A parent's guide to conquer periods & hormones with their teen
With free downloadable resources
FREE RECIPE BOOK
Easy and delicious recipes to help reduce period pain, PMS and cravings.
WHAT'S NORMAL & WHAT'S NOT?
What's typical when it comes to periods?
Period symptoms and irregularities are more expected when teens first start having their period.
It takes time for the body to be able to regulate the menstrual cycle. In fact, it can take up to 6 years!
It’s important for teens to be kind and patient with their body during this time.
Aim towards balanced hormones and minimal period symptoms over time.
Ideally, we want irregular or symptomatic teenage periods improve with time.
Help can be sought for symptoms that impact a teen’s ability to carry on with everyday life.
Extreme symptoms in teenage years (fainting, vomiting, extreme pain, etc.) are not normal.
If your child is experiencing severe symptoms, it’s a good idea to consult an experienced menstrual health or hormone specialist to find the root cause.
The average age a period should start is between 9 and 16.
Everyone is different.
If your teen doesn’t have their period yet, but has other puberty signs, such as pubic hair, breast growth, growing taller, and a changing body shape, then this is a great sign that the body is on track and their period is on its way.
The advice of a health practitioner can be sought if your teen is 14, 15, or 16 and isn’t showing signs of puberty.
– Keep it lighthearted
– Keep it positive
– Read through this page together
– Share something personal first to help them feel comfortable to open up
– Use the conversation starters at the bottom of this page
HELP-SEEKING
When is it time to see a doctor for periods?
- Symptoms are extreme
- Symptoms are disrupting their ability to carry on with (and enjoy) everyday life
- Worrying symptoms become a pattern
Most GPs and family doctors are the first place people go for help with period concerns.
It’s important to remember that most general practitioners do not specialise in periods and hormones. A menstrual or hormonal health specialist may be more equipped to help diagnose and treat period concerns.
Ask you doctor to refer you to a menstrual health or hormone specialist.
OR, look for one on our practitioner directory.
PRACTITIONER DIRECTORY
NOT ALL DOCTOS SPECIALISE IN PERIODS…. HERE ARE THE ONES THAT DO!
Find a health practitioner who specialises in periods and hormones
Period Pain Assessment – Is it time to see a doctor?
Period Pain Assessment (PIPPA) developed by Canberra Health services
This 5 question screening will let you know if you should see a practitioner about your period pain
Read the management tools for period symptoms published by Canberra Health Services
Download a letter to initiate a conversation about your best pathway treating your period pain
PERIOD CARE PRODUCTS
The choice is no longer limited to just pads or tampons.
More options means more people get their needs met.
PERIOD CUPS
- INTERNAL
- EXTERNAL
- REUSABLE
- DISPOSABLE
Menstrual cups are inserted into the vaginal canal, just like a tampon would be.
However, instead of absorbing menstrual blood like a tampon, the menstrual cup collects the blood.
- The cup gets folded up so it’s tip is about the size of a tampon tip
- The tip is positioned at the vaginal opening, and it is gently directed inside the vaginal canal on a diagonal angle
- Once inside, it opens up and the holes around the rim of the cup create a seal to the walls of the vagina, ensuring it does not move out of place and that blood will not leak out.
- It can be worn for up to 8 hours before changing.
If inserted correctly, you shouldn’t be able to feel the menstrual cup and it shouldn’t cause discomfort.
A menstrual cup is reusable. It is cleaned after each use and used again.
It can last you years, saving a lot of money! Because the cup is made of 100% medical grade silicone, it is hygienic and safe.
After removing, rinse cup the sink with cold water and gentle soap and reinsert.
When your period is over, you can sanitise the cup by boiling it in a pot on the stove for a few minutes (follow manufacturers instructions). Alternatively, the TOM Organic cup comes with a steriliser case to sanitise your cup in the microwave. Do this before reinserting before your next period too.
- You only need 1 cup – wash and reuse it!
- No need to buy pads/tampons monthly, which saves money
- Made from medical grade silicone – safe and hygenic
- Diversts thousands of tampons/pads from landfill
- Great for swimming and sport
- Collects 2-4 tampons worth of blood
- Wear for up to 8 hours
- Less risk of TSS than with tampons
Many teenagers use menstrual cups.
Some are able to make the cup work right away. Others need to practise for a few cycles (and that’s normal!)
It’s not an all-or-nothing experience. It’s okay to try inserting a cup part way, call it a day, and try again when you’re feeling comfortable. Eventually you’ll be able to position the cup so that you can’t even feel it.
Teenagers can use a cup as soon as they feel comfortable and confident to try it out.
The Saalt teen cup is a smaller fit to make starting out with a cup easier!
