Menstruation: can we discuss it openly?

Given the fundamental nature of this site, I am hoping for enlightened/open minded discussion.

For the Ladies:
* is your cycle a blessing, a curse, or just a simple fact of life?
* do you use tampons, pads, nothing?
* does your cycle affect/effect your sex life? positively or negatively?
* do you shy away from your partner or seek them out when your cycle starts?
* have you found your partners, historically, are driven away when your cycle starts?

For the men:
* can you sense your female partner's impending cycle? is that a scent? a mood?
* are you aware/in tune with your female partner's cycle "schedule"? (besides seeing period panties in the sink lol)
* Does your partner's cycle affect/effect your sex life? Do you step out to compensate?

I am fascinated, as I talk with like-minded people of both sexes, how polar people of both genders are on this topic...

Discuss openly please!