This seems like incorrect information

flabbergastedalways · 2024-05-09T14:34:14+00:00

Scottish school, my daughter is going through her sexual health education. We are a very open family so all good and they sent the slides through of what they are talking about but there is one slide about periods which i think seems wrong. It says "It’s important to remember that not all girls have periods. Every girl is different and unique!" How can that be right, i looked on the NHS website and it specifically says "If you haven’t started your period by around 16 though, it’s a good idea to see your doctor to find out why it hasn’t happened yet. However, a delay in starting periods isn’t usually anything to worry about." So in actual fact it isnt normal! All the slides are done by RSHP.Scot. Am i just reading this wrong or not understanding?

LordPercyPercy · 09/05/2024 15:35

They're basically saying it's because some "girls" are male. Ie they're full of shit.

LeroyJenkinssss · 09/05/2024 15:39

of course a school are going to give the message that everyone is different and may start periods or not. How do you think a 13 yr old who hasn’t started her periods yet would feel if the teacher reinforced the message that she wasn’t normal??

the age at which girls start their period is incredibly variable, which may or may not be due to underlying medical conditions. It’s no one’s business but the girl herself and i would be pretty peeved if the school gave out the message that it was “abnormal”

Original poster

flabbergastedalways · 09/05/2024 15:41

LeroyJenkinssss · 09/05/2024 15:39

of course a school are going to give the message that everyone is different and may start periods or not. How do you think a 13 yr old who hasn’t started her periods yet would feel if the teacher reinforced the message that she wasn’t normal??

the age at which girls start their period is incredibly variable, which may or may not be due to underlying medical conditions. It’s no one’s business but the girl herself and i would be pretty peeved if the school gave out the message that it was “abnormal”

Absolutely - but that actually isnt my issue so i dont think you have read my thread properly.

OP posts:

MILTOBE · 09/05/2024 15:41

I think unique means male.

It's really good to tell people that some will have started their periods before they start high school and some won't have started until after they leave at 16 or 18, but to say some girls don't have periods is fake information.

Sapphire387 · 09/05/2024 15:41

It should really give an age range for starting your period and be reassuring about the fact that it can vary a lot, e.g. 8-16 or whatever.

Original poster

flabbergastedalways · 09/05/2024 15:42

MILTOBE · 09/05/2024 15:41

I think unique means male.

It's really good to tell people that some will have started their periods before they start high school and some won't have started until after they leave at 16 or 18, but to say some girls don't have periods is fake information.

Exactly this!!

OP posts:

LeroyJenkinssss · 09/05/2024 15:42

@LordPercyPercy whilst I do agree that there is a lot of propaganda aimed at devaluing women and an attempt to blur sex definitions I would have thought it was more to do with the fact that they are recognising that not all girls will have periods at the same age and that others shouldn’t think anything of it.

Original poster

flabbergastedalways · 09/05/2024 15:46

@LeroyJenkinssss but thats not what it says, it really doesnt even hint at that which is my issue.

Girls reading the slide could think that its totally normal to never get a period, when in fact it is totally abnormal.

OP posts:

fedupandstuck · 09/05/2024 15:47

They're not talking about an age range, it clearly says that not all girls have periods, as if that's a normal variation in girls and women. Not getting your period after the top range of age variation is an issue, and can represent a medical issue that needs investigating and potentially correcting. Or it can represent a pregnancy!

Pippa12 · 09/05/2024 15:48

I have just been talking to my friend and we were discussing how she has never had a period, neither has my cousin.

IMO it states ‘not all girls have periods’. Not that ‘it’s normal that some girls don’t have periods’.

Being female and not having a period is more common than you think and should be talked about more openly.

HollaHolla · 09/05/2024 15:50

I have a friend with a pituitary tumour. Has never had a period. Ever. Born anatomically, and genetically female. Just some medical quirk....

Original poster

flabbergastedalways · 09/05/2024 15:50

Pippa12 · 09/05/2024 15:48

I have just been talking to my friend and we were discussing how she has never had a period, neither has my cousin.

