Lesson video

Hello, my name is Ms. Willow, and I'm going to be teaching you today's lesson.

Today's lesson is called "Menstruation and my emotions," and it fits into our unit called "Our changing bodies: what do I need to know about menstruation?" During this lesson we're going to be talking about blood and we're also going to be talking about some private parts of the body.

For this reason, we require you to have an adult with you for the duration of this lesson.

I'm really looking forward to teaching you today, so let's make a start.

By the end of today's lesson, you will be able to describe how emotions might change linked to cycles, and you'll know how to support a person who's menstruating.

Before we get started with today's lesson, we need to go over some ground rules.

These help to make sure that everyone stays safe and comfortable throughout today's lesson.

Laura says that we need to listen to others.

"It's okay to disagree with each other, but we should always listen properly before making assumptions or deciding how to respond." If we do disagree with someone, we should always challenge what they've said, not the person themselves.

Andeep says we should respect each other's privacy.

That means that we can discuss examples or situations, but we shouldn't use any names or some clear descriptions, which could mean that we could identify someone you're talking about.

This also means that we shouldn't identify ourselves in any situations or descriptions.

Jacob says we need to not have any judgement.

It's really important and helpful to explore our own beliefs and our own misunderstandings, and we should know that we're not going to be judged for what we think or what we feel or what we've experienced.

And Izzy says that we can choose our level of participation.

That means that everyone has the right to choose not to answer a question or to join in discussion.

We should never put anyone on the spot as this can make many people feel uncomfortable.

We're now going to go through today's keywords.

Our first keyword is menarche.

This is the time when a female has their first period.

Irregular cycles.

This is when the gap between menstruation, which means periods, is less than 21 days or more than 35 days.

And shame.

This is a strong feeling when someone thinks that they're bad or wrong and worries that others will judge them.

We're now going to go through today's learning cycles.

The first learning cycle is called, "How can emotions change during menstrual cycles?" The second learning cycle is called, "How do cycles vary across a lifetime?" And our last learning cycle is called, "How can we be period positive?" Let's make a start on our first learning cycle.

How can emotions change during menstrual cycles? Serotonin and dopamine are two of the feel-good chemical messengers found in our bodies.

They are sometimes referred to as our happy hormones because they can improve our emotions and our mood, which means how we feel.

Let's do a check for understanding.

Is this statement true or false? Serotonin and dopamine can improve our emotions and our mood.

Pause the video and have a think.

Well done if you said that this is true.

Serotonin and dopamine are often called our happy hormones because they can improve our emotions and the way that we feel.

During the menstrual cycle, levels of oestrogen and progesterone, which are typically female hormones, change.

This can affect the amount of feel-good chemical messengers, as we said before, serotonin and dopamine, and this can change our emotions and our mood.

Changes in emotions, mood and physical sensations before menstruation are symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, otherwise known as PMS. Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, is different for all females.

Let's do another check for understanding.

Changes in emotions, mood and physical sensations before menstruation, otherwise known as periods, are symptoms of, A, postmenstrual syndrome, B, premenstrual syndrome, or C, premenstrual symptoms. What do you think? Pause the video.

Have a think and you might want to talk to the people around you too.

Well done if you said B, premenstrual syndrome.

Changes in emotions, mood and physical sensations before menstruation are symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Well done if you got this right.

Some females find that a few days before menstruation or their period, their body starts to feel a little bit different to how it normally feels.

They may experience tender breasts, abdominal cramps, lower back ache, headaches, greasy hair, changes in appetite and spots on their skin.

Some females may find that a few days before their period, their emotions and their moods start to change.

They may feel upset, teary, irritable, anxious, overwhelmed, or depressed.

Let's do another check for understanding to see how you're doing.

Is this statement true or false? A few days before menstruation, some females may find that their emotions and their moods change.

What do you think? Pause the video and have a think.

Well done if you said that this was true.

It is normal for many females to find that their emotions and their moods change in the lead-up to their period, often called their menstruation.

Emotional changes during the menstrual cycle are different for all females.

They can also change for the same person from month to month.

Laura is sharing her experience.

She says that, "One minute I'm happy.

