"What an excellent workshop! Cycle Prep explains the complex science of the menstrual cycle in a way that is both understandable and engaging for young girls. Being prepared is key, so I recommend this to all young girls and their parents well before they reach menarche." -- Rebecca Sweeney, MD
Cycle Prep™ Workshops respect the unique responsibility that adults have to introduce the young girls in their lives to the topics of cycles, periods, and body changes. We believe that parents are the primary educators of their children in all things, but sometimes it's helpful to have a professional begin the conversation!
The Summa Momma has worked with couples and women in fertility education since 2013. Through instruction in Natural Family Planning, I have come to appreciate the value of educating girls about their cycles from the very beginning. My new workshop is designed to introduce girls to menstrual cycles and periods in a positive, adult-supported environment through age-appropriate science, hands-on learning and honest conversations about what to expect (or not expect!) as girls begin their cycles. Though Cycle Prep is not a specifically Catholic or religious workshop, it overtly encourages respect for our bodies' design in a way that does not conflict with Church teaching on marriage, chastity and sex.
What makes Cycle Prep Workshops unique?
- Body-positive language helps girls adjust to changes in their bodies as they approach the onset of their first period
- Science-based presentation of the cycle empowers girls to know and respect their body
- Focus on appreciating how cycles are a healthy part of how female bodies were designed to function
- Give girls the tools to create a Culture of Care for self and others, so that we can end the stigma of menstruation
What the workshop will cover:
- Female reproductive anatomy and function
- The function of basic reproductive hormones in the context of the menstrual cycle
- The function of the menstrual cycle as a means to eventually carry a baby AND as an indicator of overall health
- Criteria to help girls determine if their cycles fall into a healthy, normal range of presentation or if they should seek help from a trusted adult
- Personal care and hygiene around menstruation and throughout the cycle
- How to create a positive culture of girls supporting girls around menstruation
What the workshop does NOT cover:
- How to chart or interpret fertility indicators to determine a fertile window
- Male reproductive anatomy and function
- Mechanics or theology of sexual intercourse
- Other puberty changes (we are focusing solely on menarche)
Want to learn more? Watch my preview video here:
Want a sneak peak on how Cycle Prep introduces certain ideas?
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