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Having your period at school can be stressful, especially if you’re unprepared. You might not want people around you to know, and sometimes it’s hard to deal with nosy friends and classmates. Make a period kit to have with you at school — either in your binder, your backpack, your locker, or a combination of the three — and you’ll be prepared to deal with your period when it comes with as little fuss as possible.
Steps
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Grab a small, pencil bag with grommets to latch into your binder. It should have a zipper or some other way to seal it. This kit, which fits inside your school binder, is ideal if you're looking to have supplies on hand during every class. You can find a pencil bag at most office supply or big box stores.
- If you don't want anyone to know what's inside, opt for something opaque.
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Choose your desired supplies. Decide if you want pads, tampons or something else, and how many you’ll need throughout the day. Figure out how many will fit without bulging. You want enough to get you through a whole day. You can always restock when you are getting low, since you should be taking your binder home, or you could restock periodically from your locker.
- If you choose a menstrual cup, you will only need one, as it can get washed throughout the day. If you use reusable pads, or period underwear , you should need about two or three.
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Add something to freshen you up. Look for individual wipe packets. Add baby wipes to the bag. Have body mist or a spray fragrance of some type if you are worried about smells.
- Keep in mind that scented wipes can irritate your vagina.
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Place the bag in your binder. When you need it, you can grab the whole thing and take it with you to the bathroom to look more natural. That being said, if you don't want to carry a whole binder, you can leave this step out.
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Find a zippered bag. Use an opaque one if you dont want anyone to see what's inside. Look for one that is medium-sized and will fit in one of the front areas of your backpack. You won’t be able to pack lots of supplies, but should have enough for a few days before you will need to restock.
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Bring underwear and pants (if they can fit). Put in an extra pair or two. If you’ve had an accident, it’s important to be able to change and get comfortable. Choose some pairs that you don’t mind getting dirty. [1] X Research source
- Even if you are using another product, like a pad or menstrual cup, it is still a good idea to take period underwear to give you an extra peace of mind.
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Add a plastic bag or wet bag. If you need to change, you’ll need a place to put your used underwear and/or pants, as well as any used reusable period products. Using a watertight bag can keep it separate from the rest of the contents of your kit and backpack.
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Get some small plastic bags that can be thrown away. Sometimes you have to throw away your disposable products outside of the stall, and it can be messy. Pack some bags to make it cleaner and easier to get rid of your used period products. [2] X Research source
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Pack hand wipes or hand sanitizer. Sometimes you’ll be in a place where it’s difficult to clean up, and having a way to sanitize your hands is essential. If you’re having to change your underwear or pants, it can be really useful to have in the stall with you. Use travel size packs that fit easily into your kit. [3] X Research source
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Choose a large zippered bag, small backpack, or even a box. If you have the room, a box might be the best choice. If you’re really embarrassed, you could put the kit into a box advertising something else — granola bars, cereal — so that people think you’re keeping a snack in your locker. If you choose a bag, it should be one you’re willing to keep in your locker at all times and only take home to restock in between your periods.
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Add your supplies. Put in an excess of products, just in case. Include some extra containers of wipes or other cleaning supplies. Keep track when you’re getting low so you can restock.EXPERT TIPProfessional School CounselorAlicia Oglesby is a Professional School Counselor and the Director of School and College Counseling at Bishop McNamara High School outside of Washington DC. With over ten years of experience in counseling, Alicia specializes in academic advising, social-emotional skills, and career counseling. Alicia holds a BS in Psychology from Howard University and a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. She also studied Race and Mental Health at Virginia Tech. Alicia holds Professional School Counseling Certifications in both Washington DC and Pennsylvania. She has created a college counseling program in its entirety and developed five programs focused on application workshops, parent information workshops, essay writing collaborative, peer-reviewed application activities, and financial aid literacy events.
Be prepared for your period. Assemble a discreet “period bag” to keep in your locker with pads, tampons, fresh underwear, and any other supplies you may need. This way, you'll be prepared when the time comes to deal with it.
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Stash some clothing. Because a locker is larger than a binder or backpack, you will have some more room. Use this to cover the big possible emergencies: Add a few pairs of underwear. Find some other clothing to leave in your locker in case your pants or skirt get dirty. Black leggings are a good choice, since they roll up small and can be stored easily. Hopefully you won't need them, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
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Try a menstrual cup. Made of rubber, it can stay in your body for 12 – 14 hours at a time (so you won’t have to take it out at school) and can provide you with the ultimate in privacy. With a menstrual cup, you are less likely to be affected by your period throughout the day. Keep in mind that they are uncomfortable for some people — the only way you know if it will work for you is to try it out.