The next, I want to cry over nothing." Aisha says that, "Sometimes, I get anxious, emotional and upset a few days before I start my period." Sam says, "I find that I get irritated by things that wouldn't usually bother me." And Sofia says, "My emotions and moods don't change before my period, but I try to be supportive and caring towards others that struggle." Every female is different and will have a different experience.

Let's do another check for understanding.

Is this statement true or false? Emotional changes during the menstrual cycle are the same for all females.

What do you think? Pause the video and have a think.

You might want to talk to the people around you too.

Well done if you said false.

But why? Emotional changes during the menstrual cycle are different for all females.

Some may feel anxious, upset or irritable.

This means that something that normally wouldn't annoy them starts to annoy them.

Others may experience no change in their emotions or their mood.

Here, the school nurse says, "It's okay to experience changes to emotions and moods before a period." And the doctor says, "There are lots of things that people can do to help them cope with the changes that come with menstruation." Things that can help us to cope with changes to emotions and our mood during the menstrual cycle are lots of regular exercise and fresh air, a healthy, balanced diet, plenty of sleep.

For most people, this is around eight hours each night.

And mindfulness and relaxation activities.

It's also really important to keep doing the things that you enjoy, maybe your hobbies and interests.

This can help to boost our mood too.

Now let's do another check for understanding.

Things that can help us to cope with emotional changes during the menstrual cycle are, A, lack of sleep, B, regular exercise and fresh air, C, eating junk food, or D, mindfulness and relaxation activities.

Pause the video and have a think.

Well done if you said B and D.

Some ways that we can cope with the emotional changes during the menstrual cycle are getting regular exercise and fresh air and participating in mindfulness and relaxation activities.

During the menstrual cycle, it's important to get plenty of sleep each night, around eight hours, and we should eat a healthy diet too.

Now let's put your learning from this learning cycle into practise.

Here, Jacob is worried about his sister.

Jacob says that, "For a few days each month, my 13-year-old sister gets really irritable.

She gets cross about things that don't usually bother her." What three pieces of advice could Jacob give to his sister to support her in dealing with the emotional changes during her menstrual cycle? Pause the video, and I look forward to hearing your answers.

Okay, let's have a look and see what you might have got.

You might have said that Jacob could tell his sister to take regular exercise and get lots of fresh air.

She could eat a healthy and balanced diet.

She should get plenty of sleep, around eight hours each night, and she should try some mindfulness and relaxation activities such as yoga or reading.

Well done if you got this or something similar.

We're now moving on to our second learning cycle.

How do cycles vary across a lifetime? Menarche is when menstruation, also called periods, begin for the first time.

The average age of menarche is around 12 years old.

That means that the average age for females to start their first period is around 12 years old, but everyone is different.

For many females, it can be sooner or it can be later.

Let's do a check for understanding.

Is this statement true or false? Menarche is when menstruation or periods begin for the first time.

What do you think? Pause the video and have a think.

Well done if you said true.

Menarche is when a female starts their period for the first time.

Well done if you got this right.

When a female first begins menstruating, which means having periods, they're usually irregular and they may not last very long.

Sometimes, the first few periods might only last a few days.

Many females will also find that the first few periods usually have a very light menstrual flow.

The first few periods may show as brown spotting on underwear instead of fresh red blood.

Let's do another check for understanding.

When a female first starts menstruating or having periods, they are usually, A, regular and last around seven days, B, irregular and last around seven days, or C, irregular and last only two to three days.

What do you think? Pause the video and have a think.

Well done if you said C.

When a female first starts having their periods, it is usual for them to be irregular and only last a couple of days.

Well done if you got this right.

It can take one to two years after menarche, so when someone gets their first period, for a menstrual cycle to become what we call regular.

A regular menstrual cycle is when a female has a period around every 21 to 35 days.

An irregular cycle is when the gap between someone's periods are less than 21 days or more than 35 days.

By tracking periods in a calendar or diary, females can calculate if their cycle is regular or irregular.

Let's do another check for understanding.

Well done for your hard work so far.

Sam says, "There have been 43 days between my last period and this period.

Does this mean that I have an irregular cycle?" What would you say to Sam? Pause the video and have a think.

