Period talk with your daughter: A quick guide for parents to break the ice

It can be difficult to discuss periods with your daughter. It's important to help her realize how her body is changing, but you have to do it in the proper manner. Even if you are well-prepared, you can discover that events don't go exactly as you had planned. Here are some ideas you may keep in mind while you chat with her to get the most out of your period talk and to help her prepare for what's to come.

Talking about periods can frequently seem unpleasant and generate anxiety, whether it's due to your own experiences or the taboo aspect of the topic. However, if you adopt the same approach, your daughter will only feel at ease talking about her periods and accept them as a normal part of growing up. Be patient, collected, and calm when you approach the topic.

Dr. Suhasini Inamdar, Consultant, Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Indiranagar, Bangalore says, “It might be challenging to determine how much information is safe to share with her and when because menstruation is strongly related to biological processes including puberty, reproduction, and sexuality. Starting brief discussions on puberty, hormones, and the changing body as early as age 6 is generally a good idea. However, this choice may change depending on your gut or your daughter's pace.”

According to Dr. Inamdar, “You can discuss periods, symptoms, general body positivity, and the reproductive system with children as young as nine. If you choose, you can defer the intricacies of sex and pregnancy until your daughter is 11 or 12 years old, but be sure to thoroughly address her questions in advance.”

“After she has a basic understanding of menstruation, you can also talk to her about premenstrual syndrome, cramping and other common experiences, managing a leak, remaining hygienic, toxic shock syndrome, etc. This would facilitate greater understanding and ensure that the topic of periods is not just discussed once.” adds Dr. Inamdar.