How To Tell If Your Period Is Over

When Should I Expect My First Period

Most girls get their first period somewhere between the ages of 10 and 14, with an average of just over 12 years old. Its hard to tell when your first period will arrive. It usually happens about two years after the first signs of puberty , and about a year after you begin growing pubic hair. You will also notice white or yellowish vaginal discharge in the few months leading up to your period.

There are numerous factors that are thought to influence the age of the first period, including:

• Nutrition
• Parental education
• Illness and stress

The average age of the first period has been decreasing over time. In 1900 in the United States, the average age of the first period was between 14 and 15 years of age. The decreasing age of the onset of menstruation seems to have levelled off now at 12.

There is no way to predict exactly when you will get your first period, and there is nothing you can do to make it start, except wait. If you are worried about your first period, talk to your family doctor.

If you are sexually active, you will need to consider the possibility that you could get pregnant once you have your period. In fact, you can even get pregnant if youve never menstruated, since its possible to ovulate before your first period. There are many forms of birth control available read about them here. You are also at risk of sexually transmitted infections if you are sexually active learn how to protect yourself.

What Do I Need To Do To Prepare For My First Period

There is nothing in particular you need to do to prepare for your first period, besides having feminine hygiene products and over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen on hand. If you happen to get your period with no access to menstrual products, toilet paper will work in an emergency. If you get your first period at school, your teacher or school nurse will have a pantiliner or pad on hand.

There are a variety of menstrual products available to you:

Disposable pads

These absorbent pads have an adhesive backing that sticks to the inside of your underwear. They are available in different lengths and absorbencies, and some have adhesive wings that wrap around the sides of your underwear. Disposable pads should be changed every 4-6 hours and are thrown out after a single use.

Pantiliners

These are small, thin, disposable absorbent pads that can be used on their own on days of light flow. They can also be used in combination with a tampon, in case of leaks or discharge.

Reusable pads

These are usually made of cotton, bamboo, or other natural absorbent fibres, and are often available at health food stores. They can be washed with detergent and reused. Some have velcro tabs to secure them around your underwear.

Tampons

Menstrual cup

My Period Is Late: Is There Any Reason To Be Worried

Numerous studies show that a slight variation in the length of your menstrual cycle is normal.

More than 100 women with normal menstrual cycle lengths took part in a large-scale study that showed interesting results: cycle variability of more than seven days was observed in 42.5 percent of the participants! As you can see, a one to two-day variation is very common.

Track my period

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How To Tell The Difference Between Spotting And Your Period

The biggest difference between spotting and your period is the amount of blood. A period can last for several days and require a tampon or pad to control your flow. However, spotting produces much less blood and doesnt typically require the use of these products.

When the bleeding occurs, also, is a good indicator of whether its your period or spotting. Most women generally have an idea of when their period will come and how long itll last, so if you notice bleeding off cycle but its not as heavy as your regular period, then its likely spotting. The color of the blood also is different. Blood produced during your period often is darker than the blood that appears when youre spotting.

Another good indicator the bleeding may be due to spotting, is if you dont have any other menstrual symptoms, like breast tenderness or cramping. If you normally have these symptoms right before your period, but they arent present during the time you notice some irregular bleeding, then its probably spotting.

For How Long Will I Receive Benefits

The number of weeks for which you may receive benefits is determined at the beginning of your benefit period and depends on the following:

• the regional rate of unemployment and
• the number of hours of insurable employment that you accumulated in your qualifying period.

You can receive regular benefits for a period that varies from 14 to 45 weeks. However, the benefits corresponding to the number of weeks payable must be paid within a maximum of 52 weeks following the start date of your benefit period. If, for any reason, you interrupt your benefit claim, you cannot reactivate it after this 52-week period, even if you have not yet received all the benefits to which you were entitled.

Note The number of weeks for which you may receive benefits does not change even if you move to another region after your benefit period begins.

You will stop receiving benefits once the first of the following has occurred:

• all the weeks of benefits to which you were entitled have been paid to you
• the maximum duration of 52 weeks was reached or
• you requested to have your active benefit claim terminated to file a new claim .

Table 3 Number of weeks of benefits that will be paid based on the number of hours of insurable employment and the regional rate of unemployment

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What Does A 2

Bleeding for less than 3 days can be normal for some women, particularly if you have always had periods that lasted 2 days. If however, you have had a change from longer periods to shorter bleeds, it can be a sign of a hormonal imbalance.

Most commonly this change in period length is contributed to a decline in estrogen – the hormone responsible for building up the lining of our uterus which is shed at menstruation. Lower levels of estrogen mean that your body struggles to build a thick, healthy lining in preparation for a potential implantation of an embryo if you were to fall pregnant that cycle.

Shorter, lighter periods are often accompanied by a change in period colour from bright red to a light pink, watery period. Find out more about what your period colour and flow is telling you about your hormones in this post.

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What Is The Normal Period Length For People On Hormonal Birth Control

Hormonal birth control options like the pill, vaginal ring, or patch control the release and regulation of hormones like estrogen and progesterone within your body. When used correctly, the hormones in your HBC prevent your ovaries from preparing and releasing eggs .

Your number of bleeding days and cycle length will depend on the type of HBC you use. Bleeding typically happens during your âno hormoneâ days . The bleeding you experience while using hormonal birth control is called withdrawal bleeding, and is not considered a menstrual period. Withdrawal bleeding is caused by the decline in reproductive hormones in your body during days when you get low or no hormones from your pill, patch, or ring .