Okay, you might have said that Sam's periods have been more than 35 days apart, which means that her cycle is irregular, but it is a good idea to track the cycle to get a clearer picture.

She could use a calendar or a diary to help her do this, and there are apps available too.

The length of menstrual cycles can vary across a lifetime, and they can be affected by lots of different factors such as puberty, the amount of exercise that someone does, if they've lost or gained weight, if they're on any medication, if they're pregnant or breastfeeding, if they're approaching menopause.

Menopause is when a female stops having periods.

It's usually around 45 to 55 years old.

Every female is unique and some do have irregular cycles.

Irregular cycles are quite common and they're usually nothing to worry about, especially when someone starts to have periods for the first time.

If you notice a sudden change in your cycle, it is a good idea to speak to a doctor to check that everything's okay.

Let's do another check for understanding.

The length of a menstrual cycle can be affected by, A, medication, B, your height, C, pregnancy.

What do you think? Pause the video and have a think.

Well done if you said A and C.

The length of someone's menstrual cycle can be affected by the medication that they take and also whether they're pregnant or not.

Now let's put your learning from this learning cycle into practise.

I'd like you to fill in the blanks using the words below.

At the bottom of the screen, you can see some words.

We've got menopause, stress, loss, irregular, and menarche.

Can you read the paragraph above and see if you can put the words at the bottom of the screen into the correct spot? Pause the video, and I look forward to seeing you in a couple of minutes.

Okay, let's have a look and see what your completed paragraph should look like.

The first time menstruation or periods begin is called menarche.

When periods first begin, the menstrual cycle can be irregular.

This is when the gap between menstruation is less than 21 days or more than 35 days.

There are lots of factors that affect the length of menstrual cycles such as weight loss or gain, levels of stress, and approaching menopause.

Well done if you put the words in the right place.

We're now moving on to our final learning cycle.

How can we be period positive? It is common for most females to have periods, yet it can sometimes be seen as shameful.

Period shaming is negative behaviour or attitudes towards females who have periods.

Period shaming could cause females who have periods to be discriminated against or they're made to feel like they're dirty in some way.

This is never okay.

In some cultures or societies, periods aren't talked about.

Period shaming could result in females not having access to what they need in order to manage their period safely.

Periods are a natural biological process that most females from all backgrounds will go through in their life.

No one should ever be judged or made to feel embarrassed for having a period.

Let's do another check for understanding.

Is the statement true or false? In some cultures or society, periods are not talked about.

What do you think? Pause the video and have a think.

Well done if you said that this is true.

It is true that in some cultures or society, periods aren't talked about.

Menstrual health is a human right.

Any female who has periods has the right to up-to-date and accurate information and education about their periods.

They have the right to menstrual products which are safe.

They have the right to water, sanitation and disposal.

This means removing waste and keeping the water supply clean.

Let's do another check for understanding.

Any female who has periods has the right to, A, out-of-date information and education, B, water, sanitation and disposal, or C, a queue pass for public toilets.

What do you think? Pause the video and have a think.

Well done if you said B.

Any female who has periods has the right to safe water, sanitation and disposal.

They also have the right to up-to-date and accurate information and education.

This means that this should not be out of date, so A is incorrect.

C is also incorrect.

Well done if you got this right.

Period poverty affects many females around the world.

Period poverty is not having access to menstrual products, education and awareness, sanitation, and this means removing waste and keeping the water supply clean.

For some females, perhaps they cannot afford to buy menstrual products.

For others, they might feel too afraid or ashamed to ask for support because of the culture that they live in.

Remember, periods are a natural biological process that most females from all backgrounds will go through.

If anyone struggles to afford menstrual products or access them in any way, there are lots of organisations that can help.

It's really important to speak to a trusted adult so that they can point you in the right direction if you are struggling to access menstrual products or know someone who is.

Let's move on to another check for understanding.

I'd like you to finish the sentence.

Period poverty is when females, A, cannot afford to buy menstrual products, B, are too afraid to ask for support with periods, C, choose not to wear menstrual products, or D, do not have any access to sanitation.

What do you think? Pause the video and have a think.

Well done if you said that A, B and D are correct.

Period poverty is when females can't afford to buy menstrual products, if they're too afraid to ask for support with their periods or if they don't have any access to sanitation.

