As You Wait For Your First Period You May Have Lots Of Questions About What Will Happen What Will It Feel Like What Do I Need To Do To Prepare How Do I Use A Tampon
Getting your first period is an important milestone in a young womans life. It signals the beginning of a long phase of life that you may be fertile. This means that if you have sexual contact, you might get pregnant. While you may have learned about menstruation in school, you probably have questions about what to expect. This section is designed to provide you with all the information you need as you approach getting your period for the first time.
Explore Your First Period:
A Warm Bath With Baking Soda
Hot water stimulates blood circulation throughout the body, which is very important to having a period.
- Put 5 spoonfuls of baby powder or baking soda into your bathwater.
- While taking a bath, try to let the water out of the bathtub as much as possible and stay in the tub for 15 minutes.
You can achieve the same effect by putting warm water bottles on your abdomen or back. You should wear these hot packs for a few hours before trying to induce menstruation.
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Health Conditions That Can Make Breast Pain Worse
If you suffer from
- Fibrocystic breast disease
then you are more likely to get breast swelling. Although most women will experience some breast tenderness leading up to their periods, risk factors may include
- a family history of breast tenderness before or during periods
- a high-fat diet
- too much caffeine .
Most of the time breast pain will go away by the time your period is over. However, if you notice any other symptoms, such as those listed below, see your doctor:
- Bloody or clear discharge from the nipple
- A new lump that does not go away after your period
- Persistent and unexplained pain
- Redness, pus around the nipple, or fever, all of which could indicate an infection.
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Get Tips On How To Track And Predict Your Next Menstrual Cycle And Why You Should
Whether you call it your monthly visitor, your period, or one of many other creative euphemisms, menstruation is a mainstay in most womens lives from early adolescence until menopause in their 40s and 50s. Because of the routine nature of this biological process, its easy to become complacent about tracking it.
Keeping track of your period is important for a number of reasons, primarily health-related. Thanks to technology, its now easier than ever to keep track of not just your menstrual cycle, but your moods, physical symptoms and even food cravings at specific times of the month.
A change in menstrual cycle is often the first obvious symptom for a number of womens health issues, some of which have no obvious connection to the reproductive organs.
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Signs Your Period Is Coming: The Takeaway
Everybodys experience of PMS symptoms is unique. And lets be honest: Managing PMS is not exactly a walk in the park. The good news is that most PMS symptoms should start to taper off as your period starts.
Tracking your cycle in Flo can be a useful tool for gathering information you can pass on to a doctor for a PMS or a PMDD diagnosis. Its also a great way to gain more control over your cycle. It helps you understand when your next period is coming and enables you to understand what factors like a lack of sleep or drinking too much coffee may intensify PMS symptoms. Recognizing the signs can help you prepare for your next period, and it can allow you more time to listen to your body and practice a bit more self-care.
References
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Who Is This Quiz For
The quiz is designed for girls aged over the age of 8 years who have not yet started their periods, but who have started to show some signs of puberty. It consists of seven simple questions relating to changes in your body that might indicate your period is on its way.
Each time you select an answer you will be given some information about the symptoms you are experiencing and what they might mean and, at the end, your result will give you an indication of whether your first period might be on its way.
Quiz: When will I get my first period?
Wondering Why You Always Feel A Little Strange When Your Period Is About To Arrive Well Thats Your Bodys Alarm Bell Ringing To Indicate That Aunt Flo Is Round The Corner
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What is the most common way to keep a tab on your period? Well, you could either go by the date of your last period or you could take the help of an app. But what if we tell you that you dont need anything of this sort? Yes, your body has its ways of telling you when your period is round the corner.
Basically, these signs show up because of cyclic changes in your hormones. Your body starts to experience some hormonal fluctuations that may cause these signs to appear. Also, chemical changes in the brain, like fluctuation in serotonin , can also cause premenstrual signs .
According to Dr Aruna Kalra, senior gynaecologist and obstetrician at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, these signs are very common. Almost 90 percent of females experience PMS signs a few days before the start of their menstrual cycle. However, the signs and symptoms may vary from woman to woman. Some experience mild signs, while others have severe PMS signs.
