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Menstruation: Preparing your preteen for her period
Talking about menstruation can be embarrassing for both you and your daughter. Here's help approaching this ticklish topic.
By Mayo Clinic staffMost girls begin to menstruate when they're about 12 or 13, but periods are possible a few years earlier. That's why explaining menstruation early is so important. But menstruation is an awkward subject to talk about — especially with preteen girls, who seem to embarrass more easily than any other creatures on the planet.
So what's the best way to approach this ticklish topic?
Talk early and often
If your daughter asks questions about menstruation, answer them openly and honestly. Provide as many details as you think she needs at the time. It's OK to let your daughter set the pace — but don't let her avoid the topic entirely. If she's not asking questions as she approaches the preteen years, it's up to you to start talking about menstruation.
Don't plan a single tell-all discussion. Instead, talk about the various issues — from basic hygiene to fear of the unknown — in a series of short conversations. Consider it part of a continuing conversation on how the human body works. Remember, your daughter needs good information about the menstrual cycle and all the other changes that puberty brings. If her friends are her only source of information, she may hear some nonsense and take it for fact.
How to start talking
To introduce the subject of menstruation, you might ask your daughter what she knows about puberty. Clarify any misinformation, and ask what questions she might have. It may be helpful to time your conversations with the health lessons and sex education your daughter is receiving in school.
Or you could broach the subject before a routine doctor's appointment. You can tell your daughter that the doctor may ask her whether she's gotten her period yet. Then ask if she has any questions or concerns about menstruation.
Girls might prefer to learn about menstruation from a female family member, but sometimes that's not possible. If you're a single father and you're not comfortable talking about menstruation, you might delegate these conversations to a female relative or friend. The key is to make sure the information is relayed somehow.
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