Period at age 10 and no trusted female to tell | Ask Sam
Hi Sam! I’m nine and recently, I’ve been seeing blood on my underwear. I didn’t tell anyone because I only live with my dad as mum has married another man and moved on. Both of my grandparents died before I was born and my dad is an only child. We are not close with most of my cousins, but we sometimes look after my six year old cousin when her dads are at work or going out.
I tried telling my teacher at school on the day before we broke up for the summer, but I don’t think she listened because she said that it won’t happen overnight and that periods are a fact of life. My only friend is busy with her mum in a critical condition in hospital. I don’t want to overwhelm either of them with my problem.
None of Mum’s old friends are in touch with us anymore, so I can’t tell any of them. I know where one lives but Dad will find it suspicious if I would want to visit her because she lives in the next town which is a bus ride away. I don’t think she remembers much of me either.
Sam
Hi there,
Starting your period can bring up lots of questions and feelings. Telling a trusted adult was the right thing to do, you don’t have to handle things alone
Your period is when you lose a small amount of blood from your vagina. People can start their period at different times, and we’ve got lots of information about them here. There are lots of ways to get products like pads, but this can be difficult if you don’t have someone helping you. An adult you trust can help you to access or buy these. Having a teacher misunderstand you shouldn’t stop you asking for support again.
If you’re starting your period, here’s a few things you can do.
Speak to your school nurse, who is there to help you.
If you’re able to, you can buy things like pads from most shops.
Keep things like spare underwear in your bag for the future.
Whether it’s a different teacher at school, the nurse, or someone else, remember that people will often want to support you. They can help you understand what’s happening, plan for the future, or even speak to your dad to help. If you’re feeling embarrassed, sometimes writing things down can feel easier.
Lots of young people worry about asking for help. Remember that you matter too. Everyone deserves support, including you.
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
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