You're listening to LifeKit from NPR.

Hey there, I'm Margaret Serino, a producer over at Shortwave MPR's Science Podcast.

And I'm here to give you Dear LifeKit listener, The Period Talk.

I was so embarrassed to talk about it and like learn about it.

I just felt so embarrassed.

I just instinctively remember her like taking a tampon and like putting it in a cup of water.

And it just like, whoosh.

And it was the weirdest thing in the world.

Like it was very clear that this is like a secret.

And so don't go home and ask about this.

Okay, so one day when I was in the fifth grade, they pulled all the boys into one classroom.

All the girls into another, sat us down to talk about our changing bodies.

I don't think I was able to take it too seriously.

But I'm an adult now and I'm realizing how many different areas of my life it impacts.

So I called up a couple experts and asked them, how would they give The Period Talk?

I have so many ideas.

That's Kristen Brandy, an OBGYN abortion provider and family planning doctor.

We need to talk about everything together because all of us need to be on the same page

about our bodies and how they work regardless of the equipment that you personally own.

I also talked to Mandy Tembo, who's a menstrual health researcher.

It doesn't start with periods, but it starts with teaching children to be comfortable with their bodies

and not to be embarrassed or ashamed.

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