Best Period Products for Teens – Guide to Your First Period

If you ask a menstruating person in your social circle, they can very likely remember their very first period. Where they were, what they were doing, who they called, how they handled the blood.

I had gotten off the bus after school, walking to piano lessons at a different school than my own. I must have felt my stomach rumbling or something flowing, because as soon as I entered the large, unfamiliar building, I found a toilet and saw the blood in my underwear.

I was not prepared. I was the first in my class, we hadn't learned about the body in school yet, I didn't have any pads with me.

The underwear was lined with single-ply paper, and then I found the school office, borrowed the phone, and called my grandmother. It's 1999. Back when grandparents were actually retired.
She arrived cycling at top speed on her green Raleigh, shortly after I called. From her bag, she pulled out pads as thick as mattress toppers, covering my little bottom from belly button to tailbone.

From that story, two conclusions can be drawn:

1. The first menstruation is a big milestone, and for many of us, that first moment is not forgotten - even 27 years later in my case.
2. Fortunately, there are now both better and more menstrual products on the market - including some that are better suited for a young body.

It is precisely this last point that we will delve into in this article. Today, fortunately, there are many options – and it's not about one "right" solution, but about finding what suits the individual body and daily life. We are all different, our needs and priorities are different, and they can also change for us throughout life. You will experience that the same menstrual product is not always the right one for you.

Here's a simple and clear guide to the best menstrual products for children and teens – worth reading both for those new to menstruation and for parents or caregivers.

The article is written by Cathrine Widunok Wichmand

Menstruation: The first encounter with the extra invisible tasks that fall to women

You might get tired of me bringing it up, but as a seasoned menstruator and mother to someone who will one day get their period, it's my duty to mention it. Having a period is probably girls' and women's first encounter with the mental load, which is unfortunately gendered and rarely in girls' favor. It should be mentioned, especially if you, the reader, do not have personal experience with menstruation. Let me explain:

Getting your first period is more than a question of a new physiological function in the body. It is also the first "extra task" imposed on girls and young women, which boys and young men do not have to expend mental capacity on.

As natural as menstruation is, as much as it just 'happens' because the body does it all by itself - yes, that's how little it takes care of itself to manage it. Having a period requires planning, anticipation, and, well, execution. How many children do you know who are good at that at the age of 12, for example? It's something we have to learn before our frontal lobes are ready for that kind of thing, both keeping track of when we last had it, when it's coming next, and being practically geared up for when it starts, for example, by carrying menstrual products with us, no matter where we are.

Then add the challenge: A period doesn't always come when you expect it (especially the first 1-2 years it's irregular – which, by the way, recurs periodically throughout life).

If you don't manage your menstruation (use a menstrual product), you will bleed through. And few menstruating people find that pleasant – neither the feeling of wet clothes against the pelvis nor leaving stains (not to mention society's continued view of visible menstrual blood in the public sphere). Therefore, most of us want to be prepared, have products ready – and we thank any stranger we meet who passes a pad or tampon over the toilet stall wall when we're sitting there unprepared. It happens to all of us, regardless of experience.

As adults, as parents, partners, as employers: We can consciously support and make the unpredictable less dangerous by showing understanding, by deliberately destigmatizing menstruation so that one doesn't have to deal with shame on top of the difficult new, and by offering various menstrual products both at home, helping to pack them in school bags, offering them in the office, in sports halls – everywhere where menstruating people are.

This is really important for change. If you are a man and therefore have no experience with menstruation yourself, you still have the opportunity to take responsibility and influence how it feels to be a menstruating person in a world that historically has not met the group with understanding.
If you are a father, you have just as much right and responsibility to familiarize yourself with this new world on behalf of your child, together with your child – it is not a mother's lot just because she is the experienced one. Think about it: The opportunity to achieve a special connection with your child when you can hold hands and learn all the new things together. Your child will feel your engagement and curiosity and carry it with them always.

And I guarantee you it will have positive consequences when you take that experience and learning into your encounters with your girlfriends, your sister, your female colleagues, your wife – all the women in your life, you can only grow closer to them.

