Period
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Menstruation:
月経, 生理 gekkei/seiri -
Menstrual cramps:
生理痛 seiri tsu -
Menstrual irregularity:
生理不順 seiri fujun
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Vaginal discharge:
おりもの orimono -
Hemorrhage:
不正出血 fusei shukketsu
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Birth Control:
避妊 hinin
References: https://tokyojet.wikia.org/, https://japanhealthinfo.com/pregnancy-and-childbirth/pregnancy-and-delivery-costs/, https://gynopedia.org/Japan#IUDs
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There is an official special menstrual leave (生理休暇 seirikyuuka) in Japan. You should find information about it in your contract.
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This leave is unpaid and Japanese people hardly take it.
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Please note that when you ask for it, a few people will have to sign on it.
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You should not let that stop you from taking it if the pain prevents you from working.
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Whether or not you are comfortable with other people knowing is up to you.
References: http://jetprogramme.org/en/gih/
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Menstrual cups, sponges, and reusable napkins can be found in Japan, but are easier to find online.
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This section lists a few JETs' recommendations.
Menstrual Cups
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Marie's tip: If you want to buy them in-store, some adult stores (yes, sex shops) have them! A few different models can be found at the "Nobunaga" adult store in Shijo (Kyoto).
Diva Cup
Sizing: https://divacup.com/how-it-works/sizing/
Buy online: https://jp.iherb.com/
Lena
Sizing: https://lenacup.com/pages/sizing-guide
Buy online: https://lenacup.com/collections/all
Luna
Sizing: https://lunacups.com/about-1
Buy online: https://lunacups.com/shop?olsPage=products
Sponges
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Better luck online.
Reusable Napkins & Liners
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Marie's tip: If you want to buy them in-store, some adult stores (yes, sex shops) have them!
⚠ All menstrual products (except plastic applicators) are burnable garbage.
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If you can't find the brand/product you like, you can buy buy online (e.g. iHerb, Amazon Japan).
Tampons
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They can be found in grocery stores, drug stores, convenience stores, etc.
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Tampons have plastic applicator, like in West.
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They are a bit tougher to find, and often come in smaller packs (although Costco and Don Quixote at least have larger packs).
Liners, Pads & Co.
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They are more popular, and can be found in jumbo packs (long liners are harder to find though).
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They can be found in grocery stores, drug stores, convenience stores, etc.
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Several brands sell scented pads, so be careful when buying since they may cause some itching, irritation and a burning sensation to some people (especially with a sensitive skin).
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Unscented (無香料 mukouryou)
Recommended by JETs
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Unscented pads (e.g. Saralie 無香料)
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Center-in
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Elis brand (e.g. Ultra Guard Pads)
⚠ If you have any concerns, please consult a specialist (i.e. OB-GYN).
Medicine
Pain Killers
If you didn’t bring medicine from you own country or ran out of it, there are a few different things you can find in Japan such as:
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EVE (イブ ibu): ibuprofen, some variants have caffeine (EVE "A", "Quick", etc.).
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Bufferin A: aspirin with an antacid.
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Bufferin EX: loxoprofen with an antacid.
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Excedrin: aspirin and acetominophen with caffeine.
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Loxonin S: loxoprofen, some variants have caffeine.
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Naproxen (ナプロキセン napurokisen): anti-inflammatory.
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Naron Ace (ナロンエース R naron esu): ibuprofen with caffeine (for pain, headaches and fever).
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Naron Tablets (ナロン錠 naron jou): acetaminophen with caffeine (for pain and headaches).
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Ringl IB (リングルアイビー ringuru aibii): ibuprofen.
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Sedes V (セデス V sedesu bi): acetaminophen with caffeine.
Note
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They are usually found in various strengths and in the same section at the pharmacy.
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Japanese medicine is usually weaker than Western one.
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⚠ Japanese OTC labels often do not provide drug interaction warnings, so if you're unsure, be safe and ask your doctor before taking anything.
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⚠ Don’t take those on an empty stomach!
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⚠ Too much acetaminophen or ibuprofen may lead to liver and kidney failure (naproxen and loxoprofen are more risky though).
The Pill
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Some people take the pill to relieve the pain during their cycle. If it's something you would like to know more about and/or want to take, please consult a specialist (i.e. OB-GYN). (Depending on your OB-GYN, you might be able to get a prescription of three months of pill at the time instead of just one month of pill and go back every month to get it.)
Heat Pads
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You can use special stick‐on heat pads (カイロ kairo) on your abdomen.
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You can stick them over your clothes if they’re too much on your skin.
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Look for the word 貼る/はる haru, which means "to stick to".
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⚠ Some stick-on heat pads are only for clothes and are not made for direct skin contact! The sticky side gets very hot and can cause allergic reactions when applied onto the skin.
Factors
Any of those factors may lead to irregular or heavy period, or even a sudden break:
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Stress
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Change in routine/diet
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Weight changes
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Medication
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Birth control
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Pregnancy
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Health issues (e.g. perimenopause polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, thyroid problems, fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID))
At Home
We are NOT specialists, but there are a few measures you can take to help regulate your periods:
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Establish a regular routine.
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Eat a balanced diet.
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Get regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight.
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Manage and reduce your stress.
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Take medicines and birth control as prescribed.
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⚠ If you have any concerns, please consult a specialist (i.e. OB-GYN).
Other
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Don’t forget the bidet function on those fancy toilets if you’re up to using it! Unfortunately, not all washrooms have such fancy toilets... or even Western‐style toilets.
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Some schools have Western‐style toilets in one location only if they have one. You may still want to check all the stalls in case one is hiding in the back.
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Some people take the pill to regulate their cycle. If it's something you would like to know more about and/or want to take, please consult a specialist (i.e. OB-GYN). (Depending on your OB-GYN, you might be able to get a prescription of three months of pill at the time instead of just one month of pill and go back every month to get it.)