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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

12yo and period on holiday

53 replies

PookieDo · 27/04/2017 07:43

DD has been tracking her periods and will get hers on holiday with her DF next month. She's so stressed about this. Does anyone know if the GP will give her utlovan or if it's safe?

OP posts:

Fluffybrain · 27/04/2017 07:46

I don't know about utlovan.
Why is she stressed about it? Is it that she's on holiday or that she's with her dad? Does she use tampons?

RoseDog · 27/04/2017 07:48

My dd got northisterine (notthe correct spelling) from the gp to delay her period while in holiday last year.

welshweasel · 27/04/2017 07:49

You can ask, although many might refuse in one so young. I'd try and sort out why she's stressed and come up with solutions. She's got many decades of periods to deal with, I'm not sure that advocating postponing them for holidays etc sends a good message. Plenty of 12 year olds use tampons if it's the swimming she's worried about.

oklumberjack · 27/04/2017 07:50

My dd was 11 when she started her periods. She was due on her primary school camp in Y6. Lots of water sports etc.
We both felt it was too much for her to cope with so we saw the GP who prescribed Norethisterone.
This delayed her period until she came home. She has to take it about a week before and then a tablet every day. It took a few cycles to get back into the normal timings but it was fine.

foundaspottysock · 27/04/2017 08:01

Am interested that a op said advocating postponing them for holidays is not a good thing to get into? Why not?

I always have/do either by the pill or northisterone. Why would anyone want a period whilst on holiday?

Sorry op, I have no advice was just following for interest as have a similar aged dd.

Seeline · 27/04/2017 08:12

I can understand her stress. I couldn't physically use tampons until I was about 16 - tried regularly, but just couldn't. I always had quite heavy periods, lasting for 6-7 days, with cramping and stomach ache, often in upset stomach too. Pads never looked particularly attractive under a bikini, and swimming was obviously a no-go. And I felt rubbish. I had several holidays ruined by mis-timed periods as a youngster. I don't think there was an easy way to move/stop them 40 years ago.
I would speak to your GP and see what they can recommend.

Original poster

PookieDo · 27/04/2017 08:31

She can't use tampons yet also he is a useless person when it comes to female issues. The whole holiday will be around the pool and she will feel messy and embarrassed about it and will refuse to go in the pool or sea

OP posts:

oklumberjack · 27/04/2017 08:58

Using Norethisterone is not something we got 'into'. It's not a regular thing. My GP didn't really hesitate for my dd. She was 11, on a school trip for a week without my help around. I don't know many 11 yr olds who can confidently use tampons for the first time.

Like I said, it was all fine. No problems. My dd is 12 now and knows about tampons but still does not have the confidence to use them. I'm sure it will be different in a few years.

Have a chat with your GP op. I think you'll find they'll be ok about it.

RockyBird · 27/04/2017 09:02

I personally use notheristerone (sp?) to disrupt my cycle so that my period finishes the day before I go on holiday. This means I'm not trying to take pills 3 times a day on holiday getting more and more bloated as I go.

This might not help your DD this time round but next time.

mousymary · 27/04/2017 09:05

Well, I didn't know you could do this.

Dd has a French exchange in three weeks' time and I think her period will be due then. Very awkward in someone else's house where you don't know the set up! Is it too late to take some action?

RoseDog · 27/04/2017 09:41

Mousy she just needs to start taking the pills 3 days before her period is due so just take her to the GP before that, my GP didn't even question it when I took dd she just printed out the prescription, she did say about using the pill as she has heavy periods and she can run packs back to back but there wasn't enough time to do that last year when we took her, she was 13.

mousymary · 27/04/2017 09:44

Thank you, rosedog.

Hoppinggreen · 27/04/2017 09:47

Sorry to be nosey but ŵhen you say she can't use tampons yet has she tried or is it that you/she doesn't want to?
My 12 year old DD was in a similar position and we bought a variety of tampons and I have her a few pointers ( aim for the small of your back etc) and told her to have a go if she felt like it.
She managed fine and now happily uses tampax for teenagers some of the time with pads as well.

welshweasel · 27/04/2017 09:50

We always took the line that it's a normal (if extremely annoying at times) bodily function and life should go on around periods. If you postpone it for a holiday what about when it's the swimming gala, duke of Edinburgh camping trip, birthday party, exam...etc etc. I dispense sympathy, chocolate, painkillers etc but in this house life goes on as normal for periods and everyone has coped fine. Going on holiday was the impetus for getting on with tampons, which had meant many other situations have become easier since. Not saying you'd be wrong to explore hormonal treatments, just be aware that it might become a regular request!

mousymary · 27/04/2017 09:55

I see that point and I have always coped...

But in dd's case it is the French exchange and strange household aspect. Who knows what the bathroom/bin/dustbin facilities are.

ElinorRigby · 27/04/2017 09:59

Would suggest Googling the French for 'Where would you like me to put my sanitary towels?'

mousymary · 27/04/2017 10:00

Sacre bleu!

welshweasel · 27/04/2017 10:00

French women have periods too! If you do go down the route of norethisterone, beware of the potential side effects. The one time I took it (to shift my cycle for ivf) I had horrendous bloating, mood swings and the most horrifically heavy period when it finally arrived. Also, make sure she has pads/tampons anyway as it doesn't always work, some people do get breakthrough bleeds.

welshweasel · 27/04/2017 10:01

Oh and a pack of scented nappy bags or similar can be useful for situations where you're not sure on bin arrangements!

Oulavache · 27/04/2017 10:03

Also re using tampons for the first time, GP recommended using ky jelly and lying down or whatever position it takes for it to work for you. This all helped my teen get used to them

Original poster

PookieDo · 27/04/2017 10:33

I honestly can't see my 12yo coping with tampax - she's only just learnt about pads - she's 12! I've asked her repeatedly to consider or try tampons and she doesn't want to and I don't want to force her.

If I was on this holiday I think it would all be completely different but I am not.

Therefore my options are:

Tell her it's tough shit her problem not mine. Send 12yo to a hot foreign country with a male parent who makes her feel very embarrassed about periods and will do something stupid like tell her it's 'dirty' to swim with it or something ignorant

Force her to learn how to use tampons in 30 days

Ask GP for the medication as a one off

OP posts:

Original poster

PookieDo · 27/04/2017 10:36

I can't stop the holiday either so I am trying to make the best of this for her, hence tracking the period as I was unsure of her cycle. She's really really upset at this prospect of going with him with a period.

OP posts:

OhDearToby · 27/04/2017 10:39

Has she tried non applicator tampons? They are so tiny and look much less threatening than the applicator ones. I used them when I was a teen and still prefer them now.

2014newme · 27/04/2017 10:46

Get the medication. I take it every time o go on holiday.

Original poster

PookieDo · 27/04/2017 10:46

She's just not confident enough to believe that this would be 'enough' and doesn't like the idea of putting something inside her. I do not know what I can say or do to change this thought. As much as I would like to, and the advice is understandable, I cannot make someone like something when they don't.

I am a fully grown woman and I still have leaks and accidents but I have the confidence to kind of wing it and style it out - she's also going to be in a position where this could stain her clothing/swimming costume and she is upset that she might have to try wash this out by herself - again I will provide what I can and advice but in her mind (she's 12) this is all very terrible and traumatic

OP posts:

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