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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Should we delay period or risk it??

117 replies

Dancerr · 10/08/2023 12:42

Typical. First hol abroad, we even arranged it so she wouldn't have her period and this month it's abit late. We fly on Sun, if it comes today then the worse will be over, she said only day 1 and 2 are heavy and more manageable afterwards. We are only going for 4 days, 5 nights so wouldn't want it to arrive on the 1st day of holiday. I've ordered some period swimwear which is due to arrive today and I have bought some tampons to try but she's never used them before. The other option would be to try some medication to try and delay it.....but have read it can really mess with things afterwards, until now her periods have been pretty good, no pain, not particularly heavy. Thoughts please?

OP posts:
Itsnotrightbutitsok · 10/08/2023 14:01

Qilin · 10/08/2023 13:58

I would probably get her to try tampons for the next couple of days.

She may find this uncomfortable whilst not having a period though, so it's wide to go with caution. Otherwise she may be put off further.

Oh really?

I thought it would be easier to try once she’s not on her period.

If not, then perhaps it’s best to just take some with you.

I have no experience with the medication and so I’m not sure what the alternative is.

I’d love for the posters saying she needs to learn to manage it or not to plan around it to give some actual advice, as they obviously have some magic solution that the rest of us are missing.

W0MEN · 10/08/2023 14:03

Just took my two teen dds away and we all had our period! They have period pants and period swimwear. It was all okay. I understand you wanting to make it go away for her. Sad

Helenloveslee4eva · 10/08/2023 14:04

If bleed is imminent it’s likely meds won’t stop it.

SlipperyLizard · 10/08/2023 14:04

Swimbius · 10/08/2023 13:40

I've tried period swim wear in the bath as I was sceptical about it. Turns out I was right to be sceptical!

I was going to say that period swimwear must be about as useful at absorbing period blood as a swim nappy is at absorbing wee - it will get soaked in water as soon as it gets wet and any blood/wee that comes out will dissipate in the water in the same way as if a normal swimsuit was used.

At least swim nappies catch poos!

SirenSays · 10/08/2023 14:04

I'd have thought trying and removing tampons while not on a period would be really uncomfortable.
I'd keep trying to get delay meds, they've always worked well for me

Original poster
Dancerr · 10/08/2023 14:06

W0MEN · 10/08/2023 14:03

Just took my two teen dds away and we all had our period! They have period pants and period swimwear. It was all okay. I understand you wanting to make it go away for her. Sad

The swimwear has arrived today. How did u find it?? Does it work?

OP posts:
Original poster
Dancerr · 10/08/2023 14:07

Helenloveslee4eva · 10/08/2023 14:04

If bleed is imminent it’s likely meds won’t stop it.

True. Would it make it much lighter though I wonder?
Waiting for a GP callback so will ask.

OP posts:
Nemesias · 10/08/2023 14:08

Norethisterone will stop your period if it’s started according to the last dr I got some from so even if she’s started it would still be worth getting some. Her next couple of periods may be delayed or heavier but then they’ll settle down again.

definitely better than worrying about coming on or messing about with tampons etc for swimming

Serenglas · 10/08/2023 14:08

I definitely took the delaying pill when I was 14/15 so I didn’t get it on a school residential. Having a period on holiday as a teenager is shit. All the make her use tampons/moon up brigade are just being mean. I’d be interested to know if anyone under 18 actually uses a moon cup, they something that many of my friends struggle with now in our thirties. As for the she needs to learn to deal with it brigade, well, you’re her Mum, I think it’s great you’re so helpful in this situation.

CurlewKate · 10/08/2023 14:09

If she's going to try tampons when she hasn't got her period, she'll need some KY or something. Also, taking them out might hurt a bit because she'll be too dry. So warn her that it'll be easier when she's actually bleeding.

timegoingtooquickly · 10/08/2023 14:12

pico1 · 10/08/2023 13:00

In the nicest possible way, planning a holiday around a teenagers period is only going to encourage long-standing anxiety about a normal physiological event. Absolutely if she has bad pain or abnormally heavy periods, she needs intervention but otherwise she needs to be able to get on with it! Otherwise she will basically “learn” to be stressed if her period coincides with school events, exams etc etc.