STARTING WITH PERIOD CUPS
PADS & TAMPONS
- INTERNAL
- EXTERNAL
- REUSABLE
- DISPOSABLE
- In oceans, rivers and streams
- In landfill, where plastic components take hundreds of years to break down
- Polluting beaches and oceans
More brands are now offering organic options with biodegradable materials and packaging.
As conscious consumers, we can think about the potential impact our period care products have on the environment and our body.
Environmental impact of disposable pads/tampons:
- Plastic packaging, pad inlays and tampon applicators can take potentially hundreds of years to break down
- Tampon applicators are one of the most common items polluting beaches
Health impact – endocrine disruptors:
- Many pads/tampons contain pesticides, phthalates and fragrances, which are hormone disruptors (xeno-oestrogens)
- Hormone disruptors impact the body’s endocrine (hormone) system
- These can also cause skin irritation for some users
For a more environmentally and body friendly alternative, you can look for pads and tampons that are:
– Organic
– Use biodegradable materials
– Free from dioxins, bleaches, phthalates, polypropylene, fragrances
– Disclose their ingredients
PERIOD SWIMWEAR
- INTERNAL
- EXTERNAL
- REUSABLE
- DISPOSABLE
Don’t want to miss out on swimming during your period?
Period-proof swimwear allow you to swim with confidence on your period!
Period swimwear work by using a 3 layered gusset:
- Top layer draws in period blood
- Middle layer locks in blood and odour
- Outer layer is water repellent to keep water out and prevent leaks
On light flow days, period swimwear is all you’ll need – no pads or tampons required!
On a heavy day, you can pair period swimwear with a cup or tampon for extra protection so you can ‘just keep swimming’.
Keep swimming on your period – never miss a pool/beach day or swim meet!
Keeps blood in and water out
Holds 2 tampons of blood
Looks like regular swimwear
- One-piece and bikini brief options
- Rinse off excess blood on the surface under cold water in a sink or bathtub until the water runs clear
- Place in a laundry bag in a delicate, cold cycle with like colours. Omit fabric softener, harsh detergents or bleach.
- Hang, dry and wear them again
PERIOD UNDERWEAR
- INTERNAL
- EXTERNAL
- REUSABLE
- DISPOSABLE
Period-proof underwear are a reusable period care option, designed to absorb period blood and keep you dry without the need for pads or tampons.
Period underwear have an absorbent section in them (similar to having an inbuilt pad) with multiple layers that absorb blood, prevent leaks, and keep moisture away from skin.
They hold more blood than pads and tampons, so you can often go longer without needing to change them.
However, wear time will depend on how heavy your flow is.
- Remove your used period underwear
- Rinse off excess blood on the surface under cold water in a sink or bathtub until the water runs clear
- Put them in the washing machine on a cold cycle WITHOUT fabric softener. They can be washed with like colours in the rest of your laundry
- Hang, dry and wear them again
STARTING OUT WITH PERIOD UNDERWEAR
REUSABLE PADS
- INTERNAL
- EXTERNAL
- REUSABLE
- DISPOSABLE
Reusable pads absorb your period without the need for disposable pads or tampons.
They have an inbuilt absorbent section that absorbs blood. Reusable pads usually clip onto your underwear.
They usually hold more blood than a disposable pad, so you can often go longer without needing to change them.
However, wear time will depend on how heavy your flow is. Just make sure to change after 8 hours!
When you’re ready to change a reusable pad, it can be rinsed or soaked, and then put in the washing machine.
Remove the reusable pad
Soak in cold water to get out the excess blood on the surface and prevent staining. Follow product guidelines for soaking
Wash in the washing machine on a cold cycle without fabric softener. You wash them with like colours in the rest of your laundry
Hang, dry and wear them again!
- Wash and reuse them!
- No need to buy pads/tampons monthly, saving money
- Collects 2-4 tampons worth of blood (sometimes more!)
- Diverts thousands of pads/tampons from landfill
- Cute and comfortable
CONVERSATION STARTERS AND ACTIVITIES
Use these resources to foster conversation around periods within your family
'The Bright Girl Guide' ebook
The young person's guide to understand and embrace their cycle!
Parent-Teen 'Period Ready' Kit
Perfect for teens/tweens navigating the first few years of menstruation
INQUIRE ABOUT A SCHOOL PRESENTATION
THANKS PARENTS!
I hope that this page helps you and your child connect.
Periods don’t have to be scary!
I wish you the best in learning about the menstrual cycle with your teen/tween.
Demi Spaccavento
BOOK: ‘The Bright Girl Guide’
PERIOD-READY KIT: online masterclasses and resource kit for parents and teens
'THE BRIGHT GIRL GUIDE' BOOK
BY DEMI SPACCAVENTO
Use your period to your advantage!
Use code “BRIGHT10” for 10% off
ebook and paperback
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