Your First Period

Tampons

Read all of your instructions before using any tampon; Tampons absorb the menstrual fluid before the blood and waste leave the vagina. Tampons come in 5 sizes, light, regular, super, super plus, and ultra. They are made of paper, absorbent fibers, and yarn. Some tampons have a cotton string attached to the end to help remove the tampon.

How to insert a tampon

1. Wash your hands with water and soap 

2. Slowly pull the string to make sure it is attached tight to the tampon

3. You can stand or sit to insert the tampon. If you stand, put 

one foot on the toilet, if you sit on the toilet open your legs with your knees apart 

4. Slowly insert the tampon applicator, into your vagina. Hold the applicator with your middle finger and thumb. 

5. Slowly slide the applicator into your vagina until your fingers touch the end of your vagina, which will release the tampon. The string should be hanging outside of your vagina. The tampon is now inserted. 

It is possible that the string can come apart from the end of the 

tampon or the tampon can get struck to the skin. Tampons are known to 

disappear inside of the vagina, but a simple trip to the doctor can have it removed. 

Symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)

TSS is a very rare condition that can result from using tampons.

Diarrhea, high fever, aching joints, dizziness, redness of eyes, throwing up, weakness, fainting, low blood pressure, rash that looks like a sunburn 

If you have any of these symptoms while using a tampon remove it and use a pad (let a parent or a guardian even an older family member know about your symptoms immediately). 

Period Tips

• It is very important to use different brands, to see which tampon works, best for you to use a pad with your tampon for double protection against leakage.

• You should change your tampon 3 to 8 times within 24 hours. 

• Always keep 3 or more tampons or pads in your backpack at school, just incase your period starts before you get home. 

• It is a good idea to use a pad at night.

Pads or sanitary napkins

Using menstrual pads is a must for a girl to do, in the beginning of her period, for her first 

several years, this will give her time to get comfortable and familiar, with inserting a 

tampons. Girls that start early may not feel comfortable with using tampons, which is why using pads is a better method, it will give her. Sanitary napkins or pads are made from absorbent fibers and paper to absorb the menstrual flow. The napkins come in different shapes and sizes, for different flows of a girl's period.

Some girls find that using sanitary napkins is more natural and much easier to use. Some napkins have an adhesive strip, that is attached to the bottom of the napkins. It is held in place by attaching it to the underwear. 

Thick napkins are used on the first and second days when the flow is heavy. 

A thinner napkin called a maxi pad can be used for moderate days. A thin napkin called a mînî pad can be used at the end of your period when the flow is coming to an end. When buying your napkins look for napkins with adhesive stripes. 

and panty protectors to help prevent leakage. 

What is a menstrual cup?

A menstrual cup is a small cup made of latex rubber or silicone used to catch 

the menstrual just before your period begins. You can fold the cup and insert 

it like a tampon. It is similar to putting in a birth control ring or a diaphragm. 

The blood slowly drips into the cup. It makes a seal to prevent leakage. 

WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOU INSERT A MENSTRUAL CUP, 

1 Rinse your hands with soap and warm water. 

2 Fold the two sides of the cup together. 

3 The cup should be shaped like a "U" away from your hands. 

4 Grouch or sit the same way you would when you insert a tampon. 

5. Relax your vaginal muscles. Slowly pull back the lips of your vagina, then insert the cup. You will feel the cup when it unfolds inside of your vagina. Keep putting the cup inside of your vagina until the stem is about 1/2 inches inside of your vaginal opening. 

6. Hold on to the stem of the cup and rotate slowly in one direction to help prevent leaking. 

7. The cup should hold about 1 ounce of blood. 

8 Remove the cup between 9 and 12 hours. 

9 Always wash your hands when you handle the cups. 

How to remove the cup

1 You  can squat or sit the same as when you inserted the cap 

2 Relax your vaginal muscles and hold on to the stem. Then pull gently out of the vagina. 

3 Squeeze the bottom of the cup once it is out of your vagina. 

4 Rinse the cup out. The Menstrual Cup has been used by women since 1930. The cup was first manufactured in the United States in 1987. The cup is reusable and can last up to 10 years.

Menstrual cramps

There are two types of painful menstrual cramps. primary and secondary cramps. Primary cramps begin when a girl has her first period. Symptoms are terrible stomach cramps, vomiting, tenderness in the breast, headaches, and irritability. Secondary cramps are cramps in the lower stomach and pain in the rectum and cervix. 

PMS- Premenstrual Syndrome

PMS is any symptoms or complaints a female may have just before or during her period. These symptoms must be every month 14 days or less before your period. 

Some PMS symptoms are headaches, backaches, feeling sad, irritable, 

tired, stressed, and feeling pressured.