Menstruation takes up a lot in a woman's life. The bleeding itself and the practicalities surrounding it. The cycle and its hormonal fluctuations, which significantly affect us every other day of the month for better or worse – besides the six to seven days we bleed. Despite this, it is still something we are expected to handle in secret, privately. This creates mystery and stigma. And it costs the individual. You can help change that. And thank you for that <3

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What to look for in menstrual products for teens?

All menstruating individuals are different. What we prioritize and prefer varies, it changes, and at the same time, many of us are very habitual.
When choosing products for children and young people, some things are extra important:

• Comfort – it should feel good, safe, and not alienating; so much new is happening in the body and mind already
• Easy to use – the less complicated, the better
• Security during the school day – one should feel they can trust the product and not fear leaks
• Discretion – it doesn't need to 'scream' to the world that you're menstruating, especially if you're one of the first in your class, you already feel vulnerable
• Safety – just as we are aware of what toys our children play with, it is also important that we are aware of unnecessary chemicals in the products.
  

Then there are also the practical factors to consider when choosing a product:

• How much absorbency do you need?
  You don't bleed the same amount every day during your period, and we don't all bleed the same. All bodies are different. It takes time to learn your flow, and it increases/decreases.
• How do you bleed?
  This requires a bit more experience to gain insight into, and many adults don't even have insight into their own bleeding patterns. But we work and advise menstruating people every day. We know that there's a difference whether women bleed quickly, bleed more to the side, or more forward or backward.
• How are you physiologically built?
  There is, of course, a difference between children, teens, and adult women before and after vaginal birth regarding how much space there is in the vagina. Whether you have a low-lying or high cervix affects, for example, how a cup feels. And it also sits higher/lower depending on where you are in your cycle.
• Are you using contraception?
  If you are using, for example, an IUD, a menstrual cup due to its vacuum can shift the IUD, thereby making it less reliable as a contraceptive.

Overall, for many children and teens, it will be important that it feels "normal" and doesn't require too much attention during the day - apropos reducing the mental load of the task. It will require trial and error, preferably in a safe home environment if possible, to find the right menstrual product that matches one's needs.
AND: Everyone experiences bleeding through. There is no such thing as a 'leakproof' solution. And all menstrual products have their pros and cons. Let's look at them.

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The most popular menstrual products for teens

Today, there are many different types of menstrual products: From good old disposable pads and tampons, to cloth pads, period underwear, menstrual discs, menstrual cups, menstrual sponges - and then, of course, panty liners for days with light bleeding.

We conclude with the obvious and one of the best choices for children and teens, namely period underwear. But let's take the more classic ones first.

Pads – the classic choice

Disposable pads are often the first product many people start with.

Advantages of pads:

• Easy to use - no learning curve for success
• Does not require insertion into the body - especially an advantage when physiologically still small and not ready for anything to go inside the body
• Good for the first cycles
• Can also be found as cloth pads instead of disposable pads

Disadvantages of pads:

• Can feel bulky - pads are still not designed for children, even though their bodies are smaller. A night pad, for example, can feel gigantic, like a diaper
• May contain undesirable ingredients - recent research has found heavy metals in both pads and tampons, which are not desired near body openings. Some also contain perfume, which can cause allergies.
• Can be unstable - they move in underwear and cause leaks or pinch small hairs due to the adhesive.
• Can cause concern about odor or visibility
• Some experience getting bumps on their buttocks and genitals due to pads, perhaps due to content, allergies, or that it's harder for the skin to breathe

Tampons – when you're ready

Many women use tampons, especially during sports or in the water. Tampons are an option when one feels ready for it.

