How to start conversation about menstruation without being shy?

It's true—we often find discussing menstruation uncomfortable around many individuals and most of us often feel shy to even mention about, more so, when males are around us.

In certain instances, people tend to keep moments marked by silence hidden in private settings, treating them like an uncomfortable personal revelation rather than acknowledging their inherent humanity.

However, it's important to note that changing attitudes towards menstrual health requires more than internal discussions among females; societal dialogue is also necessary.

Now is the right moment for us to involve our male relatives in what's happening.

Instead of relying on dry lectures or confusing illustrations, convey your message through genuine enthusiasm, openness, and some casual talk about daily life experiences.

Start Slow But Start Big

Could you please tell me what steps should be taken next? Begin by taking things slowly.

Picture your eager young boy gently tapping at his mother's bedroom door, then asking softly, "Mom, can you tell me about whatever it is in your possession? Rather than dismissing him or avoiding answering his query, you choose to greet him with a warm smile and respond, "Women often refer to this as menstruation. Their physical condition indicates normal functioning as expected by nature. That concludes everything. There will be no conflict involved. There is no pain or uneasiness present. Sharing only a bit of heartfelt sincerity.

Sensitize Children First

Children possess an inherent capacity for compassion. Until we assign labels of stigmatization, they do not bear such prejudices. If children understand at an early age that menstruation is neither disgusting nor unusual, they develop into adults who naturally show empathy and kindness – qualities timeless in their appeal.

Siblings are Your Best Companion

Let us now discuss siblings. Often teenage males residing in homes where siblings share living quarters notice menstrual symptoms such as pads near them, possibly due to their female sibling's discomfort during menstruation. However, when there's no background information, those instances may slip away unnoticed as uneventful pauses or even become unintentional humor instead. Boys act unkindly not due to malice, but owing to their lack of understanding.

Suppose rather than allowing others to speculate about it, they were told directly, "Your sister is having her menstrual cycle. She is experiencing fatigue and muscle pain. Perhaps you might offer her a drink of water or allow her more personal freedom for now. A single act of compassion might transform circumstances entirely. It conveys: "Tell him you're welcome to contribute. With repeated exposure, this comprehension gradually evolves into an intuitive skill.

Include Your Father in the Conversation

Subsequently, fathers figure into this scenario as well. They frequently grew up immersed in a society without ever hearing about menstruation explicitly for themselves. However, it does not follow that their past lack of learning precludes future acquisition.