Now you’re well into puberty you may start experiencing new physical feelings and emotions, like finding yourself attracted to that certain someone…
Finding yourself being drawn to someone is called ‘sexual attraction’ and is totally normal. Who knows why we feel attracted to some people and not others — it could be to do with looks, personality or whatever you think is attractive in a person — but one thing's for sure, it’s different for everyone.
We’ve all had them. Whether it’s on a friend, someone in your class, a teacher, sports coach, TV or celeb, having a crush is normal and can be exciting. As you get older, they often subside or you find you like someone else so don’t panic — you won’t feel awkward around that cute teacher forever! Your crush might even be someone of the same sex. It’s your body’s natural curiosity towards others and could be the start of your sexual preferences developing. As with any new feelings, give them time to develop, don’t rush, and remember everyone is different. Also, don’t be put off if your friends don’t get why you’re attracted to a certain person... At least you don't have to argue about which one of you they'd choose!
Try not to worry about how your crush feels about you and all the things you do; chances are they’re more occupied with trying to perfect a TikTok dance or hanging out with friends. Try to relax, be cool, but above all, be yourself. Remember, you should always try and do what makes you happy and comfortable. If they’re interested in you, they’ll want to get to know you for you! As we said, not all crushes last forever, so try to remember there will be others that you like in the future – there are lots of people out there!
You may notice new sensations in your body now and these are, again, normal! Things like spotting your crush, reading something, watching TV or a movie that shows romance or something sexual, can all make you feel a little excited in different parts of your body. Don’t worry, this is sexual arousal and it’s the physical reaction to that attraction, conjuring sexual feelings. It’s not wrong if you want to act on it but it’s worth remembering that any kind of sexual relationship with a boy or girl under the age of 16 is illegal.
It’s natural to be curious about your own body, whether you’re a boy or a girl, and how it works and feels when touched. It often results in people masturbating — when they touch their own genitalia (your “down there” bits) and might feel tingly inside. It’s both natural and instinctive, but some people are frightened by how it makes them feel and believe masturbation is wrong or harmful. It’s perfectly normal to get to know yourself but it’s totally up to you if you choose to do it or not!
One thing worth remembering with all things sexual is to not allow peer pressure to influence you, part of becoming an independent young woman is embracing your right to choose. A peer is someone of a similar age, who you might share likes and dislikes with and can be a close friend or even just someone in your class. When that relationship turns into something less fun and you feel pressured to act, think or look a different way, that’s called peer pressure and it’s not cool – especially when it comes to anything sexual. If something is not right for you, don’t be afraid to say no. If you find that any kind of peer pressure is getting too much it’s worth having a chat with a trusted adult, guardian or parent. They will have experienced similar things at school and sometimes even at work so they’ll probably have some great advice for you. Remember, you’re doing a fab job of navigating puberty and together we’ve got this!
Here at Lil-Lets, we have designed our Teens range specially for younger girls to use during their first period and the few years following this because we know starting your period can be a daunting time, made worse by unsuitable sanitary wear!
Most tampons are made from a cotton like material, which is compressed into a small cylinder shape. Tampons are worn inside your vagina to absorb menstrual fluid. There are two different types of tampon, known as applicator and non-applicator and these give you a choice about how you insert them.
Menstrual blood is not the same as the blood you see when you cut yourself elsewhere on the body. Menstrual fluid lines the walls of your uterus and is called endometrium; this is a mixture of blood, tissue cells and natural secretions from the vagina and cervix and is not toxic or harmful in any way.
On average you can menstruate for up to 40 years, with 13 periods each year, that’s a whopping 520 periods in a lifetime! So now you can see why it’s important to understand your menstrual cycle and use the correct products for your flow.
It can look like there is an awful lot of blood being lost but don't worry! You’ll be surprised to learn that for people with an average menstrual flow, no more than 2.5 tablespoons or an egg cup full of blood is released each month.
Menstrual fluid is not always red in colour – it can vary from very light brown to dark red (almost black) and this is perfectly normal. Your period may be lighter in colour at the start or you may only experience a lighter colour on the last couple of days... It all depends on your individual flow!
You may have heard the rumour that periods stop in water due to water pressure, or depending on how cold the water is and therefore you don’t need to use any protection at all. This is NOT TRUE, menstrual fluid is released when the muscles surrounding your uterus contract and they can do this anywhere and anytime, even in water. So make sure you're always protected - a tampon is the best option because it's worn internally.
Don’t flush your used tampon down the loo! Instead roll it up in tissue and pop it in a bin in the toilets or with other household waste.
Breast development can start from the age of 7 -15 with the average being around 9-13, so don’t worry if your friends start developing or wearing bras before you, we are all different and it’s not a competition!
First off, don't panic, it happens to all of us at some point in our lives! The key is to treat the stain as soon as possible with cold water. Hot water causes the stain to heat and seep deeper into the fabric, so cold water is absolutely key! Hold the stained item taut under running cold water and you may find this gets all of the blood out. If not, give the stain a rub with some soap or laundry detergent and put it in the washing machine. Remember, some stains can be really stubborn so don't give up if it doesn't work straight away, they may just need another wash. Also, if you're pushed for time and can't wash your items straight away, pop them in cold water to soak - it'll make it much easier to deal with the stain later if it hasn't had the opportunity to dry!
Ok, so let’s park what’s going on inside your body for a sec and think about the changes you’re noticing on the outside.
Find out moreAt Lil-Lets, we know that you have a lot of questions about your first period. Join us as we answer the most frequent queries we get asked.
Find out moreAt Lil-Lets, we know that you have a lot of questions about your first period. Join us as we answer the most frequent queries we get asked.
Find out more