Own Your Period

Having a period is an incredible thing - Own Your Period celebrates what the body can do and provides young people (age 9+) with everything they need to be prepared… and empowered.This fact-filled guide to periods is bursting with positive, honest advice on managing and understanding menstruation, covering every aspect of periods as well as lots of advice on puberty and growing up in a warm, friendly and reassuring way.Topics covered include the fascinating science behind why things happen, with all the details of menstruation through to the menopause explained, as well as answers to all essential questions like what's a vulva and what does it look like, what do periods actually feel like, and what happens if blood stains your clothes?Menstrual expert and educator Chella Quint's witty text slays superstitions, busts common myths and fights period shame, while providing practical information about menstrual products, tracking cycles and sharingher own personal stories.Funny, insightful and warm illustrations with friendly chatty text makes this an everything-you-need-to-know essential handbook, which pre-teens can refer to before their periods start, and will appreciate when their cycle is more established.This complete guide will prove an invaluable companion to any young person about to start their first period, and will help them embrace their cycle with positivity and pride, and grow into healthy, happy people!

Contents Hello from Chella 4 Who is this book for? 6 1 - the Basics 8 Periods and puberty 10 What's a vulva? 12 Inside your body 16 Periods and hormones 18 Menstrual cycle phases 20 Life cycle of a period 24 Having babies?!? 28 Period stats 30 2 - Managing periods 32 What do periods look like? 34 What do periods feel like? 36 Charting your cycle 40 All about discharge 44 When periods are a pain 46 Asking for help 48 Maintaining good period health 50 Menstrual supplies 54 Sustainability 64 Stains and odour 66 3 - Period positivity 68 Menstrual shame 70 Busting myths and slaying superstitions 36 Media messages: a timeline 78 Being a period positive consumer 82 Talking about periods 84 Navigating periods at school 86 Share the Period Positive pledge 88 Own it! 90 Glossary 92 Index 94 About the author and illustrator 96