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Keep a pad or tampon in a zippered pocket. Look for a sweatshirt or jacket with an inner zippered pocket. Place your smallest pad or tampon inside so you don’t have to take anything different with you into the bathroom. This can help you keep your privacy.
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Stash a pad or tampon in a tissue container. This could work in either your backpack or your locker. Keep tissues in the container as well, but put your supplies inside. You can wrap a tissue around the pad or tampon and take it with you from class to the bathroom.
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Keep some tampons in a pill bottle (like Aspirin). If you can’t see through the bottle, people won’t know that it contains your supplies, and you can easily take it with you to the bathroom. Make sure that you’re allowed to have pain relievers at your school and that your bottle wouldn’t be confiscated.
- If your school doesn't allow you to take medication without a medical note, you can also use a bottle of gum.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionIs it normal for an 11 year old girl to get her period?Dr. Noriega is a Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist and medical writer in Colorado. She specializes in women’s health, rheumatology, pulmonology, infectious disease, and gastroenterology. She received her MD from the Creighton School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska and completed her residency at the University of Missouri - Kansas City in 2005.Yes it is normal to be having your period at 11 years old. Most girls start their period by age 12 but some girls can start as early as 9. All of these ages are considered normal for starting your period.
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QuestionI'm scared to ask my teacher to go to the bathroom with supplies! She can be kinda strict and everyone in class stares when some one gets up! What do I do?Dr. Noriega is a Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist and medical writer in Colorado. She specializes in women’s health, rheumatology, pulmonology, infectious disease, and gastroenterology. She received her MD from the Creighton School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska and completed her residency at the University of Missouri - Kansas City in 2005.It may help to talk with your teacher before class to let her know why you may need to leave. It may not seem like she will understand but this is a natural process that she goes through too. It may also help to try to find a way that you can hide your supplies before you stand up to go to the bathroom. If you have a pocket that would be the easiest place to hide your supplies. If you use tampons, you can hide one in the sleeve of a long-sleeved shirt or sweatshirt. For both tampons or pads you can always hide it in a sock if you are wearing pants to cover it. Just get creative about ways to hide your products to decrease your embarrassment.
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Tips
- Go to the nurse, as they always have pads and tampons.Thanks
- If the nurse happens to run out of pads and tampons and your period is severe, you could ask for help from a female teacher or fellow student as they are likely to carry one around with them.Thanks
- If you have your first period at school, don't fret; if you have a kit, use it and tell someone when you get home. If you don't have a kit, then roll up some paper towels, then wrap that in toilet paper four or five times and stick it in the bottom of your panties, then wrap with toilet paper around your underwear to secure it.Thanks
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Warnings
- Add some medicine for cramps, if you want. Just remember in some schools you can get suspended for having medicine in your possession, so find out your school's policy.Thanks
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References
About This Article
Article Summary
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If you're concerned about having your period while at school, try getting a non-transparent pencil bag and filling it with all the useful supplies you may need, including pads, tampons, baby wipes, or feminine wipes. Make sure this pencil bag can fit in your binder. That way, if you need to, you can simply grab the whole thing and take it with you to the bathroom without attracting attention. Make sure to keep enough supplies in your bag to handle a single day, since you can always restock once you get home. For more helpful tips, like how to prepare a period locker kit, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I started my period today and I'm happy about it. I like sharing things to girls and mums or grandmas only trusted ones though and if a boy sees it in my bag, I will just say sorry but this is a girly thing and that's part of growing up and walk away calmly." ..." more
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"I started my period today and I'm happy about it. I like sharing things to girls and mums or grandmas only trusted ones though and if a boy sees it in my bag, I will just say sorry but this is a girly thing and that's part of growing up and walk away calmly."
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"What helped most was probably when it said not to worry if somebody sees your period kit. I'm really scared I will get caught. I know girls probably won't say anything, but the boys will. Some of us girls are experiencing this."
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"I did the box in my locker, and it totally worked! I gave my locker combination to my closest friends and now we share the box. It has helped my friends and I so much !"
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"Thank you so much! I feel so much better about going to school while on my period. I never thought about hiding a pad or tampon in a sock or a bra!"
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"This article is very helpful for me and my friends. I love this article and i will show this article to all of my friends."
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