Surviving Periods For FTM's

[Dante]

I got my period on Sunday (I'm FTM), and today, Tuesday, my dad insisted that I start riding my bike again (I've been riding the bus for the past week; before that I rode my bike everyday.). So this morning, I hopped on my bike as usual, and I rode. At about halfway through the ride, I feel leaking, and I'm thinking 'Oh, s**t.'. When I get to school, I go into the nearest bathroom, even though I didn't want to (it was a girl's bathroom.), and sure enough, there's a big blotch on the seat of my jeans. Luckily, it was far enough underneath that as long I kept my legs somewhat close together, you wouldn't be able to see it. But it was still awkward because, as a guy, I kinda stand with my legs a bit farther apart, so I had to curb the habit for the day.

Anyway, so as you can imagine, it started to smell REALLY bad, so I was really self-conscious and embarrassed. But I managed to get through the day without any comments about it, so I must have been ok. At the end of the day, I got on my bike, and rode. I get that leaking feeling again, except worse this time. So I ride faster, and of course, when I cross the street and double back to my house, there's a really strong headwind, so I'm being blown backwards. When I finally get back to my house, the butt of my  jeans are soaked with huge blotches of blood. And then my dad gets mad at me for slamming down my bike, when the whole thing was his fault in the first place! Then the icing on the cake: there were no more pads left!

I'm still to see if my pants will be ok; they're in the wash right now. Hopefully they'll be ok, cause those are my favorite pants.

Could anyone tell me how I can prevent this from happening again? Cause I have to ride my bike everyday, and I can't do this anymore or I think I'll just explode. Plus, I have P.E. every other day. Can anyone help?! (And sorry for all the complaining.)

[NicholeW.]

Heavy-flow tampons with enough spare to change them as needed?

N~

[Dante]

I think I'm too young to wear tampons, but I'm not sure. What's the age?

[NicholeW.]

I think the age is 'when you start a period.'

N~

[Dante]

I always thought there was something else... oh well, I suppose I was just mis-informed. I will see if I can try that. Thanks for the tip.

[NicholeW.]

You are welcome.

When I was growing up girls didn't always wear tampons because they were afraid that they would make their virginity suspect. As far as I know there is no medical reason not to though. Except there could be some relation to toxic shock syndrome.

And there are pads as well. Not nearly all the bulky stuff of forty years ago either.

N~

[Nero]

As Nikki noted - no, there is no age for tampons and yes, you can still wear them if you're a virgin.

As far as leaks - I know the feeling. All my blood comes out in about one day, there's not much I can do but wear a tampon AND a pad and change the tampon every 20 min. If yours isn't that bad, the tampon and pad combo should suffice without a restroom break every half hour.

[NicholeW.]

O, one other small caveat: make sure to remove the old one before putting the new one in.

Don't laugh. I know more than one woman who has done exactly that.

N~

[Dante]

Well, I don't really have the choice of changing that often, since I have a two hour class, then a 10 minute break, then another two hour class, then lunch, then another two hour class, then I'm out of school. So I can't really change that often, but I could every time I have a break. Thanks for the suggestions.

And that is pretty funny that some women forget to take the tampon out before putting another in.

[Dennis]

Another small caveat: don't forget to take the last one out after period. I have friends who've done that.

And no age limit for them, they are easier and less messy to use imo and much more effective. I was like Nero, get it all done in one day, so had to use every weapon at my disposal.

Thank god that's over with.

Dennis

[Osiris]

I've never used tampons, they have to be changed too often and just seems like a pain to deal with.

My advice is get overnight pads with wings. They are thick and longer than regular pads and cut way down on leaks.

If all you have are regular pads take 2 and overlap them.

[Godot]

Bummer that happened to you at school..  I use over night pads but I don't use tampons because I feel kind of like they keep "what needs to come out" inside. Over night pads with wings (like what Osiris said) is probably the best because it can prevent leaking.

