How do you talk to your dad about periods ?

How do you broach the subject of periods with your parents, especially your father?

The periods are a natural phenomenon that occurs at the age of puberty and will follow menstruating women through to the menopause. They occur every month, lasting an average of 2 to 7 days. Menstrual cycles vary from woman to woman, lasting between 20 and 40 days. 

The first periods is an important milestone in a young girl's life, even if we shouldn't overdramatize its arrival: it's certainly a defining moment, and many women remember the moment they had their first periods, but it's above all a natural phenomenon. Even though 72%* of French people believe that periods is no longer a taboo subject, many young women at the time of their first periods turn to their mothers or a female figure in their family (sister, cousin, aunt...). On the other hand, periods is a completely natural phenomenon, affecting both men and women. Don't be afraid to discuss periods with your father, and vice versa, with your daughter. Men know what periods is, and have an equally important role to play in support and prevention. We also need to talk to boys, from an early age. The more freely we can talk about it, the less taboos there will be!

At school, periods is discussed, for example with the school nurse or in science lessons, but support and prevention are mainly provided by the family circle. 

As parents, how can you best prepare for the arrival of periods ?

To best prepare for their arrival, we need to support young girls by explaining what they are used for, how the body works and how to protect yourself when you have your periods. 

For example, providing a garbage can in the bathroom and sanitary pads in the toilets, freely available to young girls. All this helps to break down the taboos surrounding periods and helps them to make the most of this moment. In fact, support also means going with your child to buy sanitary protection: showing them that it's something normal and nothing to be ashamed of. periods are not dirty! 

In the same vein, it's important to show the different means of protection and their differences: there's not just tampons or disposable pads! There's the cup, but also menstrual panties: simple to use, they can be slipped on like regular panties in the morning and taken off at night! 

For the first few cycles, you can test menstrual pants at home, especially for the first periods when you don't yet know your flow. 

Another important point is to dissociate periods and sexuality. Indeed, some peoples may be embarrasseds to talk about it, because periods are sometimes wrongly associated with sexuality, but they are not, and you have to differentiate between the two. 

If you find it difficult to talk to your parents about periods, sexuality or any other subject that affects your intimate or sexual life, there are professionals who can help: your doctor, midwives, gynecologists... You can also visit a family planning center (the list is here: https: //www.planning-familial.org/fr). 

Don't hesitate to tell us in the comments what tips you'd give your dad to talk about periods !

*Figures: periods Elementaires x Opinion Way barometer