Menstruation is normal vaginal bleeding that occurs every 28–35 days (usually) as part of a woman’s monthly cycle. When a girl enters puberty, she begins to menstruate. Although it is a natural scientific phenomenon, the social and cultural taboos associated with the subject mean that people of both genders find it difficult to discuss menstruation or menstruation openly. This leads to a lot of confusion among the youth, who get misinformation from the internet or a peer group who is as inexperienced as themselves. While both boys and girls should be taught about periods, it is essential that young girls are prepared before their first period arrives. Awareness will help him not feel any awkwardness or trauma.
Anika Parashar, Founder and CEO of The Woman Company shared, “The onset of menstruation is a life-changing journey for a young girl. It can be beautiful and make her feel overwhelmingly empowered. However, most of the time, due to Lack of awareness, and hesitation, A girl’s first period is often a painful experience because she doesn’t know what’s happening to her body. So, as a parent, having “the period talk” with your daughter It is very important.
Tips for parents to talk to daughters about periods
Anika Parashar’s tips on how to talk to daughters on periods:
1. start early: It is better that you talk to your daughter about her periods before her period starts. This ensures that he gets correct information as opposed to random details from friends or other sources.
2. keep it simple: Start with a simple description. Make it interactive, not preachy. Ask her what she knows about puberty and menstruation. Based on their answers, guide them by correcting them where they are wrong.
3. Talk again and again: Don’t make menstruation a taboo subject. Normalize menstruation for them as there is no doubt that initially this conversation can be extremely awkward and uncomfortable for most children. It may take more than one conversation with them to fully understand this change. That’s why break the silence.