Navigating periods at school

Tips, tricks and your questions answered 💯

Quick summary 📝

1️⃣ Lots of schools have free products, so ask a teacher or the school nurse if you’re caught short

2️⃣ A period kit with pads, spare pants and anything that makes you comfy can help you feel ready

3️⃣ Heat pads, loose clothes and changing products regularly can help with cramps, leaks and smells

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luna’s experts know all too well how much stress there is around having or getting your period at school!

So here you’ll find all the big questions, answered 💖 

What happens if I get my period unexpectedly without products?

Lots of schools have free period products, so it’s worth asking the school office, nurse or a teacher you trust where they’re kept.

You can also ask a friend if they have a spare!

If that’s not an option, you can roll up some toilet paper to use as a makeshift pad until you can ask later.

How can I be more prepared for starting my period in school?

Some people choose to carry a period kit around with them so they’re prepared at all times.

You can use a large-ish pencil case or makeup bag to carry this.

This kit often includes: 

👉 Pads

👉 Tampons

👉 Panty liners

👉 Spare underwear

👉 Painkillers 

👉 Anything else that makes you more comfortable, for example, heat pads, hand sanitiser, wipes

It’s a good idea to carry 2-3 pads or tampons in case you end up out of the house for a while before you can go home.

How do I deal with a period on a school trip?

Just like before, period kits are super handy for school trips!

Depending on what you’re doing, you might not have access to all the same things as you would in school, though ✨ 

For example, if you’re camping, you might benefit more from having things like wipes and sanitiser.

Another great thing you can take with you into the wilderness is small nappy bags or sandwich bags in case there aren’t any bins you can use close by.

Some people find longer-lasting products like menstrual cups handy, but it’s best to practise at home first so you feel confident using one.

How can I feel more comfortable having cramps at school?

Cramps at school can be really tough. In fact, luna users vote it as the number 1 reason for why having a period at school is so difficult!

Here are luna’s tips on what to carry to help out with the pain: 

👉 Painkillers: paracetamol or ibuprofen can help. Lots of shops won’t sell them to under-16s, so ask a parent or carer, and check your school’s rules on carrying medicine

👉 Loose trousers: often, with bloating, it’s a good idea to wear loose trousers

👉 Heat pad: hot water bottles and hot baths are great, but when you’re at school and can’t have either a heat pad is a great alternative

If your cramps are so bad they stop you going to school, it’s worth talking to a doctor 🫶

I’m worried people can smell my period, is this possible?

Periods do have a smell, but it’s different for every person and it’s generally not very strong 🙅‍♀️

It might smell a bit like blood or like metal, this is because of the iron and bacteria that will be present as the blood leaves your vagina.

It’s unlikely that people will smell it, but you can make the odds even smaller by following luna’s period hygiene advice!

The best ways to make sure people don’t smell your period are…

👉 Regularly have showers: have one the morning before school to start the day super fresh, if you can

👉 Change your products regularly: pads sit outside your body, so they can smell a little quicker. Changing them every few hours helps

👉 Snacks: periods can leave you feeling tired, so having something to eat, like a banana or cereal bar, can help keep your energy up

How do I stop my period leaking?

There are a few different reasons why you might be leaking, so here’s some tips:

👉 Position of product: pads can shift when you sit or do sport, so well-fitting underwear helps. You can also double up with period pants

👉 Not changing the product: a full product will leak, so change pads every few hours and tampons every 4 to 8 hours

How can I change a pad in the toilets quietly?

Remember, there’s absolutely no shame in having your period and changing your products in the bathroom, so don’t worry about the rustling sound that comes with opening a tampon or a pad. 

However, if you want to, you can cough over the noise, or unwrap it at the same time as flushing the toilet to mask the sound, although this is totally not necessary and only if you are very uncomfortable 💖

luna hopes this has helped you feel prepared for having your period at school!

Remember, if you ever have any questions or worries, you can Ask luna’s experts.

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