As a parent, we can feel overwhelmed with all of the important information we want our daughter to have as she prepares for her first period. Making sure she has a pad and change of underwear with her all the time is a great start. She will feel more confident if she is prepared.

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If your daughter is 8-10-years-old, now is the time to teach her more information about her ovaries. As young girls enter this age group, their ovaries are beginning to wake up and prepare for the day when she has her first ovulation followed by her first period.

This anatomy figure explains what happens to an egg at ovulation and its journey to the uterus. Here are key points for her to know at this age.

• Each month an ovary lets go of an egg. This is called ovulation.
• Stretching like arms from the uterus are two fallopian tubes, one goes out to each ovary.
• The end of the fallopian tube near the ovary has little finger-like structures that are always beating. They guide the egg into the fallopian tube.
• The egg waits for a day at the beginning of the fallopian tube and then continues on a 4-day journey toward the uterus.
• When the egg arrives in the space in the center of the uterus called the uterine cavity, it disappears.

Anatomy Figure from I’m a Girl, My Changing Body

This is about enough information for a brief chat with your daughter. She will need time to think this through, so try not to overwhelm her with lots of additional information. There is plenty of time to expand on these important concepts in the months ahead.

As your daughter approaches 8-10 years old, she will begin to notice a change in her breasts. This is a great time to teach her about the mammary gland that is forming in her breast.

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If your daughter is about 9- or 10-years-old, she is concerned about her first period. Now is a good time to talk to her about how to be prepared for anything.

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If your daughter is 8-9-years old, make sure she knows these two important pieces of information about her body as she approaches puberty.

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