Periods. Not the punctuation mark used to end one idea and begin another. No. We are talking about good, old Aunt Flo. If you have a uterus, it is more than likely you have had a period. I got my first period when I was 12 years old in the 7th grade, so I have a lot of experience under my belt. While my endometriosis diagnosis has made my periods more difficult to handle, I have a lot of valuable tips to help manage periods.
Periods are very unpredictable, especially when you are first experiencing them. To combat an unexpected menstrual cycle, you must be prepared. That is why I recommend all people with uteruses to carry a period kit with them when they start middle school.
I remember my mom taking me to CVS to build my first period kit the summer before sixth grade. While that may seem young, my mother did not want me to go to a new school and a new chapter of growing up unprepared.
While you can use an old makeup or pencil bag, I used a mini clear organizer to keep all of the items that would save me from a surprise visit from the menstrual fairy. In this bag, I kept a multitude of items:
- Tampons,
- Pads,
- Ibuprofen (check with your student handbook to ensure that over-the-counter medication is allowed on your person),
- Wet Wipes,
- and an extra pair of underwear.
It is understandable to be scared when you experience your first period. I know I was. There are so many emotions and thoughts racing through your mind.
“Holy crap, I just got my period!”
“Oh crap, I just got my period.”
“Am I a woman now?”
“I need to call my mom. She needs to come picks me up.”
However, half of the population gets their period. Even if you do not create a period kit for yourself, more likely than not, someone will have a pad or tampon to give to you. As you progress through your periods, month after month, it gets much easier to manage. They seem less relevant to your everyday life and are not as much of a surprise. However, they can be painful and stressful and extremely hormonal.
CRAMPS. Most of us get them. We all hate them. Menstrual cramps are “are throbbing or cramping pains in the lower abdomen.” However, cramps are not the end all, be all. They can be manageable. I eat less inflammatory foods when I know my period is coming up to relax my muscles and stay ahead of the cramping. If I do have a flare up of cramps, I use a heating pad or hot water bottle and an electric tens unit. In addition, I take two ibuprofens every four hours to relieve the pain.
As for the hormonal imbalance, there is not much you can do. While birth control and diet can regulate mood swings and changes, you will experience uncomfortable feelings regardless.
Periods do not have to be scary, and they should be a normalized conversation. So many young girls are too confused and uncomfortable to ask questions pertaining to their periods. However, half of the population gets their period, and it is an important discussion we need to expose pre-teens to so they can be prepared.
If your period pains are causing you to miss school, work, or extracurricular activities, it is not normal. Please speak to a gynecologist or reproductive specialist because you deserve to have your pain recognized. Advocate for yourself and do not allow physicians to dismiss whatever questions or concerns you bring to them.
You brought up some great tips I’ve never heard of before! I’ll have to look into those Tens Units, they seem cool and I’d be interested to see the science behind them. There are certainly many ways you can prepare for your period if you know it is coming. My go to is a dose of NSAID pain killers (anti-inflammatory like naproxen or ibuprofen) the day before it starts. Also, depending on the individual, birth control pills can allow you to skip periods and have them about once every 3 months. I definitely agree that young girls should get period education early: no one wants the trauma of it catching them completely off guard.
Considering your passion for menstrual equity and the destigmatization of periods, I was wondering if you’re involved in Days for Girls here on campus at all? I am on the Advocacy Team and know you’d love it if you choose to be involved! Besides that, I love all of your points and think that the information you provide is a strong overview.
I know this is the main point of your blog so I apologize for the redundancy, but I really do enjoy how open and honest you are making the conversation about women’s health. Periods are not an easy obstacle, especially for younger women, so offering all of these options to lessen pain and reduce the negative effects of an unavoidable experience is a huge step towards understanding, at least from the male perspective. I also commend your recommendation to see a (good) specialized physician because that is their entire job; to make sure your issues are taken care of as wholly as possible. Having a gynecologist for a mother, her and I have been very open about my friends and partners coming to her for advice when they feel confused or unheard. I hope this blog helps you become empowered by your shared experiences with other women.
Even as part of the half of the population that does not get periods, I still think it is important for men such as myself to be educated on them. With such education, men can be better prepared to help the women in their life manage their period, or be prepared if they ever become a parent and have a daughter.