How to Talk to Your Daughter About Menstruation

Talking to your daughter about her first period can be an anxiety-provoking experience, especially if it's your first time having the conversation. However, as puberty approaches, she'll have lots of questions about her body. It's important to talk to your daughter about her period before she gets inaccurate information from someone else. She needs accurate information not only about menstruation, but about the other changes she can expect as she grows from a child into a teenager.

Instructions

    • 1

      Find the right time. If possible, make the day you have "the talk" a special day for her. Maybe go out for lunch or for a walk in the park but ensure you will have enough privacy we won't be embarrassed. A peaceful, enjoyable setting where you can talk one-on-one will help you both feel more comfortable.

    • 2

      Ask her what she already knows. It's your job to not only to present accurate information, but to correct any inaccurate information she might have received.

    • 3

      State the facts. Explain that menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining in a month in which conception has not occurred. If she's confused about how women get pregnant, this is your chance to explain how the sperm meets the egg and the egg implants in the uterus.

    • 4

      Tell her about your first period. Talk about the form of menstrual protection you used, and then explain the difference between tampons, pads and menstrual cups. Discuss the pros and cons of each. If you've changed the kind of menstrual protection you use since you first started menstruating, talk about why.

    • 5

      Give her a gift. Choose an assortment of pads and tampons and present them to her in a gift bag or wrapped box. If you like, include a book about the changes her body will undergo during puberty so she can look up the answers to any questions she's embarrassed to ask.

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