How to Talk to Your Daughter About Menstruation

Make sure to talk to your daughter early so she won't be surprised when she gets her first period. Some girls can begin menstruating as early as age 9 or 10, so age 8 can be a good time to discuss it. If your daughter is beginning to develop breasts and pubic hair, menstruation is probably coming soon.

Approach the subject tactfully. Girls just entering puberty are often sensitive and easily embarrassed.

Make sure she knows you are proud of her. Make it clear to your daughter that entering womanhood is a wonderful event and that there is no reason to feel uncomfortable or ashamed of the changes in her body.

Be realistic. While menarche is an important rite of passage, menstruation is also a physical event your daughter will go through every month throughout her childbearing years. Let her know what to expect physically and emotionally. Tell her in as straightforward a way as possible, without either overstating or sugarcoating the facts.

Discuss her options. Present the pros and cons of pads and tampons, and discuss how to deal with any premenstrual symptoms or cramps. See if she wants to chart her cycle on a calendar or in a journal.

Reassure her. On a practical level, menstruation won't change her life all that much. Women of earlier generations may have avoided certain activities during menstruation, but it is now common knowledge that women can swim, exercise and go on with life as normal during their periods.

Talk about the implications. Once your daughter begins menstruating, she has the ability to bear children. Hopefully, you have already discussed sexuality, reproduction and contraception with her, but if not, now is the time.