15/05/2024
⭐️This post is for parents on educating their daughters about period/mensturation:
People ask what’s the right age to discuss changes in puberty and menstruation? Well I’d say it should be anywhere between 8-10. That’s when your child can start showing body changes, also known as puberty.
Here are the following tips/advice on how you can educate your daughter on period :
1. Letting them know that period happens because of changes in hormones in the female body.
2. What age can it occur from? - It can happen anywhere from 10-16 years of age for girls.
3. It’s one of the signs of puberty along with changes in the body which includes height, weight, breasts development, body hair etc.
4. What is a period or menstruation?? - A period is when a woman’s body releases tissue it no longer needs. This tissue comes from the uterus, which is where a baby can develop. Every month or so, the uterus lining gets thicker to prepare for a fertilized egg which comes from the ovaries which are on the sides of the uterus. However, if the egg doesn’t get fertilized, that lining is released from the body as blood through the va**na. This monthly process is called menstruation or a period.
5. Some women may go through Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) almost a week or 10 days before the menstrual cycle begins. Which means that they can have symptoms like bloating, constipation/diarrhea, nausea, weight gain, changes in appetite, depression, mood swings, headache, tender breasts, acne, body-ache/weakness etc. These symptoms usually occur due to hormonal changes. Also, sometimes, these symptoms can persist during period as well.
6. What other symptom can women have while they’re on their periods?? They can have lower abdominal cramps/body ache/fatigue which can be treated symptomatically by the help of analgesics, warm compress on lower abdomen or mild to moderate exercise. However if the cramps are unbearable then they should be further evaluated by a gynecologist.
7. What should your daughter/s use while they’re on their period? Well that totally depends on what she is comfortable with. Whether its pads/tampons/menstrual cup. “Please note that your young daughter CAN use a tampon and/or menstrual cup!” Even with the possibility of a h***n stretch or tear, it won’t cause her to lose her virginity! Also that’s a very outdated thinking to begin with. 🙂 I repeat : A girl’s h***n will stretch or tear when it needs to. It’s not a sign of virginity!
8. How often does a period happen?? - About once a month!
9. How long does a period last? - On an average, 5 days. But they can be longer or shorter.
If you have difficulty explaining these details to your daughter, you can always youtube videos on female body and menstruation. However remember, you as a parent will always be the best educator for your child’s growth and development!
(Next post will be for parents on educating their sons about menstruation, because it’s important for them to empathize with women and know that periods aren’t “shameful” or “disgusting”.)
