Let’s talk periods with boys too

Although he doesn’t have to manage menstruation once a month, your son will one day be around a friend, partner or family member managing their period.

Preparing him for those times doesn’t have to be awkward or dramatic, it can be as normal as explaining why we brush our teeth or wash our hands.

Here are our top tips for getting started.

Start with openness

Teaching your son about periods helps build empathy and reduce shame.

It’s important that he knows that periods are an essential, normal and natural part of life.

Taking a positive approach can help boys (and children of all genders) know that it’s OK to ask questions and learn about periods.

You might start by asking your son what he already knows about periods.

You could also say, “You can ask me anything,” and explain you are open to talking about body changes that he sees in himself or others.

It’s important to respect your child’s privacy. But if you have other children in your family, it can also be helpful to let them know when their sibling gets their first period, with their permission. This can help to normalise having these conversations as a family.

Remember, this is not a TED Talk

It’s important to use accurate information to explain sex, periods and fertility to boys and young men. But you don’t need to go into all the details in one talk.

Continue these conversations over months and years. Your son’s questions are likely to change over time, and it can be helpful to break into different topics, based on the questions he is asking.

Nurse and sexual health educator Vanessa Hamilton explains that going in stages can help.

“If your child is ready and interested, you can go into more detail,” she says. “Remember, how much you explain depends on your child’s maturity, interest and learning ​​level.

“Keep in mind that timing is still important, you still want to ensure you are the main source of information before they hear it from the world around them,” explains Vanessa.

Normalise periods

Young children may see parents or caregivers use the bathroom or explore cupboards, and might even play with the colourful packaging of period products.

Having pads and tampons unhidden in the house can invite simple questions about how periods work and how women manage them.

Vanessa says it’s important to normalise period products in the home, or when shopping, especially in households with sons.

You might introduce the products in an age-appropriate way, by saying, “This is a pad,” or, “Mum uses this once a month when she has her period.”

For some boys and men, this helps in the future if they are asked to buy period products for someone else. It can also help to reinforce that these products are part of life and nothing to feel embarrassed about.

Keeping your tone calm, relaxed and casual also helps during these conversations. If you don’t show embarrassment, it sends the message that this is a talkable topic, not a shameful one.

At a young age, some boys might be scared that their mother or older sister is hurt or in pain. This can be an opportunity to start a conversation. Some parents say, “It’s OK, Mummy has her period today and sometimes that causes a bit of pain, but it is not the same as bleeding from a cut.”

Invite questions about periods and bust myths

As your son gets older, he might be seeing content online about periods that is unhelpful or simply untrue.

Platforms like TikTok can present misinformation to kids and teenagers. Even if your child doesn’t use social media themselves, they might see videos on other people’s phones.

It’s important to separate fact from fiction. Let your son know that he can ask questions when he isn’t sure.

Buy age-appropriate books about puberty and read them together. The earlier you start, the easier it is.

Early conversations provide a foundation for their developing knowledge and understanding.

​​​Vanessa says that children are getting their education from the world around them. Not all of it is accurate, but if you get in and teach them first, you can help steer their education in the right direction.

Keep reassuring

Keep using positive language with your son as you have these conversations.

You could say, “Wow, isn’t it amazing that people with a uterus get periods and are able to have babies? Human bodies are so strong!”

Let him know that it’s great he wants to learn about these topics. After initial conversations about period products, you could involve him in buying pads and tampons next time you’re doing the shopping.

Keep using everyday moments and teachable statements as starting points to talk about periods and to reassure him that periods are a normal, natural and important part of life.

Remember, you don’t have to be perfect, anything you say is better than nothing.