Your period is lasting forever! Seriously, you’ ve had to wear protection every day for a month and you’ re a little freaked out about it. Or maybe you feel like you have to pee 24/7 even when you just went 5 minutes ago. If either of these things happened to you, or you’ ve had other problems with your menstrual cycle, it’ s time for puberty talks with your mom.
Talking to your mom about periods and other personal female problems can feel a little embarrassing, especially if you aren’ t used to talking about such things. But your mom is a good place to start for a lot of reasons. Here are some ways to "break the ice" when talking to mom about periods and personal issues including puberty talks:
Keep it casual . Maybe the idea of a big sit-down with your mom seems intimidating. So, try opening the conversation casually by saying something like, "Hey mom, has your period ever lasted a really long time?"
Write it down . If it’ s hard for you to start a face-to-face discussion, leave your mom a note where only she’ d find it. You could say something like, "Mom, I ’ m having a lot of pain with my periods lately. Can we talk about this tonight?" ’ ll initiate a conversation with you and you won’ t have to worry about bringing it up.
Be direct . You could take a straight-up approach and just tell her your feelings. Start by saying something like, "This is uncomfortable for me, but I need to talk to you about my period."
Whether or not anything is wrong, keep your mom up on your concerns and problems with your body. Even when things are normal, she might be able to give you tips on how to deal with cramps or other helpful advice. Chances are she had similar questions when she was young and will be glad you asked her. But remember, if you don’ t feel comfortable talking to your mom, be sure to ask another female relative or trusted adult for help if you think you have a problem.
Read about your first menstruation period and get tips for dealing with puberty from BeingGirl.