But what are these signs?
Here are 10 signs that knock at your door when youre about to have your period
1. Abdominal cramps
Abdominal cramps is the first sign that you will notice. It means your periods are going to ring the doorbell anytime soon. These cramps are caused due to uterine contractions. These contractions play a critical part in shedding the inner lining of the uterus, when theres no pregnancy. These cramps usually show up one to two days before your period.
2. Acne
3. Sore or heavy breasts
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Raised Basal Body Temperature
If youve been using a special basal body thermometer to track your first morning temperature, you might notice that it rises around 1 degree when you conceive and stays elevated throughout your pregnancy.
Though not a foolproof early pregnancy symptom , it could give you advance notice of the big news.
Will I Have Periods Forever
You wont have a period for the rest of your life, but youll probably have it for quite some time.
Most people will have a menstrual period until they go through menopause. Menopause occurs when the hormones that increased to trigger your first period begin to decrease.
Menopause typically begins between ages 45 to 55.
Stress and other underlying conditions can also cause your period to stop.
If you begin experiencing any unusual symptoms alongside a missed period, talk to a doctor or other healthcare provider.
If you want to stop having a period, you may consider talking to your healthcare provider about hormonal birth control.
Certain forms allow you to skip your period whenever you like or stop it entirely.
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Stress Can Cause Your Period To Be Late
It is not only a drain on your mind, but can also cause mental problems. It can also cause physical symptoms such as irregular periods. Dr. Higgins states that minor, daily stress wont usually affect your period. But, big-time stressors can disrupt your bodys delicate hormonal balance and cause your period to be late. Here are some examples of major stress:
- Death of a loved-one
- Major life events such as a marriage.
What Is The Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle is the monthly hormonal cycle a females body goes through to prepare for pregnancy. Your menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of your period up to the first day of your next period. Your hormone levels usually change throughout the menstrual cycle and can cause menstrual symptoms.
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Are Hormones To Blame
When you get your period, your levels of estrogen and progesterone are low.
In the first 4 or 5 days, your pituitary gland increases output of follicle-stimulating hormone and your ovaries start producing more estrogen.
Between days 5 and 7, estrogen levels typically crest, your pituitary gland releases a surge of luteinizing hormone , and your progesterone levels start to increase.
A shift in hormone levels could create the appearance of a stop-and-start pattern.
Period flow or regularity issues could be affected by a variety of health conditions, including:
- Fibroids, which are abnormal benign growths that develop in or on the uterus.
- Endometriosis, which occurs when endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome , which occurs when the ovaries make large amounts of androgens . Sometimes, small fluid-filled sacs form in the ovaries.
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Abdominal Bloating Gas And Pain
Do you feel your abdomen is swelling up just before period?
Abdomen bloating is swelling and tightening experienced by women which could occur for many reasons. If you are expecting your period, a hard, distended and tight abdomen may indicate your period will start soon.
Other causes of bloating are pregnancy, anorexia nervosa , ovarian cyst and hormone imbalance.
What to do?
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Abdominal Bloating And Water Retention
If youve noticed your jeans are tighter than usual around your period, chances are its your period thats causing the snug fit. One common PMS symptom is bloating or water retention just before the period begins. This symptom can appear one to two weeks before your period is due, making it a good sign your period is coming.
What Types Of Annuities Do Not Allow Withdrawals
Immediate annuities provide a guaranteed income stream for life, but they do not offer annuity withdrawals for regular liquidity. Annuitized payments do not offer withdrawals either. This means that once you start receiving payments from an immediate annuity, you cannot stop or change the amount you receive. Therefore, if you need access to your money sooner than expected, an immediate annuity may not be the right choice.
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Top 5 Reasons Why Your Period Is Late
Medically reviewed by Sophia Yen, MD, MPH Written by Pandia Health Editorial Team
NOTE: If you are 12 years old, your period wont be regular for another 2 years!