[Lokaeign]

I have a problem with this too.  Seconding what ppl have said about overnight pads and doubling up.  One thing that has worked for me is using one of the large size ultra-thin towels with wings, then putting a regular thick towel on top of that (take the plastic lining out of the back of the regular towel), as well as using a tampon.  Wearing two pairs of underpants helps too.

You might look at your diet to lighten your periods--iron deficiency makes the bleeding worse.  Make sure you're getting a balanced diet with plenty of B-vitamins.  Taking extra calcium and magnesium can help if you have cramps.

If you're regularly having heavy bleeds a chat with a doctor is in order.  There could be an underlying medical problem that needs to be dealt with.

[Jamie-o]

You might also look into getting on the pill for a while until you can start T.  Some forms of the pill can stop your period altogether for a few months at a time, and most will significantly reduce the flow.  Doctors often prescribe hormones for other reasons than birth control.  If you talk to your doctor about how the heaviness of flow is disrupting your life, she may be able give you hormones, and explain it to your parents, if that is going to be an issue.  (I know.  Not something that's comfortable to talk about with parents, but it could prevent a future scene if they find your prescription.)

[Lokaeign]

Yeah, the Pill took down my periods while I was on it.  Be careful though and get a lower dose pill; I also found it made my chest bigger, to my despair.

[Snowdoggy]

I used to have b****y awful periods before I went on T. Really heavy for up to 4 or 5 days sometimes before they eased off. I switched to tampons as soon as I could because not only were they more effective at stopping the blood from hitting air which is what makes the bad smell but you don't have the tell tale lump when wearing tight trousers or shorts in PE at school. I went on the pill for 2 years and had very little bleed whilst on it but like Lokaeign said it did make my chest bigger so may not be a good idea. Before I was allowed T I had to have an ultrasound scan and it turned out I had a massive fibroid which was more than likely what was causing the heavy bleeding. My sister had one and 3 of my aunties and my grandma (even though experts say they are not hereditary) and had to have it operated on but I was told my my doctor that T would make it shrivel up in time so I wouldn't need an op. Anyhow, since being on T my P stopped after the second injection, I was worried that the fibroid may delay it stopping but it didn't thank God.

A couple of things I would suggest if you do want to switch to tampons is starting with the smallest size first and using pads until you get used to using them as the Super Plus sizes (which I ended up having to use) may be difficult to use to start with and also I would recommend using the ones with applicators because with the ones you insert yourself it can get messy when you are heavy.

[kotafiend]

omg that sucks homie. yeah i dont think theres an age for tampons. i use them.. and im prolly one of the younger ones on here. i cant stand pads. feels like im wearing a diaper.. and with tampons u can wear boxers

I'm a lil worried about going to public school while on my period. for last year. 8th grade i was home studied. but going into 9th grade to a public school. and i'm registering as a boy. my consoler said i could as long as i could pass.. and i pass lol


How i normally deal with it.. is i sleep alot.. and stay in my room. yay for laptop. I dont bleed alot yet [i just started them earlier this year] but OMG the cramps so suck. they feel like someone is juggling knives in my stomach.

[Elwood]

If it were me, I would have gone home. No girl even would have endured that.

I don't use tampons for a list of reasons. One, I refuse to stick anything in that hole. It shouldn't even be there and I'm going to put a cork up in it? No thanks. So I wear pads. There isn't much of a leaking issue with good coverage. The hardest part for me is the fact that I feel like I shouldn't even be having this. Girls talk about their periods, and I want to say, "Ain't that the truth..." but a guy shouldn't know that. I guess I really am a girl's best man, because I can understand her monthly struggle. But still, it threatens my identity. I'm different. That's hard to deal with.

Some tips on cleaning:
Never dry clean blood. It bakes the blood into the fabric.
Hand wash blood when it's still wet. You'll be able to get most of it out, the wash will take care of the rest.
I know this because I've leaked a few times, but also because I've fallen quite a few times and bled on my clothes. I also know a guy who would have frequent nose bleeds, so I learned how to help him out.

