How to Teach Young Women About Menstruation

Teaching younger people about how the human body works can be complex and require a lot of care and attention. Nothing showcases this better than the topic of menstruation in younger women. Teaching girls about what menstruation is and how to deal with it can be life-altering for them and helps avoid the unnecessary confusion and embarrassment they might face when it first happens. The embarrassment may arise more so for those struggling with body positivity, so it becomes vital to catch it early and help them enhance their lives to the fullest, without shame or discomfort.

It is an important turning point in a young girl’s life and prepares them for their journey through womanhood. Society has been struggling with this issue for ages, but we need to remove the stigma from it and help mould strong, confident women who don’t struggle with body positivity or body inclusivity.

Grappling with it consciously can be important for boosting confidence in young women. This can be akin to well fitted Standing Collar Blazer by Not So Pink, which is crafted for comfort and is a confidence booster for working women in boardroom situations.

Here are a few things you should know when it comes to teaching young women about menstruation.

What is Menstruation?

First things first, what is menstruation, and why does it happen to women? Menstruation is a completely natural process which happens to almost all women. It is when blood and tissue are discharged from the vagina. It's a cycle that occurs every 24 to 38 days approximately.

The body prepares for pregnancy every month by regulating chemicals known as hormones. The hormones help make the lining of the uterus thicker. The process is known as ovulation. If the woman does not become pregnant, the body releases the lining along with some blood.

Periods can range from light to heavy and may also contain some clots.

Important pointers to keep in mind while discussing Menstruation with young women:-

Menstruation is not a disease: It is not a disease and shouldn’t be treated like a sickness but is a natural part of womanhood.

1. It is normal:

Every girl will go through the same process once they reach puberty.

2. Bodily changes:

Around the time young women start menstruating, they can also see other changes happen to the body, such as enlarged breasts, wider hips, and growth of new hair. It is also important to note that hormonal changes may cause girls to experience extreme emotions.

3. Irregular cycles:

Young women may also experience irregular cycles in the first few years, so it is crucial to keep them informed that it is natural and will get stable gradually as they grow older.

It shouldn’t be a secret: As we said before, these young women must start their womanhood with confidence and body positivity. For this reason, they should know that menstruation is not a secret that needs to be kept from the world, and they can always feel free to communicate with trusted elders in their lives about how to deal with it.

4. Period pains:

Young women should know that periods can be painful sometimes, but the amount of pain may differ from woman to woman. Pain can be subsided by going for short walks or drinking plenty of water. 

5. Healthy diets are important:

They should also know that a healthy diet can go a long way in making their menstruation a more comfortable process. The diets should be balanced with all the macronutrients and should contain enough iron and folic acid, which can help with taking the focus off the cramps during classes or studying.

6. Exercise is also important:

Apart from exercise being a great health booster for most humans, young women who are relatively healthy could face lesser menstruation cramps. Short walks can be a great way to help with the pains.

7. Importance of good hygiene:

Cleanliness must be a priority. Being unclean and not washing the genital area may lead to infections.

8. Use pads:

The older women who are in the lives of these young women should teach them how to use a pad, just like they would teach them how to dress in proper business attire found on Not So Pink once they grow up. 

9. Untimely flow:

What happens if the young woman is in class or in an outside environment where you are not present?

Teaching them how to tackle emotions like shame & fear during their transition to womanhood can have a major impact on their growing years.

They will need to be calm about the situation and try to get help from a teacher at school. If they are not at school, they can ask for advice from an adult under whose supervision they are. 

With all the information above, young women should be able to think maturely and help themselves to the best of their abilities. We can only do so much to ensure their transition into womanhood is a cheerful one, we will have to leave the rest up to the good judgement of these fearless young ladies.

What we do have in our hands is the way we mould and shape their confidence and teach them how to carry themselves. This could include things as small as being business-ready in Not So Pink Pinstripe Trousers which is made keeping body inclusivity in mind. We hope you are now ready to create a new generation of women that are as ambitious & determined as this one.