theChat.scot

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Talking about menstruation (periods)

The suggestions about how to talk about menstruation that are offered here are written to support chats with your daughter. Of course, boys can ask and talk about periods too, they might need to be told that only girls have periods. You can adapt what is here to give boys information too.

If you want to have a chat about puberty, take a look at the Talking About section called Puberty. In that section information begins with this initial description.

Puberty is the time in your life when your body begins to change. Some changes you can see. Some changes happen inside your body. You can’t see these. You can have stronger emotions and new feelings.

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Talking about periods

This text can help support your chats.

Puberty is the time in your life when your body begins to change because you are growing up. When a girl goes through puberty she will start to have a period. Periods are also called menstruation. This is the way a girl’s body makes itself ready so that when she is grown up, she can have a baby if she wants to. 

When will I get my first period? How do you know when your period will start?

Girls get their first period between the age of 9 and 15. We can talk together about periods before it happens, and of course when it does happen.

Before it happens there will be other changes with puberty. You will notice that you start to develop your breasts. Some soft body hair will start to grow around your vulva and under your arms. You might get a little white sticky stuff called discharge (sometimes people say mucus) come out of your vagina, you might see little white marks on your pants. All of this is normal. You can talk to me or… (insert other trusted adults you wound like your child to know they can talk to…) about any changes you notice.

Then when your period comes, blood that comes out of our vulva for a few days every month. This is normal.

When a girl has her period, this can affect her emotions and moods. This is normal. She might feel tired or annoyed or sad. When you start to have your period, you can talk to me about your feelings. A girl can have some pain when she has her period. It’s important to talk to me if you have any pain, so that I can help with that.

It is important to know that a girl can still do anything she wants when having her period. Girls start having their period at different ages. Every girl is different and unique.When a girl has her period, she wears a period pad or tampon, period pants or menstrual cup to absorb the fluid. You can talk to me (other adults/older siblings) about what you would like to use.

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Books

You might like to read these books together. Your school or library might have them, or you can ask the library if they will order a book for you.

A guide to female puberty.

A book about puberty and sexual health for children age 10+.

The text describes what takes place in the body at the time of puberty. It contains sections on sex and contraception, food, exercise, hygiene and drugs and other problems both physical and emotional.