In reply to Annabel Tall:
> I’m getting on a bit now (50+) but don’t youngsters (and older women) still all talk about all this stuff freely?
My experience with supervising DofE at a girls' school suggests it depends...
Some girls seem quite happy to discuss it, some don't.
I was once waiting for a group to arrive at a checkpoint. I could see them coming across the plain. Then they disappeared. For ages. When they finally arrived, I asked what had happened, and they happily explained that one of them had started her period, and they had to root around for supplies. This lead to a conversation about making sure they always packed appropriate supplies, and how to deal with waste, etc.
Peeing and pooing is similar. some have no qualms about it. Some are very reluctant. I remember one girl who was clearly bursting, and told her to go and pee behind some nearby bushes. She reluctantly went off, but when she came back, she was bursting with pride with herself for managing her first 'wild wee'.
I try to normalise it, so I prefer not to do the 'if you prefer to talk to a female staff member' unless they are really uncomfortable about talking about with me.