7.

 

What's your number one health message?

STOP pushing yourself at 100% capacity, 24/7 - your body isn’t built for that! Work less and move slower while you bleed and in the late luteal phase to give your body time to rest, reflect, and process.

 

What are your hopes and dreams for the future of periods?

I’d love to see less talk about menstrual blood being “unsanitary” or “unhygienic.” Unless someone has a blood-borne virus like HIV or Hepatitis, menstrual blood is not harmful to ingest or have sex with! I’d also like to see more discussion about the accessibility of period products, especially from feminists. For example, Palestinian women in Gaza are currently using tent scraps as pads. If you’re not talking about that, you're not a true feminist.

 

MY CYCLE

My period in 3-words: Reflective, rejuvenating and SEXY.

Period self-care toolkit: Soup, ice cream, EFT tapping, the ocean, heat pack (try rae Heat Pad), ice hat (for migraine exacerbation), magnesium supplement (try Magnesium+ Spray), Cycles Journal, hypnosis and reprogramming tracks, Netflix.

Contraception of choice: Condoms and the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM)

On day 1, you’ll find me... Resting on the couch watching Netflix, wandering along the beach connecting with spirit, sensually dancing to connect with my body and pouring my blood into the earth.

Scarlet pick: Scarlet Period Bikini Brief. I am obsessed with period undies!!

Best period hacks:

• Collect menstrual blood in a cup or squeeze it from your undies into water to fertilise plants (dilute it to pale pink and only use fresh blood).

• Reduce shame and bond with your blood by gazing at it. For example, get some on your finger, place it on your third eye, and look at it in the mirror.

• Don't restrict your diet to “be healthy.” If you struggle with eating during PMDD or your period, eat what you can and enjoy it - you're allowed to have the ice cream!

• Meal prep during your early luteal phase so you have frozen meals for your period and late luteal phase when energy is lower. 

• Keep high-protein snacks, like nuts, protein bars, yogurt with berries, milk, protein pancakes, marinated tuna/beans, and cheese with crackers.