Sooner or later, every girl gets her period. Learn about how to be ready for your first period or just for your period in general!
Step 1
Find out as much information as you can about your period.
Step 2
Go on to pad/tampon websites because they might have free samples. You may need to ask your parents and they should be fine with it because after all, it's free! Also do research. Most pad/tampon websites tell you about their products so learn which ones sound good. If you can, avoid buying pads or tampons until you have samples so that way, if they're crummy, you didn't waste any money on them.
Step 3
Keep at least one pad or tampon in all of your purses, book bags, locker, lunch bags, etc... because you or a friend could start and it isn't very fun to have blood-stained panties.
Step 4
Get used to your cycle. When you are still irregular, it might help to wear pantyliners every day so if you start it doesn't leak through anything. Mark a calendar so you can track your days but make it private.
Tips
- Ask any questions you have because it is okay to ask questions.
- If you want, waste some. Not all of them, but a few. Do those tests they do on T.V. where you pour water with food coloring on the pad and see how much water it can take. Put a tampon in a cup of water and watch it expand. Quite frankly, it can be fun. That way you can test which absorbencies really are super. Like take 2 different brands of super flow pads and put the same amount of water in and see if one holds more. (valuable information for when you start so if you are really heavy you can decide which will let you leak and which won't.)
- If you feel somewhat moody or emotional right before or during your period-that is normal.
- If your period catches you by surprise at school, wipe yourself as best as you can. Ask your teacher if you can go to the school nurse. If there is no school nurse ask your teacher (if she is female) if she has a spare pad.
- Always keep a Tide To Go Stick with you just in case if your period catches you by suprise (or not) and you leak.
- Always keep an extra pair of shorts/trousers in your locker/bag just in case of an emergency.
- Try to take painkillers or Ibroprufen-(check with your doctor)-if your stomach ache gets beyond bearable.
Warnings
- Always wash your hands before and after inserting a tampon or putting on a pad. (You don't have to, but it's better if you do)
- Never leave your tampon inside of you for more then 8 hours. If you leave it in longer than that you have a greater risk of catching Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), it is rare, but sometimes deadly.
- If you get some blood on your clothes or sheets, always use cold water not hot. Hot water can set the stain. If you have hydrogen peroxide add it to the cold water and let it soak. It is best to do this when the stain is fresh.
- Around the time you enter middle school, start carrying around a few pads (tampons are not recommended for your first period, wait till it becomes regular)so that you won't be caught off guard.
Things You'll Need
- Pads and tampons.
- Tide ToGo Stick (in case of leaks)
- A person you can go to for advice(guardian, councellor etc. preferably a woman)-this is better than searching online because the source may not be reliable and can give false information which could cause problems.
- An extra pair of panties(some people prefer panties that are a little to large when they are on their period so pads fit better)
