Talking Your Teen Through Her First Period

Almost every person born a woman has the same experience: their period. By now, you’re probably so familiar with this monthly process that you may not give it much thought. But think back to the first time you menstruated. Were you confused? Worried? Surprised?

If you have a daughter, you can help make that first period a more comfortable process. Having a conversation beforehand and offering support through her first cycle makes it easier for her to navigate. 

At Prestige Healthcare OBGYN in Atlanta, Georgia, Charis Trench-Simmons, MD, and and Lorenza Simmons, MD, offer adolescent care as part of our suite of gynecological services. 

But since most girls get their period around age 12, before they need to start seeing a gynecologist (usually, ages 13–15), a lot of the support falls to you.

With that in mind, we have a few tips that we hope will help. 

Open up the conversation

If you’re not sure where to start, we have a suggestion to give you an inroad. Simply ask your daughter if she’s heard about periods. If not, you have the opportunity to educate her about what to expect.

If she says she has some info, ask her what she knows. What she’s learned from friends and at school might have some misinformation mixed in. Helping her sort fact from fiction makes her first period less confusing. 

Tell her what to expect

Most girls get their first period a couple of years after they start developing breasts. That gives you time to talk with her about the ways her body is changing to prepare her for her first period.

Let her know that body hair is usually a good indicator that her period could be coming soon. And that means hormonal changes. Tell her it’s normal if she feels moodier. 

Also, ,tell her that a period is natural and that almost every woman experiences one. It’s a part of growing up, like getting taller. It’s nothing to be ashamed about.

Explain her options for period supplies 

Don’t let her first period become a source of public embarrassment. Instead, help her explore her options for containing the menstrual blood.

Pads work well, especially since early periods tend to be light. Show her how to stick them to her underwear and when to change them.

You can also teach her about tampons or menstrual cups to see if she wants to explore those options. If she swims or plays sports, she might want to use an alternative to pads sooner.

Whichever option she chooses, help her find a discreet way to bring them to school. You might put the pads in a pencil case in a special pocket in her backpack, for example. 

Tell her to come to you for help and questions

You’re her guide to this major change in her life. Make sure she knows she can always ask you for help or more information. If she starts using tampons, for example, tell her to ask you about it if it feels uncomfortable. (That probably means she isn’t inserting it far enough.) 

For more help setting your daughter up for success with her first period, call our office or book your visit online today.