IMO it states ‘not all girls have periods’. Not that ‘it’s normal that some girls don’t have periods’.

Being female and not having a period is more common than you think and should be talked about more openly.

Ah thats a really interesting reply thank you. You potentially could be right and valid.

I think it should be worded better in that case.

OP posts:

ThisNoisyTealLurker · 09/05/2024 15:53

From the excerpt you posted it doesn't say that it's 'normal' for some girls to not have periods? But then the fact is that some girls don't, some have abnormalities in their reproductive systems and will never have their first period.

fedupandstuck · 09/05/2024 15:54

No one should be advising girls that just not having periods at all is a normal variation of female development. It represents an issue that needs investigating to rule out serious concerns, and to address any other issues that might arise after investigation.

One would hope that the teacher's notes had clarifying content that they would discuss with the class.

Humdingerydoo · 09/05/2024 15:54

Pippa12 · 09/05/2024 15:48

I have just been talking to my friend and we were discussing how she has never had a period, neither has my cousin.

IMO it states ‘not all girls have periods’. Not that ‘it’s normal that some girls don’t have periods’.

Being female and not having a period is more common than you think and should be talked about more openly.

Would it not still be worth investigating why they've never had a period? It could be all sorts of health issues. It's not the biological norm not to have periods, even if it's apparently more common than I thought based on your post.

I really hope that isn't offensive, it's not meant to be! It's just that if I had a 16 year old daughter who hadn't yet started her period I wouldn't just accept that as being normal, I would be asking for all sorts of checks.

Tallyho15 · 09/05/2024 15:54

Pippa12 · 09/05/2024 15:48

I have just been talking to my friend and we were discussing how she has never had a period, neither has my cousin.

IMO it states ‘not all girls have periods’. Not that ‘it’s normal that some girls don’t have periods’.

Being female and not having a period is more common than you think and should be talked about more openly.

I agree with you. I didn’t ready from the OP quote that it’s normal for girls not to have a period. Just that it can happen. And it does - for various reasons

zingally · 09/05/2024 16:15

I think it's a badly worded attempt to emphasise that not all girls start their periods at the same time, and that there's a LOT of variation, and nothing to be concerned about.
Just in my immediate friendship group it ranged from age 10 to 16.

KreedKafer · 09/05/2024 16:16

But it's completely true that not all girls have periods. They're not saying it's 'normal' or even common. Just that it sometimes happens.

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 09/05/2024 16:21

Pippa12 · 09/05/2024 15:48

I have just been talking to my friend and we were discussing how she has never had a period, neither has my cousin.

IMO it states ‘not all girls have periods’. Not that ‘it’s normal that some girls don’t have periods’.

Being female and not having a period is more common than you think and should be talked about more openly.

But that's not normal and the general advice is that they should speak to a doctor about their lack of periods as it could be a sign of something wrong. A fairly major bit of information to leave off that slide.

NeverEnoughPants · 09/05/2024 16:23

I had a friend who was a gymnast. She was very slender, and she trained every day. She didn't get a period until she was nearly 20 - I don't think it's uncommon with female athletes that train hard to get their period when they are older.

I think she would have appreciated hearing that message 30 years ago.

BloodandGlitter · 09/05/2024 16:24

Some girls are going to know from birth that they'll never have a period though. It's not a lie, it's not trans agenda, it's just including the fact that not every one is the same.

OneTC · 09/05/2024 16:24

It doesn't say it's normal

I agree that it's probably about blokes though, but they've been vague enough with the language to make it unclear

LetsGoRoundTheRoundabout · 09/05/2024 16:24

Depends on the context of the whole lesson, but I’d want it to give an idea of “some don’t, and that’s ok because we’re all different, but you should talk to a doctor if you haven’t had a period by x age”. This should, surely, be educational!

Tryingtobebridechilla · 09/05/2024 16:25

Why do people get so caught up in the transgender thing. Ffs it’s not a disease. Fair play to the school on their inclusiveness.

TallulahBetty · 09/05/2024 16:26

They mean the girls that are actually boys.