It really isn't 🙄.

I'm with you OP. My 14 year old delayed hers and has since come on. She didn't want to spoil her holiday. So many people run two packets of pills together so it's not a big deal.

Your daughter just needs to remember to take the pills 3 times a day and know she'll come on when she finishes. The dr was happy to prescribe as like you we were having a water based holiday.

I would do it, it really made the whole thing so much easier. When she is older she will feel happier with tampons but for now that was best for us.

It's good that you are considering her feelings in all this, ignore the negative posters

LIZS · 10/08/2023 14:12

Has anyone tried period underwear under regular swimwear?

timegoingtooquickly · 10/08/2023 14:14

So my dd is 14 and got the pill on the nhs

You start taking it two days before you are due, she is irregular so we just guessed so being imminent is fine.

I wish people knew the facts before posting!!

timegoingtooquickly · 10/08/2023 14:15

LIZS · 10/08/2023 14:12

Has anyone tried period underwear under regular swimwear?

My other dd did this as she was at the end of period and it worked well

BippityBobbityBoo · 10/08/2023 14:18

I use the medication quite often and I’d say have it on hand just in case. I don’t suffer any side effects with it and do normally suffer with heavy periods and pmt. I also don’t always take it regularly, sometimes just one tablet a day and it keeps it at bay. It can make things a bit irregular afterwards but I don’t mind if my holiday was period free. I hate having a period in holiday, swimming, bedding anxiety, accidents etc!
have a nice time op

Perfect28 · 10/08/2023 14:20

You don't bleed in water because of the pressure. Get some period bikini bottoms and it won't be an issue at all.

CurlewKate · 10/08/2023 14:21

@Dancerr

If she's going to try tampons when she hasn't got her period, she'll need some KY or something. Also, taking them out might hurt a bit because she'll be too dry. So warn her that it'll be easier when she's actually bleeding.

Swimbius · 10/08/2023 14:23

@Perfect28 You don't bleed in water because of the pressure. Get some period bikini bottoms and it won't be an issue at all

Hahahahhhhhaaaa

tootrueblue · 10/08/2023 14:24

I've used the meds before with no problems but my DSD used the period swimwear last year and said it was good, enabled her to use the pool etc as she's not using tampons yet. I think you need to start the meds before your period starts so the window for that sounds like it's fast closing anyway. Period swimwear should be fine and it's only the pool that's a pain to be on for anyway - the rest of the day shouldn't be affected.

W0MEN · 10/08/2023 14:25

The swimwear has arrived today. How did u find it?? Does it work?

Yes worked fine!

Also last year DD wore period pants under swim shorts and this also worked fine. She wears board shorts anyway.

cansu · 10/08/2023 14:26

The period swimwear plus ibuprofen to lessen flow would be best.

W0MEN · 10/08/2023 14:28

cansu · 10/08/2023 14:26

The period swimwear plus ibuprofen to lessen flow would be best.

Ibuprofen lessens the flow??? I never knew that!

Callywals · 10/08/2023 14:28

@Dancerr I ALWAYS booked my holidays around my period as I love swimming and also didn't want the faff of dealing with it on holiday. I'm now at an age when I don't have to worry anymore but I completely understand where you are coming from. I'd get your daughter the meds to delay it. We all do that in our family, in fact my niece got them the other day and it was just prescribed over the telephone by the GP and collected immediately at the pharmacy. You sound like a lovely, caring mum and I hope you have a great (period free) holiday!

Mkgmum · 10/08/2023 14:43

I took the medication that delays it, had no issues whatsoever and I get side effects from almost everything. Personally I'd recommend it and wouldn't hesitate to take it again

bladebladebla1 · 10/08/2023 14:45

How terrible that a caring family are thoughtful enough to try to avoid an awkward holiday for their daughter. God some people on here! I don't have advice OP as not tried it but just wanted to say ignore the (can't say what I want to here) people who are giving you grief for this. I hate having my period on holiday as an adult

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