Advantages of tampons:

• Discrete - hidden inside the body
• Good for sports and swimming

Disadvantages of tampons:

• Not all new menstruators have enough physiological space yet
• Individuals with, for example, vaginismus or vulvodynia cannot insert anything into the vagina without great pain
• Must be used responsibly - tampons must be changed regularly to avoid TSS, toxic shock syndrome (which fortunately is rare)
• Can be difficult to use initially - many menstruators can probably laugh about how they initially placed a tampon, e.g., between the labia with the belief that it was in place. A tampon must be inserted into the vagina, and this can be daunting when you have never inserted anything into the vagina before
• Requires comfort with one's own body and being able to relax with one's own body
• Like pads, unfortunately, unwanted metals have been found in tampons. In 2025, a Norwegian newspaper examined 146 tampons on the Norwegian market. All tampons contained heavy metals to varying degrees. And their studies also showed that when the tampons were exposed to liquid, the heavy metals migrated into the liquid. This is not desirable inside the vagina

Menstrual cup – for the more experienced

The menstrual cup came on the market about 12-15 years ago and quickly became popular - especially with the environment in mind. Menstrual cups are effective, can hold a lot of blood but require practice to succeed. Like the tampon, it is a product that must be inserted into the vagina and creates a vacuum at the cervix, where it collects blood as it leaves the uterus.

For teens, it is typically not the first choice – but can be relevant later.

Advantages of the menstrual cup:

• Significantly reduces waste compared to disposable pads
• Often good for those with heavy bleeding, also in combination with, for example, period underwear
• Cost-effective solution - higher initial price than disposable pads but can often be used for several years
• Often available in multiple sizes

Disadvantages of the menstrual cup:

• Requires one to be comfortable with their genitals and confident in inserting their fingers into the vagina to position it correctly
• Must be boiled between menstruations - requires a safe home environment to let it boil in a pot on the stove for all to see
• Should not be used with an IUD, as its vacuum can dislodge the IUD, making it an unreliable contraceptive method
• Requires trying different cups to find one that feels comfortable to insert and in softness

Menstrual disc – the newest innovation

The menstrual disc is one of the newest products. It is related to the cup - it is also inserted into the vagina and collects blood directly, but where a cup's sides are high, making for a more elongated product, the disc is flat, imagine an old-fashioned diaphragm.

Advantages of the menstrual disc:

• Does not create a vacuum and can therefore also be used with an IUD
• If you find a cup too noticeable due to its height and firmness, the disc can be a more comfortable choice
• Like the cup; significantly reduces waste compared to disposable pads, quickly pays for itself in terms of price

Disadvantages of the menstrual disc:

• Because its sides are very low, it can "slosh" over more quickly
• Requires some practice before it works - especially removing it from the vagina without spilling
• Must be boiled between menstruations, like the cup, and you must be comfortable with others seeing it (although we are for reducing shame, we also understand that *embarrassment* is a big factor when you're young, and unfortunately, we also know that society is not yet as accommodating as it should be)

Period underwear – the easiest and most secure solution

And then we come to period underwear. Period underwear is a huge game-changer for many children and teens. Just as it is for many women.

They look like regular underwear – but have built-in absorbency that replaces pads and tampons.

Advantages of period underwear:

• They are discreet - others cannot tell you're menstruating when wearing them
• The absorbent part doesn't shift around like with pads; no adhesive pinching hairs
• They come in a variety of fits, colors, absorbencies; the chance of finding a favorite is high (we've even created period underwear specifically for teens, designed to fit a smaller body than an adult's)
• Because period underwear absorbs blood outside the body, there's no risk of TSS or physiological challenges
• Can also be used for light incontinence, e.g., great for sports that put pressure on the bladder (running, gymnastics, etc.)
• The feeling - this is what comes up repeatedly in our user surveys. They just feel comfortable - you can almost forget you're on your period.

Disadvantages of period underwear:

• Because there are so many fits and absorbencies, finding your favorite pair can be a bit of trial and error, and you'll likely need several different absorbencies to be covered during the different days of your bleeding phase, just like with pads and tampons.
• Getting started with period underwear is more expensive, but over time you save money compared to disposable pads and tampons.
• Many period underwear brands contain biocides like nanosilver or PFAS, and it's difficult to figure out which ones do (Flow's period underwear is always free of PFAS and biocides like nanosilver).
• Requires a good washing routine: Cold water + wash to ensure they are clean and don't develop any odors.
  

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Why are period underwear perfect for teens?

