E.P. asks from Rahway, NJ on May 12, 2011
11 Year Old Period Problems/questions
My 11 year old daughter has been getting her period regularly since last august. Her schedule seems to be regulating itself to about every 24 days (ugh!). Other than it coming a little more frequently that we'd like (it's a family trait with everyone except me) - she seems to be bleeding through just about everything we've tried. She's a petite girl - 5 ft 3 inches and maybe 115 lbs - the size of a small adult really. Her period lasts only 3-4 days but on the second day, it's HEAVY. Yesterday she bled through/around a good sized pad and needed to go to the nurse at school for a new pair of underwear. She also bleeds through at night pretty regularly.
We've tried pads with wings (not my favorite, but she likes them best), Kotex Long Super pads and a few others but she always seems to bleed through on that one heavy day. We were thinking maybe she should try a tampon over the summer when she's home from school? I personally never liked them, but she's willing to give them a try along with a pad so she doesn't bleed through.
Any smart Moms out there have experience with this? She isn't complaining about pain/cramps much at all and she's pretty happy that it's over in a few days. Help!
Featured Answers
K.F. answers from New York on May 13, 2011
I would recommend changing the pads more frequently which a just a real pain but less embarrassing than bleeding through.
This is what I have to do on my heavy days.
D.J. answers from Atlanta on May 13, 2011
Put an 11 year old on birth control? That is crazy, too young and I defintely wouldnt do that. My daughter started her period at 9, it was irregular and heavy but the LAST thing I thought about was putting her on birth control and using a tampon. Both have risks. What she did was double up on the pads, wore very tight panties and changed them more often.
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K.B. answers from St. Louis on May 12, 2011
I have this problem! My third day is still horrible every month! I wear a ultra absorbent tampon and a thicker longer pad together the whole day. I make sure to change the tampon regularly too (even if you don't have to use the bathroom, it should be changed every couple hours if she's as heavy as me). It seemed to do the trick. As she gets older, it should get a little better, but I totally get it
R.D. answers from Richmond on May 12, 2011
Your 11 year old is taller than me!! Man I'm short ;)
Her body is still regulating itself. Maybe talk to her doctor about putting her on the pill to help regulate her cycle and the amount. My BFF in middle school had to do that and was pretty embarrassed to be on the pill so young (boys still had cooties!), but it was the only thing that straightened her out. Good luck!
T.F. answers from Dallas on May 12, 2011
I would consult the Dr.
My 16 yr old used pads the first month and then she was done with that.... ugh gross as she said. She's used tampons ever since with no issues. She is a cheerleader and very active... tampons are better than pads and don't smell either.
My daughter has been on the pill since January due to heavy non-stop bleeding and it has helped a lot.
J.P. answers from Buffalo on May 13, 2011
I had this problem also. I wore a tampon and a pad. When the tampon is full, you can feel it start to leak, so you know you should go to the bathroom as soon as you can make it. The pad will keep it from leaking through your clothes, saving embarrassment. It might take a few tries to figure out which tampon works best, but they really should help. If she bleeds through the heavy tampons in an hour or so, you should see the Dr. It might be good to ask next time either way. Just to be sure. I wish someone had been able to help me w/this when I was 12-13. It would have saved me a lot of grief!
C.W. answers from Dallas on May 12, 2011
My daughter has had similar problems. It may sound funny but she actually prefers to use Depends pads. She says they feel more comfortable to her and she doesn't have the leakage accidents. Maybe try that.
C.C. answers from Eau Claire on May 12, 2011
I agree with Rachel. Being put on the pill helped me when I was younger and dealing with heavy bleeding. I was always worried that I would bleed through my clothes and took to wearing shirts that covered my butt, most of which were way too big for me, any time I had my period. Being on the pill helped not only regulate my period, but also helped with the heavy duty bleeding. Best of luck to you both!!
M.F. answers from Houston on May 12, 2011
I was put on the pill at 11 to help regulate my period. Some of my worst memories were of me being so young and having my period at school. I was always worried about leaking, and I embarrassingly did on occasion. My period was just really heavy. Also in school it sometimes hard to get a bathroom break. It made all the difference in changing the duration and how heavy my cycle was. I never had/have any pain or cramps either.
M.T. answers from New York on May 14, 2011
I was nervous about my daughter using tampons, she was 11 when she started her period but then in the summer, when she was 12, she really needed them for the activities she'd be doing at sleepaway camp, plus she also did leak through at night, so she'd wear a tampon and a pad. She is turning 16 now and always uses tampons - with the pad also for at night or really heavy days. Good luck!
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