For boys 10 to 18
लड़कों के लिए: पीरियड्स को समझो
Five short guides: what a period is, why teasing hurts, and how to be a good brother, classmate and friend. In English and Hindi.
Got a question? Call our free menstrual helpline on 85888 70999.
A period is a few days of bleeding every month that girls and women have as their body grows up. It is normal, healthy and nothing to laugh at.
What happens
What it is not
How girls feel during periods Some girls feel fine. Some have cramps in the tummy or back, feel tired, or feel moody. It is different for every girl and every month.
Laughing at a girl for a stain, a pad or a mood can make her want to stay home from school. Do not join in. Help her instead.
What teasing looks like
Why it matters Many girls feel ashamed about periods because of jokes like these. Some girls miss school on period days because they are afraid of being laughed at. A few words from you can make that worse, or better.
What to do instead
At home, small things help a lot: no jokes, no fuss, and a little kindness on her hard days.
Treat periods as normal. Keep a girl's secret if she trusts you with it, and stand up for her if others do not.
Straight answers to the questions boys often ask about periods.
Do boys have periods? No. Boys' bodies change in other ways during puberty: a deeper voice, hair on the face and body, and growing taller.
Does a period hurt? For some girls, yes. Cramps can range from mild to strong. For a few girls the pain is bad enough to keep them in bed.
What is a 'period pain simulator'? It is a machine with pads on the tummy that gives small electric pulses, to give boys and men an idea of what cramps can feel like. It can be a useful way to start a conversation, but cramps are different for every girl, and no machine shows the tiredness, mood changes or worry that can come with a period. Listening to the girls and women in your life tells you more.
Why do girls go to the toilet so often, or carry a pouch? To change a pad or cloth every few hours. It is normal.
Can I talk about periods with my sister or mother? Yes. Asking a respectful question is how you learn. If they do not want to talk, that is fine too.
Is it okay for me to buy pads? Yes. It is a normal thing to buy.
Got a question? Ask your parent or teacher, or call our free menstrual helpline: 85888 70999
Yes, a lot. Be kind if she is tired or in pain, and never tease her. Help at home on her heavy days. When you hear a myth, like girls being impure during periods, say calmly that it is not true.
Start right here. Our Learn pages explain periods in simple words, and our comic, The Period Fairy, is a good first read for anyone. Ask a parent, a teacher or a doctor when you have a question.
To ask privately, call our free menstrual helpline on 85888 70999. It answers at any hour.
Treat girls as equals, in class, at home and in sport. Speak up if your school has no clean toilet, water or bin for girls. When you are older, support work that keeps girls in school during their periods.
Just normally. There is nothing to be embarrassed about. Do not laugh, make a joke or rush to change the channel. If you have a question, you can ask your mother or sister later, politely, when it is just the two of you.
Pick a quiet, private moment. Keep it simple, for example: “I read about periods. Can I ask you something?” Listen more than you talk. If she does not want to talk, respect that.
You can also simply help: take on a chore on her heavy days, or bring her a hot water bottle.
Talk to your teacher politely, after class. Say why it matters: boys have mothers, sisters and classmates, and knowing the facts stops teasing. Ask if the whole class could have a session.
You can show your teacher our For teachers page, which has simple lessons ready to use.
Buying pads is like buying soap or toothpaste. You are helping someone you care about. Ask for what you need clearly and calmly.
If the shopkeeper wraps the pack in newspaper or a black bag, that is only a habit, not a rule. The more boys do this without fuss, the sooner the shyness goes.
No. Periods are a normal, healthy part of life for girls and women. There is nothing dirty or shameful about them. When boys and men talk about periods calmly, without jokes, everyone feels more at ease.
Never. Teasing a girl about her period can make her feel ashamed and even want to stay away from school.
If other boys make fun of someone, tell them calmly to stop. Stand by the girl, and if it carries on, tell a teacher.
Yes. When boys know the facts, their mothers and sisters do not have to hide their periods or suffer quietly. Talk with respect, and listen more than you speak.
Menstruation, or a period, is the few days each month when a girl or woman bleeds from her vagina. Each month the womb grows a soft lining, ready in case a baby starts to grow. When there is no baby, the lining comes out as blood.
Bleeding usually lasts 2 to 7 days. It is normal and healthy. Most girls get their first period between 10 and 15.
A lot. Say “period” without giggling. Do not laugh at a stain, a pad wrapper or a girl leaving class. Stop jokes and myths when you hear them, even among friends. When boys treat periods as normal, girls feel safe and stay in class.
UNDERSTANDING PERIODS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP
₹1,100 covers one girl's menstrual protection, education and support for a year. Donations are eligible for deduction under Section 80G.
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