Puberty can be a scary time for kids around you - whether they’re your own children or kids in your family and circle who look up to you. Their bodies will change and soon, they will start menstruating. And periods come with their own set of challenges! So, it’s always a great idea to educate children about the hormonal changes that are going to take place. When you prepare them early for the monthly bleed, they can deal with it so much better when the time comes.
And not just for the girls or menstruating kids. Even the boys will benefit from understanding the whole process of how and why periods happen. They will grow up to be empathetic people who will help end period stigma. So use this guide to #TeachThemYoung and turn the future generation into empowered menstruators or compassionate supporters.
Around the age of 10-14, you will hit Puberty. Puberty is the time when your body goes through physical changes as you start developing sexually. You will notice hair developing in your armpits and pubic area, your sweat will have a stronger odour and you might get pimples. If you are a vulva owner, you will develop breasts and will start menstruating.
Menstruation, more commonly known as periods, is nothing to be scared of. People, mostly girls, get periods. It’s a normal biological process that prepares a person’s body so it’s possible (if they choose) to have a baby one day.
Menstruators are born with two Ovaries. These ovaries contain thousands of tiny eggs. Every month, the ovary sends out an egg to the uterus to hang out. The lining of the Uterus becomes thick like a mattress so that the egg can attach itself with ease and feel comfy during its stay. However, if by the end of the month, the egg does not get fertilized via Sperm from a penis-owner, it’s time for the egg to leave and make way for a new one. The thick uterine lining cracks, and the egg, along with the uterine lining, flows out of the vagina in the form of a bloody discharge.
This discharge contains blood, tissue, uterine lining, and mucus, which is why it might be thick and clumpy at times. The colour of a healthy period discharge ranges from bright red to dark red.
When you are just beginning your period journey, the safest and easiest period wear to use is a Sanitary Pad. A pad covers your entire vaginal area so that you stay protected from any leakage. Just remember to change your pad every 4-6 hours, even if it is not completely soaked, to maintain good hygiene and avoid infections.
Other period products you can consider are tampons and menstrual cups.
A Tampon looks like a small cotton bullet. It is to be inserted inside the vagina so it can absorb all the blood while it sits inside. It has a small string attached which you can pull to remove the tampon with ease.
A Menstrual Cup is a silicone cup that is also to be inserted inside the vagina. This cup collects your menstrual flow so that when it is time to change, you can pull it out, empty the contents in the toilet bowl or basin, wash it, and wear it again.
But like we said, it’s easier to start with Sanitary Pads for most people in India.