How do I carry protection with me to school? Try keeping your period protection in a small non-see-through bag inside your purse or backpack. Keep a few pads or tampons in there, even when you are not expecting your period, so you know you are always ready.
Most people keep spare pads or tampons in their backpack or purse. It helps to have a bag to take to the bathroom. But if you want to be really discreet and avoid carrying anything noticeable, you can slip a pad or a tampon into a pocket, up your sleeve, in the leg of your boot, sock, or in your pant legs at the ankle.
If you are in class, ask to be excused to the bathroom or the nurse's office. Ask a friend who menstruates if they have an extra pad or tampon you could borrow. If they don't, grab some small change just in case you need to use a vending machine to purchase supplies.
Unless you are wearing skin tight or semi-translucent clothing, it's unlikely that anyone will be able to see your pad. PIMP cloth pads aren't bulky like lots of conventional pads or even other reusables, so you don't have to worry about extra bulge in your pants, skirts, or shorts.
Keep some pads or tampons in your backpack.
Choose a side pocket, or better yet, an inside pocket. Stick enough pads or tampons to last you a day or two. This way, when you have to use the restroom to change out a pad or tampon, you can take your bag with you.
Getting your period can cause mild cramps on the first day or two, but it shouldn't cause you to stay home from school, work, or social events.
Although there's no one right age for a girl to get her period, there are some clues that it will start soon. Typically, a girl gets her period about 2 years after her breasts start to develop. Another sign is vaginal discharge fluid (sort of like mucus) that a girl might see or feel on her underwear.
More than one-third of young women in a nationwide survey said they missed at least one class, either at school or university, in the past three months due to menstrual symptoms, including pain and fatigue. More than three quarters of young women said they had problems concentrating due to their period.
It's not a good idea to go an entire school day without changing pads, pantiliners, or tampons. No matter how light your flow is, or even if there is no flow, bacteria can build up. Changing your pad every 3 or 4 hours (more if your period is heavy) is good hygiene and helps prevent bad odors.
If you're still embarrassed, you can do things to make your purchase discreet. Buy pads alongside other products or use the self checkout. Seek support from friends and family members, especially if you're just starting to have regular periods. Others can help you feel more confident and less alone.
If you've ever been pulled aside at airport security checkpoints when wearing a period product, you're not alone. Did you know that the Transportation Security Administration's body scanners can flag period products as potential threats, triggering additional searches?
So experts say that's a good place to start – stocking every school bathroom or health center with free menstrual supplies. "Tampons and pads should be treated just like toilet paper, because in fact, they are just like toilet paper," Kramer says.
Dr. Edmundo Escomel reported her case in the medical journal La Presse Médicale, including that her menarche had occurred at eight months of age, in contrast to previous reports that she had had regular periods since the age of three or two and a half.
Most girls start their periods when they're about 12, but they can start as early as 8, so it's important to talk to girls from an early age to make sure they're prepared.
A woman becomes able to get pregnant when she ovulates for the first time — about 14 days before her first menstrual period. This happens to some women as early as when they are eight years old, or even earlier. Most often, ovulation begins before women turn 20.
One in five American girls miss all or part of the school day due to their periods.
If your teacher is very no nonsense and generally does not let people leave during class, try talking to him in private ahead of time. You do not need to explicitly state you're menstruating, but say you're having a "female problem" and might need to use the hall pass.
I use the Clue app because it's easy to see and allows you to keep a detailed log of your symptoms – but there are plenty of others. If you're worried about leaking in the lead up to your period, use thin pads or panty liners for peace of mind. They're like sanitary pads, but a lot thinner and more comfortable.
Some options include: Using toilet paper or paper towels: Paper towels can be more absorbent so they won't have to be changed as often. Fold and stock them (or toilet paper) so it's at least half an inch thick and approximately the length and width of a standard sanitary pad.
SOCKS: Use your old socks to make a temporary pad. You can wrap a toilet paper around the sock on your underwear to prevent it from shifting. Socks are usually sweat absorbent and hence make makeshift pads.