Period underwear is the only comfortable product you can use before you menstruate – before there's actually blood. The cup, the disc, the tampon: they require moisture in the vagina for insertion. The pad, regardless of its spread, has never won on comfort. When you have an irregular cycle, e.g., the first few years of menstruation, it's simply nice that they feel and look like regular underwear. Other big plusses:

• No insertion into the body.
• No risk of inserting something incorrectly or doing something wrong - zero learning curve beyond learning your flow/the underwear's absorbency.
• Can be worn all day at school - if you find a good match between flow and absorbency.
• Feels like normal underwear - having your period becomes a no-brainer when you're not constantly reminded of it.
• Minimal stress about leakage.

For many young people, this means one thing: freedom.

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Security at school and in everyday life

One of the biggest concerns for teens is: "What if the blood leaks through?" Period underwear provides peace of mind because they:

• absorb effectively
• feel dry on the surface
• don't shift like pads can
• don't require frequent toilet visits for changing

This makes them ideal for long school days, sports, and social activities.

Our shorts, for example, are made for heavy flow, which suits most people with heavy bleeding. 

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How we developed our period underwear for teens

When we added the Period Flow Teen Brief to our portfolio years ago, it was in collaboration with a small focus group within the target demographic.
The briefs needed to be soft, look like regular underwear, be as seamless as possible, and ideally feature a logo elastic similar to underwear from other major fashion brands. That's why our period underwear for children are:

• Made from soft Lyocell, a temperature-regulating, natural material
• Designed with discreet and as flat as possible elastic around the leg
• Featuring good, natural, and soft absorbent layers, allowing the skin to breathe

All absorbent briefs for adults are available in XS to 3XL. We have now added 2XS in a bestseller for heavy flow - our shorts.

In addition, we also have period swimwear for children; you can find the Johanne bikini here.

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The best period product to start with for kids?

Period underwear is ideal for children and teens. It can be a very good idea to start with period underwear on a weekend day, so they can get used to the feeling in a safe environment.
They quickly learn how they feel a little different, a little more 'heavy', when it's time to change.

The period underwear is comfortable for everyday use - possibly in combination with a cup or disc. Some also try them with a disposable pad in first, which they can then remove during the school day, and then bleed directly into the period underwear.

It creates a smooth transition where they learn about their cycle.

Tip: If you don't use period underwear yourself, it can be helpful for your child if you try a pair too. That way, you can better advise and help them along the way.

It can also be a 'cozy' thing you do together - trying something new.

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How to help your child start their period

If you are a parent, the most important thing is not the product – but the feeling.

• Talk openly and calmly about menstruation in general.
• Offer choices (not just one solution).
• Have a box in the bathroom, for example, with several options: pads/tampons/underwear/cup/disc, so they can try different things without asking.
• Normalize that it takes time to find the right product and that everyone experiences leaks.
• Give your child an 'emergency kit' for school: a small bag with extra of everything, possibly a pair of extra regular underwear or trousers, so they can always help themselves on the go. And help them restock the kit – it's a big responsibility on top of everything new. They will learn.

And most importantly: Don't make it something "embarrassing" – but something completely natural.

👉 Here you'll find our Happy Period Kit - ideal for the first period.

If you have sons, it's just as important to talk openly about menstruation, perhaps even let them see what it is and show them the different products. Maybe they can even help a friend, and it's definitely also the way to combat stigma and shame.

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Briefly in conclusion

The best period products for teens are those that:

• feel safe
• are easy to use
• fit into everyday life

And for many, period underwear is now the obvious choice because it combines comfort, security, and freedom.

It's important to have the opportunity to experiment, and many menstruating individuals constantly shuffle between different products depending on their specific needs. This is perfectly fine – especially once you've learned about your body, cycle, and flow.

Last but not least: It's so important that we get to know our own genitals. Boys are lucky in a way, because their genitals are external, and they are used to looking at them and examining them from birth.

For girls, it's not so easy. We need aids to see what's down there. So give your child a mirror so they can look and learn on their own. Labia, vulva, everything. Pigebogen is ideal to read while doing so, as it guides you with the most beautiful illustrations of what you're looking at.

Enjoy!