Well done if you got this right.

There are lots of simple changes that we can make in order to become period positive.

This means that we're showing a positive attitude towards females who have periods and we're not trying to shame anyone or make them feel bad for a natural biological process that they're going through.

By being period positive, we are making sure that any female who has periods always feels valued and included and doesn't feel shame for the natural biological process that they're going through.

Now let's do another check for understanding.

Is this statement true or false? Period positive is having a positive attitude towards periods.

What do you think? Pause the video and have a think.

Well done if you said that this is true.

How can we be positive about periods? We can use the term menstrual products instead of feminine hygiene or sanitary products.

When we use the terms hygiene or sanitary, this could make someone feel like they are dirty for needing these menstrual products.

If we're talking about periods, we can include everyone in the conversation so that everyone is able to learn, even if they are not female.

Most people are affected by periods in some way so it's important that we have a good understanding of what periods are and how we can support someone who is having a period.

It's also important to remember that we can't always tell if someone has periods just by looking at them.

This is another reason why it's important to include everyone in the conversation so that everyone has access to the right information and the right resources to support them.

Let's do another true or false.

Is this statement true or false? We should use the terms feminine hygiene or sanitary products instead of menstrual products.

What do you think? Pause the video and have a think.

Well done if you said that this is false.

But why? When we use words like hygiene or sanitary to refer to menstrual products, this could make someone feel like they are dirty for needing these products.

When we're talking about menstrual products and period products, we should use the terms menstrual products instead of feminine hygiene or sanitary products.

Just by changing the language that we use to refer to menstrual products, we can become more period positive and improve the attitudes of people around us too.

So, another way that we can be positive about periods is by not being embarrassed or hiding the fact that we're carrying a menstrual product in our bag or in a basket at the supermarket.

If we hide menstrual products, this can make it seem bad or wrong, which sends a message to the people around us and a message to ourselves that there's something that we need to hide.

We should also be mindful of our body language when we're talking about periods.

If we roll our eyes or show disgust when someone is talking about periods, this could make them feel ashamed when what they're going through is something very natural.

Okay, we're now going to do another check for understanding.

Is what Jacob's saying period positive? Jacob says, "Whenever my friends or family talk about periods, I cover my ears and pull a face because it's gross." Pause the video and have a think.

Is Jacob being period positive? Well done if you said that Jacob is not being period positive.

By pulling a face and covering his ears, his body language is suggesting to his friends and family that they should be embarrassed about having a period or even talking about it.

We're now moving on to your final practise task.

Well done for your hard work so far.

I'd like you to complete the missing terms and definitions in the table.

Pause the video and I look forward to seeing you in a few minutes to go through the answers.

Okay, let's have a look and we can see what your answers should have included.

Period, this is also called menstruation, a natural biological process that most females go through in their lives.

Period shaming.

This is negative behaviour or attitudes towards females who have periods.

Menstrual health.

This is a human right, including access to information, menstrual products, water, sanitation and disposal.

Period positive.

This is a change in behaviours or attitudes so that females who have periods always feel valued and included.

And finally, menstrual products.

This is a term to be used instead of feminine hygiene or sanitary products.

Well done if you got this right or if you had something similar.

We are now going to summarise the key learning from today's lesson.

Today, we have learned that menarche is the time when a female has their first period.

At first, females may have an irregular cycle, which is when the gap between periods is less than 21 days or more than 35 days.

Many factors such as puberty or weight loss can affect menstrual cycles.

Irregular cycles are quite common, but a doctor should be seen if there is a sudden change to the cycle.

Emotions can change a few days before a period, and this is okay.

There are lots of things that can help females to cope such as exercise and sleep.

We've also learned that periods are not shameful.

They are a natural biological process.

By being period positive, females who have periods can feel valued and included.

For example, we should use positive body language when talking about periods and we shouldn't hide menstrual products.

In today's lesson, we've talked about some tricky topics and you might find that you have some questions or worries.

If you do have any worries or concerns about anything we've talked about in today's lesson, please reach out to a trusted adult who can help you.

There are also some organisations on the screen who are there to support you if you need it.

Well done for your hard work today.

You've done a fantastic job and I hope to see you again soon.