Dr Girl/Dr Dejour Q&A
With thanks to DEJOUR TAMPONS, GIRL presents to you Dr Dejour. Each month, Dr Dejour will advise and answer all YOUR medical concerns and queries.
Dear Dr Dejour,
I just recently got my period and I am really scared. What should I do?
Signed Grumpy!
Dear Grumpy,
Welcome to womanhood! Is there anyone you can talk to about this? Perhaps a sister, an aunt or even a friend? It's one of those things that happens to (almost) all of us and can be quite a bonding experience. There are of course, certain practicalities like blood and pain.
Firstly the blood. You usually bleed for 3-5 days, in a period. Sometimes the flow is so heavy that it may run down your legs without protection. This is typically for a day and then it settles to a lighter flow thereafter. You can buy sanitary pads from supermarkets and chemists and usually girls start with these. Tampons are often a tricky matter. The ones with applicators are easier to insert at first. There are instructions on the packet but essentially you stand in a part-squat and press the applicator to a spot between the bottom part of the lips of the vagina. Aim for your 'tailbone' (coccyx), and the cardboard applicator should pass without too much resistance or pain. Pull the cardboard out and the tampon will remain in place. Feel the string for reassurance and ensure you change the tampon at least every three hours. It often takes several periods to learn to insert tampons, this is expected. The convenience of tampons is that you can swim while wearing them.
Periods are usually irregular for the first year or two.
'Period pain' often starts before your period and continues for the first day or two. . It is low in your abdomen and may go to your legs or back. You may have diarrhea, sweating, nausea and vomiting with it. These things can be treated with anti-inflammatory tablets available without prescription, at the chemist (ask for period pain tablets). The tablets are usually very effective, and are best to take as early as possible. There are different brands available and sometimes changing brands will help.
Regards,
Dr Dejour
Dear Dr Dejour,
I just recently got my period and I am really scared. What should I do?
Signed Grumpy!
Dear Grumpy,
Welcome to womanhood! Is there anyone you can talk to about this? Perhaps a sister, an aunt or even a friend? It's one of those things that happens to (almost) all of us and can be quite a bonding experience. There are of course, certain practicalities like blood and pain.
Firstly the blood. You usually bleed for 3-5 days, in a period. Sometimes the flow is so heavy that it may run down your legs without protection. This is typically for a day and then it settles to a lighter flow thereafter. You can buy sanitary pads from supermarkets and chemists and usually girls start with these. Tampons are often a tricky matter. The ones with applicators are easier to insert at first. There are instructions on the packet but essentially you stand in a part-squat and press the applicator to a spot between the bottom part of the lips of the vagina. Aim for your 'tailbone' (coccyx), and the cardboard applicator should pass without too much resistance or pain. Pull the cardboard out and the tampon will remain in place. Feel the string for reassurance and ensure you change the tampon at least every three hours. It often takes several periods to learn to insert tampons, this is expected. The convenience of tampons is that you can swim while wearing them.
Periods are usually irregular for the first year or two.
'Period pain' often starts before your period and continues for the first day or two. . It is low in your abdomen and may go to your legs or back. You may have diarrhea, sweating, nausea and vomiting with it. These things can be treated with anti-inflammatory tablets available without prescription, at the chemist (ask for period pain tablets). The tablets are usually very effective, and are best to take as early as possible. There are different brands available and sometimes changing brands will help.
Regards,
Dr Dejour
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