Choose what works for you
There is no single right product. What suits you depends on your comfort, budget, access to water and toilets, and what you feel ready for.
Many people start with pads and try other options later. You can mix and match, for example a cup at school and a pad at night.
If getting products is hard for your family, tell a teacher or school nurse. Many schools and government programmes provide free or low-cost pads.
Disposable and cloth pads
Pads stick to the inside of your underwear and soak up blood. Change a disposable pad every 4 to 6 hours, or sooner if it feels full or damp.
Cloth pads are reusable. Rinse in cold water first, then wash with soap and water, and dry fully in sunlight, which helps kill germs. Store them clean and dry.
Never reuse a cloth that has not been washed and fully dried, and avoid hiding it to dry in dark, damp corners.
Menstrual cups and tampons
A menstrual cup is a small, soft silicone cup worn inside the vagina that collects blood. Empty and rinse it at least as often as its instructions say, and sterilise it in boiling water between periods.
A tampon is a small plug of absorbent material worn inside the vagina. Change it every 4 to 8 hours and never leave one in for longer, and use the lowest absorbency you need.
Using a cup or tampon does not affect virginity or harm the body. There is no rush to try them. Wash your hands before and after.
Staying fresh and disposing safely
Wash the outside of the private area with plain water once or twice a day. You do not need special washes or perfumes, which can cause irritation.
Wrap used disposable pads or tampons in paper or the wrapper and put them in a covered bin. Never flush them down the toilet.
Carry a small period kit in your school bag: a spare pad, clean underwear, a paper bag and some tissue.