Most of us have been there you check the date on your period tracke app and realize youre supposed to meet Aunt Flo today. But she never comes and then a few more days pass and she still doesnt arrive. Seriously, the one time you want your period and it doesnt show up?! There are many explanations for why your period is late. Check out our video on the top reasons why your cycle is taking longer than usual to start here!
What To Do When Your Period Is Late
Its important to be aware of what is normal for you so that you can spot atypical changes to your period. If your period is much later than normal and none of these external factors are playing a part, then make sure you check in with a doctor to get some answers or find a solution.
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If Its Meant To Grow Into Something More It Will
Sarah said: Situationships can turn into relationships, especially when someone is engaging in a situationship to take things slow and test the waters with how they feel about each other.
They may also be dating other people and want to sexually explore, liberate or emotionally connect.
Whatever is meant for you in life will never pass you by and so trust the process of situationships because if its meant to grow into something more significant it will, if thats what both of you want.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing .
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Are There Vitamins Or Minerals That Will Improve My Symptoms
Although more research studies are needed, there are certain vitamins and minerals that may help PMS symptoms. Several research studies show that calcium can significantly decrease many of the symptoms associated with PMS. Make sure that you are getting the recommended 1300 mg/day from calcium-rich foods or drinks or from supplements. Other supplements that could help with PMS symptoms are magnesium , vitamin B6 , and vitamin E , but more research is needed. Check with your health care provider about whether you should try them and how much you should take because taking high doses of supplements can have unpleasant or dangerous side effects. For example, high doses of magnesium may cause diarrhea in some people.
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What Happens During A Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle begins with the first day of bleeding and ends the day before the next menstrual bleeding.
During the follicular phase, the levels of estrogen start to rise. Estrogen plays an important role in keeping you healthy, especially by helping keep bones strong as you get older. Estrogen also makes the lining of the uterus grow and thicken. This lining of the womb is a place that will nourish the embryo when pregnancy occurs. At the same time, an egg in one of the ovaries starts to mature. On about day 14 of an average 28-day cycle, the egg leaves the ovary. This is called ovulation, and it is at this point that the luteal phase begins.
If it gets fertilized, the embryo travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus. Hormone levels rise and help prepare the uterine lining for pregnancy. A person with a uterus who ovulates is most likely to get pregnant from having sex during the 4-5 days before or on the day of ovulation. Women with cycles that are shorter or longer than average may ovulate before or after day 14.
Things That Can Make Period Fatigue Worse
Period fatigue could also be caused by:
- Low iron levels. Sometimes heavy bleeding during a period could lead to anaemia due to an iron deficiency, and this can cause weakness and fatigue because iron is so important for carrying oxygen in the blood.
- Sudden changes in blood sugar. Some women may get certain cravings around their periods which can lead to eating too many sweets or food with added sugar. Eating food like this can cause a spike in blood sugar, followed by an energy crash.
- Disturbed sleep. If your period pain keeps you up at night, or mood changes make it hard to stay asleep, its natural to feel tired the next day.
If your fatigue is debilitating or interferes with your daily activities, or it doesnt go away after your period, talk to your doctor to get it checked out.
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Your Body Feels Sore And Achy
Youre In Early Menopause
Early menopause, also known as premature ovarian insufficiency, happens when your ovaries stop working before you turn 40.
When your ovaries are not working the way they should, they stop producing multiple hormones, including estrogen. As your estrogen levels drop to all-time lows, you will begin to experience the symptoms of menopause.
Late or missed periods may be an early sign. You may also experience:
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How Often Should I Change My Pad Tampon Menstrual Cup Sponge Or Period Panties
Follow the instructions that came with your period product. Try to change or rinse your feminine hygiene product before it becomes soaked through or full.
- Most women change their pads every few hours.
- A tampon should not be worn for more than 8 hours because of the risk of toxic shock syndrome
- Menstrual cups and sponges may only need to be rinsed once or twice a day.
- Period panties can usually last about a day, depending on the style and your flow.
Use a product appropriate in size and absorbency for your menstrual bleeding. The amount of menstrual blood usually changes during a period. Some women use different products on different days of their period, depending on how heavy or light the bleeding is.