Or is this PE teacher unreasonable about periods

[BigSandyBalls2015]

DD(15) is doing GCSE PE. Part of this involves 'personal survival' which takes place in local swimming pool.

The school obv need to book this, can't just turn up, but DD queried what would happen if some of the girls had their period at the time. PE teacher (female) replied that they'd obviously have to use a tampon, they can't miss it, can't arrange another day. A few girls told her they didn't use/get on with tampons and she got annoyed saying they'd have to get on with it on the day as no other option.

trifle

How does not using tampons mean you cant do gcse PE?

karla

Why do they need to have someone walk with them?

I dont think carefree was suggesting fell walking!

"How does not using tampons mean you cant do gcse PE?"

It doesn't. Swimming in an option for it, but not compulsory.

There are about 40 sports to choose from. Assessments in your chosen sport are compulsory, and have to be done in a specified time frame. Only some (like ski-ing) allow filmed evidence (check exam board spec). If you cannot do the assessment, the school can apply to the exam board on your behalf for special consideration.

God how I hate this gung-ho attitude to periods from people who have never had any trouble with them. My first period was utter misery - I nearly fainted with the pain and the heavy loss of blood. They never got any better and every single one was total misery. In the end I was using two mega tampons at a time plus two pads - and I still used to have to change the bed in the middle of the night!

What is it with PE teachers who have no empathy or imagination?

People do not function to her orders or to a timetable. She'll just have to suck it up, the silly woman.

Well thats what i thought meditrina

But it seems to have been mentioned a few times

One of the PE teachers in dds school were going to watch the relevant sport in a different venue which i thought was very good of them

Trifle Wow. You really can't imagine how it happens? Like I said upthread I was raped at 15 when I was still a virgin. Tampons aren't going anywhere near my fanjo - my muscles close up.
Sex has been painful, I have had to be absolutely shitfaced not to be in agony.

And actually you aren't genuinely curious - a tiny bit of imagination and you probably would have worked it out without having it spelt out to you.

Perhaps google vaginismus - it means being hysterical at smear tests etc.

Plus why ask? What does it matter to you?

LiviaDrusillaAugusta: No, I was curious.

I'm in the "use a tampon" group.
School swim cannot be organized around menses.
Not mentioned on here but a helpful hint to those not able to insert one, have you tried putting a little lube on the tip of the tampon to ease application if you find it too dry?

RufusTheSpartacusReindeer: If PE requires you to swim and you can't use tampons, perhaps pick another subject so you aren't having to deal with it constantly?

Out Given that my muscles clench up then lube is going to do bugger all, sadly

Trifle If you had bothered to read the full thread it would have answered your question. But by all means be curious

LiviaDrusillaAugusta: And I am sorry to hear you have had such a difficult time.

Is 'use a bit of lube' standard advice for people who can't handle anything like that? If you have to use it to force something into your body, that's not healthy...

This is not just unreasonable it is draconian!! I had this type of thing thrown at me at Grammar school all those years ago!! My mother went into the school and told our games mistress that she would put a tampon where it would require removal by surgery if this were suggested to me again - well we were 'ordered' to use tampons (aged 11/12) !! It was never suggested to me again shall we say - our head was a man - my mother told him that he had NO idea as to the personal issues surrounding this, I'm going back some 50 years!! I thought that this stupidity had stopped by now!! Sorry but it is wrong on SO many levels !!!!

Trifle Whatever. I know I need to hide this thread as it's incredibly triggering but I was actually doing okay.

Believe it or not, internal sanpro isn't necessary for a full life - if you had posted this in FWR I would hope that you would have had different responses from people who don't think that it is reasonable for a girl to be told to shove something up her fanjo.

deep breathing and relaxation tech for clenching.
Still that situation is rare.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta: Fair play. Where people have genuine physical/psychological/cultural reasons for being unable to use tampons, I have nothing but sympathy for them. Being honest, though, a lot of people don't have such issues and just don't like using them. That's fine too (no-one should be forced) but I think those people should take Music or Business or something!

Yes thank you Out - I have tried that too - who would have thought that trying to relax your muscles was something to try.

It may be rare but that doesn't make it okay to tell anyone to put something inside them that they don't want - for any reason.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta: My first post made it clear I don't think anyone should ever be pressured into using tampons. Don't put words in my mouth.

trifle

Pe doesnt require you to swim

Why should girls miss out on a subject they enjoy just because they can't use tampons though? There'll be girls with heavy painful periods who love PE. But they should just choose something else?

How dare this woman dictate what your DD does with her body! If she doesn't want to stick something up her nethers then she cannot be forced to.

Possibly they should but that's not exactly helpful! If you knew there were genuine reasons, why did you need to ask?

I'm not saying anyone should have to use a tampon, but if they can't then PE GCSE probably wasn't the best choice

And you didnt say thet

If you had just said swimming then i wouldnt have queried it

But now i understand you just mean swimming

Trifle I wasn't - I was talking to Out