Many people experience lighter bleeding and some donât bleed at all while using hormonal birth control . When affected by hormonal birth control, the lining of your uterus doesn’t thicken as much as it does without hormonal birth control. This typically results in lighter, shorter, or occasionally absent âperiods,â especially for people who have been using hormonal birth control for many months or years.

Some people also decide to skip any bleeding while using HBC, by skipping over the âno-hormoneâ days. Some hormonal birth control options have a cycle that mimics a normal cycle length , while other types of hormonal birth control are continuous, which limits bleeding to once every three months, or even once a year .

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Exercise Or Lack Of Body Fat

You may be an athlete who is neither over- nor underweight . However, its not your weight that really impacts your reproductive cycleits the amount of fat.

Athletes may have a high percentage of muscle and a low percentage of body fat. This can cause their menstrual cycles to be irregular or even stop completely. Excessive exercise can also cause your periods to become irregular or stop.

What Happens At Menopause

Women are born with about a million eggs in each ovary. By puberty about 300,000 eggs remain, and by menopause there are no active eggs left.

On average, a woman in Australia will have 400-500 periods in her lifetime. From about 35-40 years of age, the number of eggs left in your ovaries decreases more quickly and you ovulate less regularly until your periods stop. Menopause means the end of ovulation.

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What Does It Mean When Your Period Stops Early

Bleeding for less than 3 days can be normal for some women, particularly if you have always had periods that lasted 2 days. If however, you have had a change from longer periods to shorter bleeds, it can be a sign of a hormonal imbalance. Most commonly this change in period length is contributed to a decline in estrogen – the hormone responsible for building up the lining of our uterus which is shed at menstruation. Lower levels of estrogen mean that your body struggles to build a thick, healthy lining in preparation for the potential implantation of an embryo if you were to fall pregnant that cycle.

Cervical And Endometrial Cancer

Cervical and endometrial cancers can cause changes to your menstrual cycle, along with bleeding between periods or heavy periods. Bleeding during or after intercourse and unusual discharge are other signs and symptoms of these cancers.

Remember that these symptoms are more commonly caused by other issues. Speak to your doctor if youre concerned.

There are several possible causes of irregular periods, many of which require medical treatment. Make an appointment to see your doctor if:

• your periods stop for more than 3 months and youre not pregnant
• your periods become irregular suddenly
• you have a period that lasts longer than 7 days
• you need more than one pad or tampon every hour or two
• you develop severe pain during your period
• your periods are less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart
• you experience spotting between periods
• you experience other symptoms, such as unusual discharge or fever

Your doctor will ask about your medical history and want to know about:

• any stress or emotional issues youre experiencing
• any changes to your weight
• your sexual history
• how much you exercise

Medical tests may also be used to help diagnose the cause of your irregular bleeding, including:

• a pelvic examination

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Extreme Weight Loss And Eating Disorders

Excessive or rapid weight loss can cause your period to stop. Not consuming enough calories can interfere with the production of the hormones needed for ovulation.

Youre considered underweight if you have a body mass index lower than 18.5. Along with stopped periods, you may also experience fatigue, headaches, and hair loss.

See your doctor if:

How Can Women Take Care Of Bleeding And Symptoms

You can use pads, tampons, or menstrual cups to manage bleeding. Be sure to change tampons at least every 4 to 8 hours. Pads or menstrual cups may be best at night.

Many women can improve their symptoms by getting regular exercise and eating a healthy diet. It also may help to limit alcohol and caffeine. Try to reduce stress.

A heating pad, hot water bottle, or warm bath also can help with cramps. You can take an over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen or naproxen before and during your period to reduce pain and bleeding.

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Should I Continue Using Birth Control During The Transition To Menopause

Yes. You can still get pregnant during perimenopause, the transition to menopause, even if you miss your period for a month or a few months. During perimenopause you may still ovulate, or release an egg, on some months.

But it is impossible to know for sure when you will ovulate. If you dont want to get pregnant, you should continue to use birth control until one full year after your last period. Talk to your doctor about your birth control needs. Learn more about different .

You cant get pregnant after menopause, but anyone who has sex can get . If you are not in a monogamous relationship in which you and your partner have sex with each other and no one else, protect yourself by using a male condom or correctly every time you have vaginal, oral, or anal sex. After menopause you may be more likely to get an STI from sex without a condom. Vaginal dryness or irritation is more common after menopause and can cause small cuts or tears during sex, exposing you to STIs.

What Will My First Period Feel Like

You may find your first period comes and goes with very little in the way of symptoms, or you may find you experience quite a bit of discomfort. Common symptoms include:

• Cramping in the lower abdomen
• Breast tenderness
• Diarrhea or nausea
• Dizziness

Most of these symptoms do not last long, and can be treated with ibuprofen or other over-the-counter pain relief medications. A heating pad or hot water bottle on the abdomen or lower back can help ease pain in these areas. More details on menstrual pain and other symptoms can be found here .

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If I Am Entitled To Receive Benefits What Amount Can I Expect To Receive

For most people, the basic rate for calculating benefits is 55% of the weekly average insurable earnings. Effective January 1, 2018, the maximum yearly insurable earnings is $51,700. This means that you can receive a maximum amount of $547 per week.

Note These amounts are reviewed each year. For the most recent amounts, visit the Service Canada website.

If you are a member of a low-income family, your benefit rate may be higher.

Your EI benefits are taxable. This means that federal and provincial or territorial taxes, where applicable, will be deducted from your payment.