Dads Step Up to Support Daughters Through Their Periods
When Helen got her first period at age 16, it was her dad who guided her through it. He’d always spoken openly about what to expect, helping make an often-awkward moment much easier.
While many still see menstruation as a topic for mothers, a growing number of fathers are helping their daughters navigate periods, challenging stigma, and normalizing conversations around menstrual health.
Helen’s father, John Adams, was a stay-at-home parent who educated his two daughters about period pain, sanitary products, and how menstruation might affect their daily lives.
He believes learning about periods shouldn’t be left solely to schools. Drawing guidance from women in his family, books, and online resources, he approached the topic practically and without embarrassment.
For Roy, a widowed father, the conversations began early. When his daughter was nine, he used books and demonstrations to help her feel prepared. He says honesty helps reduce fear: “I’m preparing my daughter for life… you can’t hide from it.”
Not everyone has had such supportive experiences. Hannah Routledge, who works with the nonprofit Hey Girls, recalls starting her period at age 10 in a school with no resources or sanitary bins.
Her organization launched a Pads for Dads campaign to help fathers speak confidently about periods and reduce stigma. They encourage having many small conversations, keeping products at home, and speaking just as openly with boys.
Medical experts agree. GP Dr. Nighat Arif introduced the topic to her young son when he found a tampon, explaining menstruation simply and without shame.
Consultant gynaecologist Dr. Christine Ekechi says there’s a double standard: single mothers are expected to educate sons about puberty, yet discomfort persists when fathers educate daughters. She says open discussion builds stronger relationships and helps reduce menstrual stigma in schools, workplaces, and society.
As more dads engage, advocates hope this openness will improve menstrual equity and normalize conversations that support girls’ well-being at home and beyond.
Fathers speaking candidly about menstruation reflect core child-rights principles: every child has the right to reliable health information, dignity, and support to navigate puberty confidently, with parents guiding them in their best interests.
