Your bathrooms at school may have a coin-operated dispenser that sells pads. If your school has a nurse’s office, the nurse will likely have pads or other period products on hand.
Usually, you will find a long piece of wax-like paper covering the sticky side on the bottom of the pad. In some brands, the outer wrapper may also double as backing, so the adhesive may already be exposed when you remove the wrapper.
If your pad has wings, remove the backing and fold them around the middle part of your underwear, so it looks like the pad is hugging your underwear. The wings should be like “arms” wrapped around the crotch of the underwear. Make sure the pad isn’t too far forward or too far back. It should be centered so you don’t get leaks at the front or back of the pad.
When you change your pad, wrap up the old pad in some toilet paper, the new pad’s wrapper or place in a small plastic disposal bag and throw it in the garbage. Never toss used pads or wrappers in the toilet—you’ll clog up the pipes!
If you have a heavy flow, you might soak through this type of pad pretty quickly. Just use it as a temporary fix until you can get something better.
While you’re in the nurse’s office, you can also ask to call your parents so they can bring you more supplies.
If possible, change into clean pants as soon as you can. For example, you might ask to be excused and go change into your gym pants. [7] X Research source The school nurse may also have extra clothes on hand for you to borrow.
Remind yourself that a lot of people go through this! Lots of the people around you have probably had a period before. Try to have a sense of humor about it. Read about period jokes online and share them with your friends. Such as, “Jokes about menstrual cycles are not funny. Period. "
Also, don’t worry that you will be losing a lot of blood. The average person loses only about 1–6 tablespoons (15–89 mL) of blood during a period. When your period comes, you may notice a feeling of wetness in your underwear. You may even feel liquid flowing out of your vagina, or you may not notice anything at all. If you are scared of blood or bleeding, try looking at it this way: your period isn’t blood from a wound or injury. The blood from your period is actually a sign that you’re healthy. If your school offers sex ed classes, pay special attention to any information about periods. Don’t be afraid to ask your teacher questions if you don’t understand something.
Girls often begin their periods around the same age as their mother or siblings did. So if talking to your mom or sibling is an option, find out when they started and what is was like. You can simply say, “I’m nervous about getting my first period. " (Or, if you have already started, “I just started my first period. “) Then you can say, “What was it like when you started yours?” If you’re not comfortable talking to anyone in your family, ask another adult, like your doctor, your school nurse, or a trusted teacher.
Pads are probably the easiest thing to start out with. You will have enough to think about without worrying about how to properly insert a tampon. However, if you would prefer to use a tampon or a menstrual cup during your first period, that is okay too. It is most important for you to feel comfortable. If you feel embarrassed about buying pads or tampons, just remember that the cashier really doesn’t care what you are buying and it’s nothing new or shocking to them.
You may want to get a makeup bag or pencil case to store your period supplies. You may also want to hide a pair of underwear in your locker just in case. If your school allows it, keep a little bottle of ibuprofen or other over-the-counter pain medication in your locker to help with cramps. Keep a bar of chocolate on hand, as it has been proven to help with PMS and give your mood a boost.
People can get their first periods as early as 8 years old and as old as 16. The average age is 12. You may notice a white discharge in your underpants up to 6 months before getting your first period. Your period usually comes after you have reached 100 pounds (45 kg).
