Bright means intelligent. Bright people are smart. They know their body and they know how to listen to their body.
Your child can embrace their period as an intelligent function of their body, rather than dreading it… they just need the right tools!
If you feel like navigating periods with your teen/tween can be nerve-racking, awkward, or like you don’t know where to begin, you’re not alone in feeling that way. The resources on this page are here to help you… and make it a positive experience for you and your child!
WHAT'S ON THIS PAGE?
PERIOD CARE PRODUCTS: This resource includes information about period care products that help to meet the needs of a range of different people.
LEARNING RESOURCES: This resource also includes activities and conversation starter worksheets to help facilitate further learning for yourself and your teenager.
PRACTITIONER DIRECTORY: Our practitioner directory is constantly being updated with menstrual health practitioners who are best qualified to find and treat the root cause of period concerns.
Demi Spaccavento
As seen in:
Proudly partnered with:
DEMI SPACCAVENTO SCHOOL SPEAKER, TEACHER & AUTHOR
Demi is the most sought after menstrual health presenter for schools in Australia. She has presented to thousands of students, empowering them to be in tune with their body and never dread their period again.
FREE RECIPE EBOOK
Easy and delicious recipes to help reduce period pain, PMS and cravings.
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.
HOW TO TALK ABOUT PERIODS WITH YOUR TEEN:
– 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
WHAT'S 'NORMAL'?
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.
HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH? - PERIOD SYMPTOMS
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.
HELP SEEKING
MENSTRUAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER DIRECTORY
NOT ALL DOCTOS SPECIALISE IN PERIODS. HERE ARE THE ONES THAT DO!
Find a health practitioner who specialises in period and hormones
Symptoms are disrupting their ability to carry on with (and enjoy) everyday life
Worrying symptoms become a pattern
FINDING A PRACTITIONER
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, and that’s ok. But what that means is that they’re not always the most equipped to diagnose and treat menstrual health symptoms.
Ask you doctor to refer you to a menstrual health or hormone specialist. OR, look for one on our practitioner directory.
CONNECT WITH A MENSTRUAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER
Use our practitioner directory to search for specialists by location, qualification or by your symptoms/concerns.
Dr Tash is an Australian Gynaecologist and Endocrinologist who has years of experience treating period symptoms and hormones. She will be able to investigate period concerns in teens and give them strategies to support or treat their hormones and symptoms.
More than ever before, there are many different options to manage your period and to suit every menstruator’s needs.
The choice is no longer limited to just pads or tampons. There are menstrual cups to go all day without thinking about our periods, period swimwear so we can still swim on our period, reusable pads if we prefer external options, and period underwear so we can cut down on disposable products to be more environmentally conscious.
More options means more freedom and more people who get their needs met. Periods do not have to stop us living life!
SUSTAINABLE PADS & TAMPONS
PRODUCTS THAT ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS
● Organic pads and tampons with biodegradable materials and packaging
These options are still disposable, however, they are designed to break down much faster than conventional pads/tampons. They often tend to also use less plastic in their packaging. Organic options also contain less hormone disrupting compounds and skin irritants like certain pesticides, bleaches and fragrances.
WHAT ABOUT REUSABLE PERIOD PRODUCTS?
Reusable period care options include:
Period cups
Period-proof underwear
Reusable pads.
These options don’t need to be disposed of, and therefore create less waste. They are gaining popularity because of their benefits to our health and the environment.
DISPOSABLE PADS AND TAMPONS:
As conscious consumers, we can think about the potential impact our period care products have on the environment.
For a more environmentally and body friendly alternative, you can look for pads and tampons that are: – Organic – Biodegradable materials – Free from dioxins, bleaches, phthalates, polypropylene – Disclose their ingredients
Many people’s skin can be irritated by the above ingredients.
A BETTER CHOICE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR YOUR HORMONES
It’s important for us to make informed choices about period care products. Some pads and tampons can contain harsh hormone disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that impact our hormones. Many disposable pads/tampons contain plastics that take many years to break down in landfill. More brands are now offering organic options with biodegradable materials and packaging.
WHERE DOES PADS/TAMPON WASTE END UP IF IT CANNOT BREAK DOWN?
IN OCEANS, RIVERS, STREAMS
IN LANDFILL WHERE THEY TAKE HUNDREDS OF YEARS TO BREAK DOWN
BURNED IN OUR WASTE SYSTEMS EMITTING TOXIC FUMES
BEACHES & WATER POLLUTING THE ENVIRONMENTS OF MARINE ANIMALS
Keep scrolling for period cups and period underwear
PERIOD UNDERWEAR
INTERNAL
EXTERNAL
REUSABLE
DISPOSABLE
HOW DO THEY WORK?
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.
CLEANING YOUR USED PERIOD UNDERWEAR:
Remove the 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 added in with the rest of your laundry with similar colours
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 is smaller, 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. If inserted correctly, you shouldn’t be able to feel the menstrual cup and it shouldn’t cause discomfort.
CLEANING THE CUP
A menstrual cups is reusable, meaning 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 very 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.
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!
Keep scrolling for downloadable activies and conversations starters
REUSABLE PADS
INTERNAL
EXTERNAL
REUSABLE
DISPOSABLE
HOW DO THEY WORK?
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.
CLEANING REUSABLE PADS
Remove the reusable pad
Soak in cold water for 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 can put them in with the rest of your laundry with similar colours
EASY PEASY PERIODS. NO AWKWARD CONVERSATIONS REQUIRED
Do you want your teen to EMBRACE their period, rather than resent it? Join families around the world and register for the “Period Perfect” parent-teen Masterclasses today!
Delivered by an experienced teacher, the presentations empower students to understand that periods aren’t scary, but that they can a great tools for better health. These research based seminars elevate body image and self confidence, and equips students with diet/lifestyle strategies for better health and a balanced period.
The menstrual cycle
The reproductive & endocrine systems
Coping with stress
Building positive body image
Help seeking
Lifestyle & diet strategies
Destroying negative stigmas surrounding menstrual health
Recognising and identifying reproductive health concerns
Strong, confident, BRIGHT teenagers who embrace their health begins with YOU!
I hope that the resources on this page will help you and your teen/tween connect, facilitate open, honest conversation, and help equip them to make the best health decisions possible!