Does your daughter understand that having a period is a healthy cleansing process of the body? Learning about her menstrual cycle and how the lining of the uterus, the endometrium, builds up each month might help her to think differently about her periods.

During the first half of her menstrual cycle, the endometrium fills with tiny blood vessels and glands. In the second half of her menstrual cycle, the endometrium fills with fluid from these structures. This fluid is going to provide nutrients to a fertilized egg if one forms during this menstrual cycle. The fertilized egg attaches to the endometrium and enjoys the nutrients waiting for it there.

What happens if the egg is not a fertilized egg? When it arrives in the uterus, it disappears. This triggers the body to begin the cleansing process. The fluid-filled endometrium starts to break apart. Because there are tiny blood vessels there, the fluid becomes bloody.

Anatomy Figure from I’m a Girl, Hormones!

A menstrual period is normally about 2-3 tablespoons of fluid, but it requires preparation because it is not always obvious which day it will start.

Share this information with your daughter so she can be more thoroughly informed about what is happening in her body.