As for preventing leakage, I just make sure the pad is positioned correctly. If you're wearing a packy and it's causing a gap between your body and the pad, leakage is more likely. This is why I choose to put the pack in front of the pad. That way it gets no blood on it and it doesn't interfere with the pad. My method of packing is odd because I don't ever have it touching my skin. I hear a lot of giy have it pressed directly against themselves, but I find that tedious.

Tampons, if they are the right size and are inserted correctly almost never leak. You may need one that absorbs more blood or you may need to put it in further. It's supposed to slide in and you're not supposed to be able to feel it pushing on your insides. That means it's not in far enough. But don't go ridiculously far or someone's going to have to help you fish it out. I don't know about you, but I'm the kind of guy who doesn't like to have stuff go up in there.

I'm just looking forward to T. Until then, I handle it the same way the girls do. They really do know best. I'm not going to pretend that being transgendered makes me clueless to my own body or period. I have a female body to deal with, to maintain, and to understand.

I'd avoid the pill as some pills affect hormone distribution... they can increase breast size. But it really does depend on the person...

I rarely have period trouble. It's because I do the right things. I'm not going to let myself be "ashamed" so much that I won't do what I must...

[TamTam]

As for washing.. I agree, you should definitely handwash before you toss it in the washing machine.  But make sure you use cold water.  Cold cold cold.  If you use warm or hot water, it'll set the blood in the cloth and it'll be really difficult to get out.  Also, you should try to wash before it dries, if at all possible.  The less time the blood has to stick, the better.

If this happens again [even with wearing a pad and such] then you should go to the bathroom and fold paper towels to substitute.  You didn't mention if you did that, but.. also, bring an extra pad with you in your bag for emergencies.  The ones with wings are awesome, and they make 'long' ones, too, to cover more of the underwear.

For tampons, make sure you do change them at least every.. 6 hours or so, I think.  Even if it's at the end and you're not bleeding a lot anymore, you're at high risk for toxic shock syndrome if you leave one in for longer than that.  You're fine if you change to a clean one, just don't leave a dirty one in for that long.   Same thing with pads- don't leave the same one on for hours and hours, even if you can.

Oh, and they sell scented pads, too.  They strike me as a bit odd but.. if the smell bothers you a lot, you could always try those.

As for PE.. I don't know how much it would bother you to do this.. but.. my PE teachers always understood if I went up to them and told them I had cramps.  It can be a valid excuse for not running around and such.

I'd be pissed, too.  I've never ridden a bike while on my period, but I imagine that must.. suck.  Ouch.

[Elwood]

I avoid anything that is scented. It's irritating and especially bad for me because I have dry skin.

The best way not to smell is to remain clean. It is a must to bathe every day you are on your period... Not just for "etiquette" purposes-- it's a health issue.

I always use pads with wings, and longs for night time. Sometimes I'll use 2 regulars so they extend far enough behind that I'm not leaking out my back (it's happened quite a few times and I'd wake up in a puddle).

Cramps should never be an excuse for anything. It helps me to say, "be a man, don't cry like all those girls over there are." I mean, seriously. How bad can it be? Is it as bad as my migraines? When I sprained my wrist or bruised my tail bone? Is it as bad as my wisdom teeth getting pulled? Bad as the time I split the roof of my mouth? Probably not. Did I cry when any of those things happened? Well, when I sprained my wrist, I was in 5th grade... and I was a toddler when I split the roof of my mouth... but did I cry because it was painful? No. I cried because I was scared ->-bleeped-<-less. The point is, I hate it when girls say, "Oh, I can't WORK. I'm BLEEDING." It's so pathetic...

A period has never stopped me from doing anything (except sleeping naked). If tools are used properly, I can run, bike, dance, and if I so desired to use tampons, swim. I'd ride bikes a lot regardless of my period.