Libra Years 6 & 7 Education Program

There are lots of questions students may find embarrassing to ask in a classroom setting. Here are some common “curly questions” with answers supplied by our fully qualified nurse. Teachers can print these off for distribution or suggest that students visit this page to find out for themselves.

Students can also independently visit www.libragirl.com.au where they can privately ask our nurse about puberty, health and hygiene in a secure, on-line environment.

Is it better to wear tampons or pads during the night?

It is best to wear pads during the night. It is not recommended that you wear a tampon for longer than eight hours and most teenagers sleep for longer than eight hours. This is to guard against Toxic Shock Syndrome. Try Libra Ultra Thin Goodnights with wings for overnight protection.

How many days should you bleed during your period?

This varies with each woman but the average is five days. The range can be from two days to seven days.

When could painkillers be dangerous?

Mild painkillers or analgesics such as Panadol are safe when used correctly. Like any other drug if they are overused or taken in large doses then they can cause problems to your kidneys and your liver. If you need to use Panadol for longer than 48 hours then you should consult your doctor. The occasional use of Panadol for a headache or a fever is safe as long as you do not have a liver or kidney condition.

Sometimes during my period I get blood clots. Is that normal?

Women with heavier periods might find they have occasional blood clots. When the flow is lighter, clots are uncommon but with a faster, heavier flow there is more blood and clots do happen. If blood clots are just occasional, there is nothing to worry about. If they do happen a lot and you are concerned, you should see your doctor.

Before my period I sometimes get diarrhoea. Is this normal?

Some women do get diarrhoea on the day before or on the first day of their period. This can be due to many reasons and would be worth discussing with your doctor.

My testicles are not the same size. Is this normal?

This is perfectly normal. Our bodies are not symmetrical. If it makes you feel better I can tell you that women always have one breast larger than the other.

I have an itchy groin. What should I do?

If this is a continuous itch then you may have a fungal infection of the skin or you might even have pubic lice. Both need to be treated.

If you have pubic lice you will be able to see the eggs in your pubic hair. You can buy the solution from the chemist to treat the pubic lice. Follow the instructions on the bottle. You will need to wash all your bed linen, blankets, sheets and towels.

If you have a fungal infection you need to see a doctor to get it correctly diagnosed. The doctor will prescribe some ointment. Check to see if your underpants are cotton. Polyester pants make everything hot and sweaty and that is when germs breed.

The occasional itch during the day is normal. Look around and I bet you will catch at least one guy having a bit of a scratch even when they are not playing cricket.

My vagina has been very itchy and I can't stop scratching. What do I do?

During puberty you start to sweat more and you can occasionally have itches around your labia and vagina. If it does persist and you are sore, you might have thrush – a common fungal infection that can easily be treated with anti-fungal cream from the chemist.

When I go to the toilet to do wee it stings. What should I do?

This is a sign of a bladder infection and you need to go and see a doctor who you feel comfortable with as you need antibiotics. Some other things you can do when you have an attack of cystitis are:

Drink Barley water, about three litres a day
Avoid tea and coffee and spicy food
Eat yogurt because you will be on antibiotics
To help prevent cystitis make sure you always wipe yourself from ''front to back'' after going to the toilet.

I get sexual urges and feel bad. Is this a normal way to feel? Do other 14 year olds feel the same way? I do not know and I am too scared to ask anyone in case I’m not normal.

I’ve got some good news. You are perfectly normal. When we go through puberty we get thumped with all these new and confusing emotions. Many of these new emotions are sexual and we just don’t know what to do with them. We have to ''grow into'' these new emotions and that takes a while.

Masturbating is a good way to handle some of these strong, sexual feelings. Masturbating is normal and healthy and most people do it even if they don’t talk about it. Just make sure you do it in the privacy of your own room.

I am 14 and I am small all over. I mean all over. Will I be able to have normal sex when I am older? Is there anything that I can take to make me grow?

Yes you will be able to have normal sex when you are older. You do not need to take anything to make you grow. Your body will do it all for you when it is ready.

What is PMT or PMS?

PMT stands for pre-menstrual tension but this is now being called PMS, pre-menstrual syndrome. The reason it is called a syndrome is because there are a group of symptoms associated with PMS.

What causes PMS is still in dispute. Some experts believe that the rise and fall of hormones cause it. The exact relationship between hormones, diet, pollution, stress and lifestyle is not yet known.

Some women experience a combination of symptoms and there are about thirty. Some of the more common symptoms are bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, irritability, food cravings and depression. PMS usually occurs in the week before your period.

What is masturbation?

It is a common sexual activity that is usually enjoyable. Both girls and boys, men and women masturbate. It is a positive way of finding out about our bodies and what feels good.

You're perfectly normal. As long as you do it in the privacy of your own room then there is nothing wrong with masturbating (this also applies to girls).

What is an orgasm and why do we have them?

An orgasm is the peak of sexual excitement. It is a rush of intense and pleasurable sensations that involve your whole body. You don't have to have had intercourse to have an orgasm, you can achieve one by masturbating.

Why do we have them? It is probably from an evolutionary perspective so we have sex. When we have sex, women can get pregnant and so the 'species' continues. If sex wasn't pleasurable then people wouldn't want to do it, and the 'species of humans' would die out.