Menstruation Times During School Hours
When you will be getting your first period? This is the first question which strikes in mind of most of the adolescent girls. Not only this but also it appears on the minds of those girls who have experienced their first periods. This is because periods do not come in the exact time for all the girls. It varies from month to month. In India, for most of the girls, their first period becomes a surprise. They don’t know what exactly is happening to their body and why it is happening. In developing countries, the teenage girls had lower school enrollment rates, fewer years of schooling as well as lower literacy rates as compared to boys. On the other hand, girls remain less likely to progress to secondary in such countries. In this article, you will be getting to know everything through which you can help to prepare the girls for their monthly period during school hours.
What are the periods?
Your daughter will go through lots of physical as well as emotional changes in puberty. As mentioned above, one of the most important parts is her first period. Periods are part of the overall menstrual cycle that affects hormonal levels in the uterus as well as the ovaries. Following points will give you a brief idea about a menstrual cycle:
- At the time of puberty, the female hormones such as progesterone and oestrogen rise which causes the release of an egg of the two ovaries. This particular egg then travels to a fallopian tube right towards the uterus.
- Secondly, the extra blood and tissue make a lining above the uterus for preparing for arrival as well as implantation of a fertilized egg.
- If the egg is not fertilized, the hormonal levels will fall which leads the lining of uterus shed the blood through the vagina. This lining is built with blood and various other tissues.
So the last step is what it is known as the period. Most of the blood tissues come out during the first three days but some girls may bleed up to seven days. However, it varies from person to person.
When does Menstruation start?
As said above, it varies. Most girls will experience their first period when they between 11 years to 14 years. But some girls may have their first period from 9 to 16 years which is considered normal. If a girl has a major growth spurt and has the underarm hair growth then periods are likely to be just around the corner.
How to deal with menstruation during school hours?
Now dealing with menstruation during school hours is very irritating especially for those girls who get cramps as these are very painful. Having said that, if you make a solid game plan then you will never have to worry about dealing with your monthly periods at school. One of the most important things that you need to keep in mind is having your menstrual kit ready to be comfortable while going for the bathroom trips.
Getting prepared
Having period kits ready all times
If you want to get prepared for your monthly period at school then the utmost thing for you is to have cloth pads, you use on a daily basis with you all throughout the school year. This will help you to deal with the unpleasant surprises.
Don’t get stressed
When your period comes on the first day then the amount will be small not a huge spurt of blood. So you need not have to worry that your classmates are going to discover the fact theta you have had your period. All you need to do is just open your cloth pad and go to the bathroom.
Get a place to wash your cloth pads
Though there is no shame to wash your periods’ supplies you still have to find a place to wash them if you are concerned about them.
Getting an extra pair of underwear for safety
Sometimes it happens that your underwear or pants get leaked and this is the reason that you will have to get prepared with an extra pair of underwear whenever you face such an awkward situation. For more safety, you can also bring a sweater or sweatshirt for wrapping around your waist if blood gets spread.
Pack a chocolate bar
If you get your periods and experiencing mood swings then you can have some chocolates in our diet. This is because chocolates reduce the signs of PMS and having chocolates will help you feel more stable emotionally.
Having some medicines to alleviate pain
If you suffer from menstrual cramps, nausea or bloating during your period days then it is mandatory to carry some medicines such as Advil, Tylenol or Midol with you. You do not have to take it when you get your periods but having it in your bag will make you feel even better. Having said that, you need to consult to doctor before you take any of these medicines for making sure it is right for you.
Have a check on your period date
There is no exact date for the period to come but you can track it just to know that when you can expect it. Not only this but it can also help you to deal with those unpleasant surprises during the school hours. You can wear a pantyliner the week you are expecting your period. The average menstrual cycle, in general, is 28 days long but it can range from 21 to 45 days. So you need to mar your 1st day of period on a personal calendar. Nowadays there is a various period taking apps which will help you to track your periods.
Reaction when your period starts
Go to the toilet immediately
As soon as you get warning that your period has started, we advice you to go to the toilet immediately by taking permission from the teacher. For this, you need to approach your teacher while the other students are busy. You can also explain the situation directly if you feel comfortable doing so.
Ask a nurse, teacher or friends for help
If you suspect that your period has started and you do not have supplies with you then don’t hesitate to ask for help from your friends. In case they do not help you then try to ask your female teachers. You can also go to the school office for extra supplies from the nurse.
Wrap a sweatshirt around your waist
If you suspect that the menstrual blood has leaked through your clothing, then you can immediately wrap a jacket or sweatshirt around your waist if you have any. This will help to hide the blood stain until you change your clothes.
How to get rid of period cramps at school?
As said above, period cramps in school can be very annoying when you have them at school. You would not want to tell others that you have a period but at the same time find it difficult to deal with the pain. So in such cases, you need to take Ibuprofen before going to school. Some schools do not allow their students to take this medicine so if you experience period cramps regularly and your period is regular then try to take this painkiller before going to school. Following tips will help you to deal with the period cramps:
Lying down
It is an excellent way to deal with period cramps. You can take a short nap in the girls’ common room in your school.
Rub your abdomen
Massage your abdomen in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction in your washroom. This will ease your cramps.
Stretch
Stretch a little by walking some time. Stretching will relax the muscles and help to deal with the abdominal pain as well as cramps.
Sometimes menstrual cramps can be very painful as well as unbearable. This generally happens because of an underlying health condition such as uterine fibroids or endometriosis. It is very important to treat this for alleviating the pain. So consult an experienced gynaecologist if you have a severe menstrual cramp. If there is no reason for cramp then the doctor will prescribe a painkiller which will help to deal with it. In most of the cases, the menstrual cramps tend to decrease as you age.
Home Remedies For Period Related Issues
The menstrual issues which may face can range from cramps to pain to irregular periods. Following are some home remedies that you can try for getting some relief:
Parsley
Parsley is a very useful herb that helps to ease the menstruation-related problems specifically if you have delayed period.
Radish Seeds
If you have delayed periods, then grinding the radish seed is one of the best home remedies and consume it with buttermilk. We advise you to drink this on a daily basis.
Chamomile Tea
Try to consume chamomile tea every morning. This will help to provide relief from the menstrual cramps.
Thank you for reading. We hope this article is helpful to you.
Blog Written by Ms. Joyeeta Bhatacharya
