Your Complete Guide to Handling Period Leaks at School
Jessica Lubahn 9 min read
Every girl knows that periods can be unpredictable creatures.
Some months, you can sense the impending arrival for a week ahead of time, and other months — bam — Aunt Flo shows up completely unannounced.
And not being ready for your period means you might wind up with unexpected leaks.
If you’re like most of us, a period leak at school is one of your very worst nightmares.
Here, we cover how to keep period leaks from happening and give you the top go-to coping strategies just in case they do.
Table of Contents
- Should I Go to School on My Period?
- How Can I Stop My Period Leaking at School?
- 5 Tips for Avoiding a Period Leak at School
- Top 5 Tips for What to Do When Your Period Leaks at School
- ONDRwear Period Undies Can Take the Fear Out of Having a Period Leak at School
Should I Go to School on My Period?
Periods are a natural part of life and under normal circumstances, you should go to school when on your period. In most cases, over-the-counter painkillers can keep cramps under control. If you experience particularly painful or difficult periods, you may want to talk with your doctor.
How Can I Stop My Period Leaking at School?
If you’re wondering how to prevent period leaks at school, the answer is to always be prepared for your period’s arrival by:
- Tracking your menstrual cycle
- Knowing the pre-period signs
- Being ready for your period to start
- Having supplies handy; and
- Acting quickly if you feel your cycle beginning
5 Tips for Avoiding a Period Leak at School
Being proactive is the best way to avoid experiencing a period leak at school.
Here are our five best tips for staying cool and collected in the face of “that time of the month.”`
#1: Track Your Cycle
The average menstrual cycle is around 28 days, but the timeframe can actually vary quite a bit. On average, your bleeding usually lasts from 3-5 days, but in some women, it can be as short as 2 days or as long as 7 or more.
An easy way to predict when your “friend” might show up — and get in touch with your body — is to keep track of your menstrual cycle.
If you want to keep it super simple, you can use your school planner. There’s no need to be totally obvious and write “SHARK WEEK” in red marker. Just make a dot or “period” (wink, wink) in the top corner of the calendar square on the day your period makes its appearance.
If you want to get even more specific, you can make a quick note about any symptoms you feel each day. For example:
- “I’m so bloated I can’t zip my jeans.”
- “I cried because my library book was a day overdue.”
- “Ate a whole package of chocolate doughnuts and ice cream for dinner.”
You can also use one of the many period tracking apps out there, such as:
- Flo Period Tracker
- Period Calendar
- My Calendar
- Clue
- Glow
- Eve
- Period Plus
- Period Tracker Lite
- My Cycles
- Cycles
These cool apps let you track your period and give you the tools you need to monitor symptoms like:
- Mood
- Physical changes
- The intensity of period blood flow
- Daily water consumption
- Physical activity; and
- Sleep patterns
#2: Know the Signs
When It comes to avoiding a period leak at school, one of the best ways to be prepared is to know the signs and symptoms that happen before your period makes an appearance.
Keep an eye out for the signs that Aunt Flo may be heading your way, such as:
- Feeling bloated or “puffy”
- Craving sweets
- Crying easily
- Sudden mood changes
- Sore breasts
- Achy muscles
- Headaches
- Acne breakout or monthly zits
- Abdominal cramps
- Joint pain
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Lower back pain
- Being sleepier than usual
- Trouble sleeping; or
- Low energy
If you're experiencing a few of these symptoms all at the same time, you'll want to be sure to implement the next tip: Be ready.
#3: Be Ready ~ Just in Case
Would it be great if Aunt Flo made an announcement each month like, ”Batten down the hatches! I’m on my way!”
In reality, it's more like, “Ready or not ... here I come!“
That’s why a massive step towards how to prevent leaking period at school is to be ready and waiting for her to appear.
When you think it's almost time, break out the preventive measures, such as:
- Wearing dark jeans, skirts or leggings. That way, should you happen to get any unexpected bleeding, the dark color will help hide it.
- Wearing a panty liner, maxi pad, or menstrual cup.
