Periods can sometimes be uncomfortable, inconvenient or messy.
But you should not have to quietly put up with symptoms that are making everyday life , including school, sleep or football , really difficult.
If something does not feel right, asking for help is a sensible thing to do.
Tell an adult if period pain is getting in the way
Cramps are common, but tell a parent, carer or another trusted adult if the pain is severe, keeps getting worse or regularly stops you doing normal things.
That might mean missing school, being unable to sleep, repeatedly sitting out training or matches, or finding it hard to walk around and concentrate.
If period or pelvic pain is severe or worse than usual and normal pain relief has not helped, get medical advice promptly. In the UK, this may mean an urgent GP appointment or NHS 111.
Tell someone if your bleeding seems very heavy
Periods vary, especially when they first start.
But it is worth getting advice if you regularly:
- need to change a pad or tampon every one to two hours;
- bleed through clothes or bedding;
- have periods lasting longer than seven days;
- need to use two different products together because one is not enough;
- avoid normal activities because of the bleeding;
- feel very tired or short of breath.
You do not need to decide whether your period is officially “too heavy”. Tell an adult what is happening and let a healthcare professional help.
What if I feel dizzy or faint at football?
Stop and tell someone.
Dizziness or fainting can have lots of causes , not eating enough, dehydration, illness, heat and other health problems can all play a part.
Do not assume it is “just your period” and keep playing.
Sit somewhere safe and let a coach or trusted adult know how you feel.
If symptoms are serious or do not improve, you may need medical help.
What if my periods change or stop?
Periods can be irregular when they first begin, and it may take time for them to settle into a pattern.
Later on, if periods that had become established suddenly become very different, much heavier, much more painful or stop for several months and you are concerned, tell a parent, carer or healthcare professional.
There are many possible reasons, so do not try to diagnose yourself from social media or an app.
What if I am worried about food, weight or training?
Tell someone you trust if you are deliberately eating much less because you think you need to be lighter for football, if you are frightened of certain foods, if thoughts about weight are taking over, or if you are often exhausted, dizzy or repeatedly injured.
Your body needs enough energy for both growth and sport.
Needing support with food or body worries does not mean you have failed as an athlete.
What if the problem is embarrassment rather than pain?
You can ask for help with that too.
Maybe you are frightened of leaking, do not know which period product to use, hate the changing rooms or cannot work out how to tell your coach.
Those concerns matter even if nothing is medically wrong.
A parent, carer, coach, teacher or another trusted adult can help make the practical side easier.
Who can I speak to?
Start with whoever feels safest and easiest.
That could be a parent or carer, coach, teacher, school nurse, pharmacist, GP or another healthcare professional.
If you tell one person and do not feel listened to, it is okay to tell someone else.
Asking for help does not mean giving up football
Getting support is about helping you feel well enough to keep doing the things that matter to you.
Sometimes the answer is a simple change , a better period product, more time to use the toilet or knowing you can take a break.
Sometimes a healthcare professional may need to look into symptoms more carefully.
Either way, you deserve to be taken seriously.
Remember
You know when something feels different in your own body.
You do not need to wait until it becomes unbearable before you say something.
If your period is repeatedly stopping you living your normal life, ask for help.
Want to know more?
These Health Hub pages can help: