Manage Your Period

Every girl gets her period. It's only natural, and most people have questions, or need help knowing what's normal or how to use products. Hopefully this article will help.

Steps

  1. Tell your mother! She can buy you the supplies you need.
  2. If you are young or this is your first period, sanitary napkins (pads) would be the best option. Your mother can show you how to do this, or if you are to embarrassed to ask her, simply pull your panties down to your knees, unwrap the packaging, slide off the sticker on the bottom of the pad and stick it to your underwear. The round side will go at the front.
  3. If you use tampons: unwrap the packaging, make sure the string are hanging down and insert the tampon about half a finger up your vagina. Remember that your vagina is not straight, it goes back towards your spine, so you might need to insert it vertically.
  4. Keep the supplies next to the toilet in your bathroom, or in your bedroom. You should also leave some supplies in a little make up bag that you can keep in your bag or your locker at school just in case you get your period. You may want to include Midol or Ibuprofen for cramps. Remember that to dispose of the supplies you need to: fold the sanitary napkin up (or just leave the tampon like it is) and throw it in a bin, or the box you see in public toilets or school toilets.
  5. Your period may consist of about 2-3 heavy days, 2-3 medium days and 1-2 light days. On a heavy day you need to change the sanitary napkin every 2-3 hours. On a medium day, 3-4, and on a light day, 4-5. You can buy sanitary napkins in different absorbencies, but never leave a sanitary napkin there too long, as you will start smelling an unpleasant odor. Never leave a tampon in for more than 8 hours (2 on heavy days) as you will be at risk or TSS (see warnings). Also if you are going to use tampons you cannot use them all the time, as you need to give your vagina some time to air. Never use tampons at night, as might sleep through your night, therefore not changing your tampon for 8-12 hours.
  6. Keep buying different brands of sanitary napkins/ tampons until you find the one that you like best. Remember that every girl is different, so try several different brands, not just the popular ones.

Tips

  • When you have your period wear black underwear and pants, because if you leak and blood stains your pants no-one will notice it. If you can't wear black, try wearing tomboy longer pants over smaller briefs as this will again soak up blood.
  • Pants with no elastic/VPL can be more comfortable to wear as they don't cut into your abdomen as much, keeping pain to a minimum.
  • Keep a calender of when you got your period, when it ends and what days its heavy/light.
  • Remember this happens to women across the world every single month. You are not alone and it's just one of life's unfortunate little things we all have to cope with!
  • If you have bad period pains, there are lots of things you can do: you can apply a hot water bottle to the area, take ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory painkillers, have a hot bath or cuddle a pillow to help ease your uterus muscles. Putting your feet up against the wall while lying on your back also helps. Holding a hot water bottle on your abdomen while doing this makes it even more effective.
  • Remember, things get worse before they get better! Periods will often become more painful/heavy at the end of the first day to the second day, before becoming lighter and less painful. This varies from woman to woman but generally it happens in a crescendo/decrescendo pattern.
  • As much as you may want to keep your supplies in the bathroom, remember that the steam from your hot shower could get into your supplies and make them absorb the steam.
  • Always wear dark colour trousers during your period.
  • Don't like the idea of a calendar? Why not download this cool new app called 'pink pad'? It does everything for you. It tells you which day you're bound to start.
  • If your periods are irregular/heavy/painful, consult a GP. They may be able to provide useful medication to help.
  • If you think you are due to get your period soon (Most women's period comes about every 28 days, but it takes 2-3 years for your menstruation cycle to get into a pattern, so don't expect it to come to regularly) try using liners. Liners are about as thin as paper, and are designed to absorb only a bit of blood, but will stop you leaking for about an hour. Liners can also be used to collect discharge, which you'll start seeing around the time you first get your period.
  • You don't have to wear granny pants every period! If you feel conscious about wearing larger pants, try wearing ones with nice colors on it or patterns rather than just beige/brown color!
  • Night-time can be a nightmare for periods, especially pain. Wear a thicker and more absorbent panty-liner or, if you really prefer, tampon. If you get period pains take ibuprofen before you go to bed and lie on your side, holding a pillow tight to you while curled in a ball. This way, gravity presses down less on your uterus, and should make it less painful than sleeping on your back.
  • When it comes to painkillers, try taking ibuprofen or anti-inflammatory painkillers as these can help to make the contractions less severe as well as blocking the pain. If you continue to take these as instructed on the packet throughout the day they can prevent pain as well as treat it!

Warnings

  • Some women are anemic. Anemia is when the count of iron in your blood is low. It can be caused by a period that comes too often (every 2-3 weeks) and/or is really heavy. This is because you lose to much iron for your body to keep up with. If you are getting heavy periods often, are feeling dizzy or about to pass out, consult your doctor.
  • 78% of women get period pain (cramps) just before they get their period so that they know it's coming. However if your period pain is too bad (dizziness, extreme pain, nearly passing out) consult your doctor immediately.
  • If you leave a tampon in for a long time you are at risk of TSS. For more info about TSS, Google Toxic Shock Syndrome.

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