- Wearing period undies like ONDRwear. Our period panties come in every size from XS to XL and include all the styles you love, like:
- Bikini
- Thong
- Boy short; and
- High-waisted brief
#4: Always Keep a Stash of Period Supplies
One of the best ways to avoid a period leak at school is to keep an emergency stash of period necessities in a safe spot, like in your:
- Locker
- Purse
- Backpack
- Pencil case; or
- Notebook
Before your next period comes, be sure you’re stocked up on everything you might need, such as:
- Pantyliners
- Maxi pads
- Period panties and regular underwear
- A menstrual cup
- Washable pads
- Tampons
- Pain relievers; and
- A plastic bag to put soiled clothes in, just in case you do have a leak
Not only will your period supplies be ready and waiting for you when you need them, but you might be able to save the day for a friend if her “friend” shows up unexpectedly.
#5: Act Fast
Code red.
You’re sitting in English class reading the next chapter in The Scarlet Letter, and you suddenly feel the unmistakable sensation of your period announcing its arrival.
The key here is to stay chill and get to the bathroom asap.
Approaching your teacher with a simple, “I need to use the bathroom,” should suffice, but if necessary, you can always pull the “It’s a girl problem,” card.
Top 5 Tips for What to Do When Your Period Leaks at School
Okay, so it happened.
You’ve got a period leak at school.
Keep in mind that this happens to pretty much every female, and there’s no reason to panic.
Check out our top 5 tips for what to do if you leak period at school.
#1: Play it Cool
Most of the time, if you happen to have a period leak at school, no one is going to know about it unless you tell them. And you don't need to share details unless you want to.
If you happen to wind up requiring a change of clothes, just tell any inquiring minds that you spilled something on yourself and needed to change.
#2: Grab a Jacket
If you’re wondering how to hide a period leak at school, one easy suggestion is to always keep a jacket or cardigan in your locker. Tie it around your waist, and you are good to go.
This idea can also give you extra peace of mind on those days when you know Aunt Flo is on her way, but you can't pinpoint her ETA.
#3: Ask for Help
“I get by with a little help from my friends,” brings on a whole new meaning when it comes to your period.
If you notice you have a period leak at school, ask for help from:
- A trusted friend
- Teacher
- School nurse; or
- Counselor
And always follow Girl Code. If you happen to notice blood on another girl's jeans or skirt, quietly make them aware of the situation and do everything you can to help them out.
We’re in this together.
#4: Call for Backup
So what should you do if you happen to have a period leak at school that’s bad enough to require a change of clothes?
If you drove yourself to school, you should be able to go to the office and get an excuse to run home.
If not, you may have to call a friend or family member to bring you a fresh change of clothes.
#5: Use TP
You breeze by the bathroom on your way to your algebra final, only to realize that your period has arrived totally unexpectedly. If you run back to your locker to grab your period supplies, you'll not only be late to class, but you'll also be cutting into some of your valuable test-taking time.
If you're in a desperate predicament, you can always roll up some toilet paper to create a make-shift pad.
Just take a long piece of toilet paper and wrap it around your hand about ten times or so. Put it lengthwise in your underwear, and take another long piece of TP and wrap it around the pad and your undies another 8-10 times to keep it securely in place.
That should do the trick until you ace your final and can get to your locker for supplies.
ONDRwear Period Undies Can Take the Fear Out of Having a Period Leak at School
At ONDRwear, we know that having a period leak at school is every girl's worst nightmare.
That's one of the reasons we created our period-proof undies.
ONDRwear leak-proof period underwear comes in all shapes and styles, including:
- Thong
- Boy short
- Bikini; and
- High-waisted brief
And besides being super comfy, ONDRwear products are:
- Plant-based
- Lightweight
- Machine washable
- Ultra-absorbent; and
- Odor-resistant (which means you can say goodbye to that funky period smell)
They’re perfect for wearing on those uncertain days leading up to your period and will keep you feeling fresh and confident all cycle long.
Click here to give ONDRwear a try today.
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