How to Manage Your Period

If you are young or this is your first period, sanitary napkins (pads) would be the best option. Your mother can show you how to do this, or if you are to embarrassed to ask her, simply pull your panties down to your knees, unwrap the packaging, slide off the sticker on the bottom of the pad and stick it to your underwear. The round side will go at the front.^[1]

If you use tampons: unwrap the packaging, make sure the string are hanging down and insert the tampon about half a finger up your vagina. Remember that your vagina is not straight, it goes back towards your spine, so you might need to insert it vertically.^[2]

Keep the supplies next to the toilet in your bathroom, or in your bedroom. You should also leave some supplies in a little make up bag that you can keep in your bag or your locker at school just in case you get your period. You may want to include Midol or Ibuprofen for cramps.^[3] Remember that to dispose of the supplies you need to: fold the sanitary napkin up (or just leave the tampon like it is) and throw it in a bin, or the box you see in public toilets or school toilets.

Your period may consist of about 2-3 heavy days, 2-3 medium days and 1-2 light days. On a heavy day you need to change the sanitary napkin every 2-3 hours. On a medium day, 3-4, and on a light day, 4-5. You can buy sanitary napkins in different absorbencies, but never leave a sanitary napkin there too long, as you will start smelling an unpleasant odor. Never leave a tampon in for more than 8 hours (2 on heavy days) as you will be at risk or TSS (see warnings).^[4] Also if you are going to use tampons you cannot use them all the time, as you need to give your vagina some time to air. Never use tampons at night, as might sleep through your night, therefore not changing your tampon for 8-12 hours.^[5]