Girls- periods and sex ed

[TheEclipse]

What do you girls/women here wish that teachers or parents had explained more to you about periods? Anything you didn't understand?
How about sex related things? Which things do you wish an adult had told you, or did you just not... get?

How do you think that teachers or schools or parents could have helped you transition into having periods better?

For example, my school had only one toilet with a disposal bin in it. Everyone knew that *gasp* you'd had your period, if you deliberately went into that toilet if all the others were not full. Ridiculous, and caused a lot of embarrassment.

I also thought you had to wear your pad all the time (Mum explained that one really quickly, after my first day on my period when I asked) just in case your period came. I didn't understand you could predict when the next would be.

I'm trying to write an article for parents and teachers to help (not in a creepy way, like telling you huuuugely intimate details, lol, I'm talking about more of the normal stuff that girls can't deal with or misunderstand or just aren't told) out pre teens and teenagers with it. Think back to when you first got your period, or issues you have now with periods, or sex ed related things.

[buttons]

there was nothing i didn't understand, i wish they explained ovulation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovulation) more though. my mum didn't really mention it and i had no sisters so i was ******** it:(
as for sex it's really quite simple, people learn about it really early nowadays but i think some things we were shown were unnecessary (cartoon rabbits having sex....) when we all pretty much knew everything already. try add ovulation in maybe? you probably will:P

our toilets had a bin in every second toilet, why would people get embarassed? all (unless they have something wrong with them) girls get their period, i'd be more embarassed if i didn't. you can't always predict, even after so many years mine isn't always the same time as usual but keeping note on your calender is a good tip to include

[TheEclipse]

Probably because it was in primary school, and I was 10 years old and in year 5 at the time. Our primary school goes up to the end of year 7 but there was still a lot of stigma on girls who had their period. It was... I don't know what, but it was a cause for bullying. oooo why do you have to go to your BAG before you go to the toilet?? oooo! Why are you waiting specifically for that stall??

Yeah every second one would have been SO much better.

Yeah I'll say, they never explain ovulation properly. (I helped teach a sex ed class a few months back). Girls had some interesting misconceptions.

[buttons]

oh right yeah at school anyone who developed breasts first got bullied, some people at p.e would go into the toilets to change so we'd all know why;)
i was more embarrased that i started later than everyone.
good luck anyways

[Shar]

I went to a all girls school so it was alright, so I already knew most things about periods so there was no real problem there
And I agree they need to explain ovulation better...

[TheEclipse]

How about emergency pads/tampons? I know some teachers do that at a certain age group, they have emergency pads and tampons in a drawer and tell the girls in sex ed class that if they ever need one, to go and get one, they don't need to ask. Would that help? Would you ever take one? I know a few instances in my life when I would have really needed that.

[Stephen]

Atleast you girls don't get laughed at when your balls drop cos obviously you dont have em. SQUEAKSQUEAK

[Rapidshare]

Teachers have spare pads, they have them in the school first aid box, anyone allowed to come and get them :)

[Gibs960]

I know I'm a boy and everythin :P But the girls told me that the teachers just said they wouldn't notice :D

[Becca]

I don't think our parents should say anthing about sex because it's very, awkward.
It's better to know more of teachers than parents, less weird.

[Nicola]

My mum only really went over basic stuff with me like what to do when I first start it and stuff but my school didn't talk about it enough I think. Not in enough depth anyway.


there was nothing i didn't understand, i wish they explained ovulation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovulation) more though. my mum didn't really mention it and i had no sisters so i was ******** it:(
as for sex it's really quite simple, people learn about it really early nowadays but i think some things we were shown were unnecessary (cartoon rabbits having sex....) when we all pretty much knew everything already. try add ovulation in maybe? you probably will:P

our toilets had a bin in every second toilet, why would people get embarassed? all (unless they have something wrong with them) girls get their period, i'd be more embarassed if i didn't. you can't always predict, even after so many years mine isn't always the same time as usual but keeping note on your calender is a good tip to include

Ovulation definitely wasn't explained enough to me so I didn't really know what was going on there.


How about emergency pads/tampons? I know some teachers do that at a certain age group, they have emergency pads and tampons in a drawer and tell the girls in sex ed class that if they ever need one, to go and get one, they don't need to ask. Would that help? Would you ever take one? I know a few instances in my life when I would have really needed that.

They used to keep them at the reception at my school they most likely had them in the nurse's office aswell but I always went to the reception if I didn't have anything on me. It was slightly awkward if there was other people in the reception though.

[wiktoria]

I don't think our parents should say anthing about sex because it's very, awkward.
It's better to know more of teachers than parents, less weird.

I agree with this I don't talk to my mum about sex because it would be quite akward. In year 6 (when I was 11 or 12) we had to watch a woman giving birth which was quite extreme and cartoons having sex, don't think there was any need for it.

[lorren]

when my school taught me it (year 6) i was so scared about telling my mum LOL but tbh its no biggy! and it pisses me off how you have to go to the nurse incase!! my school has only bins, but its like ew they're gross;l my school sucks.

[,Lexiilu]

I don't think our parents should say anthing about sex because it's very, awkward.
It's better to know more of teachers than parents, less weird.

agree xox

we have bins in every stall :)
and i guess i really learned enough in health but i agree, ovulation wasnt taught well

[TheEclipse]

I didn't mind Mum telling me about periods and stuff, and actually she would tell me little bits and pieces whenever I asked from the age of 2 or so! So I never had a disturbing Talk with her.

[Black_Apalachi]

You didn't ask anybody about periods when you were 2.

[TheEclipse]

I knew a lot by three because Mum was pregnant with my brother. I knew about periods (in that, adult women get them and you bleed from the vagina once a month) by the age of 5. I figured out sex for myself before I started school because I knew that babies are in Mum's womb, Mum has a vagina, Dad has a penis, babies are made from eggs and sperm, how do they get together? It was all through just general conversations and inference.

But I was speaking in full sentences at 2 and I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't see mum changing a pad in the toilets (since she had to take me into the cubicle with her since I was, yaknow, 2 years old) and I most likely asked her what that was. I can't remember NOT knowing things.

[N-Dubz]

how much it was gonna ******* hurt wouldn't have gone a miss.