What Age Do You Normally Get Your Period

What Happens If You Get Your Period At 10

Of course, whether you got your period at 10 or 17, you shouldnt freak out and assume it means youll get ovarian cancer or be super forgetful when you hit menopause. There are many other factors that go into these diseases and your overall future health, like eating well, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking.

When Do Periods Stop

Your periods will continue until you reach the menopause, which usually happens when you are in your late 40s to mid-50s. In the UK the average age of menopause is 51.

Your periods may start to become less frequent over a few months or years before stopping altogether. In some cases they can stop suddenly.

Whats The Name Of The First Time You Get Your Period

The first time your period starts is menarche. When your period finally stops is called menopause. A normal period in girls last about 2 to 7 days and you may experience cramps or pain in your abdomen. A normal period may have blood clots sometimes.

For a menstrual cycle length of 31 days, period length of 4 days and the latest period starting on November 15th 2014: Based on your last period starting at November 15, 2014 and having a length of 4 days, the results are: Your next menstrual period is most likely to start on December 16, 2014 You next period will end on December 19, 2014

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Can I Get Pregnant

The short answer? Yes. Pregnancy is possible anytime semen comes into contact with the vagina.

Although the onset of menstruation is widely regarded as the start of your reproductive years, its possible to become pregnant before youve had a period.

It all comes down to your hormones. In some cases, your body may begin to release ovulation-causing hormones long before it triggers the start of menstruation.

And when you do begin menstruation, its possible to get pregnant if you have sex during your period. It ultimately comes down to where you are in your menstrual cycle.

Talk to a trusted adult or reach out to your healthcare provider if:

• You havent started your period by age 15.
• Youve had your period for about two years and it isnt regular.
• You experience bleeding between your periods.
• You experience severe pain that prevents you from completing daily activities.
• Your bleeding is so heavy that you have to change your pad or tampon every one to two hours.
• Your periods last longer than seven days.

If you call to make an appointment, tell the person whos scheduling it that youre having problems with your period.

They may ask you to write down details about:

• when your most recent period started
• when your most recent period ended
• when you first noticed your irregular bleeding or other symptoms

Your Period Changes Throughout Your Life

Just when you start to feel like you can predict exactly when your period is going to show, everything can change. For that, you can thank the hormone shifts that happen throughout your lifetime.

Once you get your very first period, your cycles may be longer, meaning more time may pass between when one period starts to the next. A typical cycle for a teenage girl may be 21 to 45 days. Over time, they get shorter and more predictable, averaging about 21 to 35 days.

Hormone changes that happen during perimenopause — the years before menopause when your body starts to make less estrogen — can throw you for a loop. The time from one period to the next may get shorter or longer, and you may have heavier or lighter bleeding during your period. This phase can last up to 10 years before you start menopause and stop getting your period for good.

Gradual life changes are normal, but sudden, unusual issues like very heavy bleeding or missed periods are not. Talk with your doctor if you notice that something seems off.

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I Started My Period At Age 10 My Mom Made It The Best Day Ever

My first memory of my mom is of her chopping wood for the stove that heated our house. I loved to watch her stand logs on a stump in our front yard, and swing her ax cleanly through the center of each one with a satisfying thunk, come rain or shine or, in this particular memory, snow.

A stranger would probably have remarked on her surprising strength, but by the time I could form memories, I was already used to it. When my mom put her mind to something, from chopping wood to surviving poverty to becoming one of the first women on the local sheriffs department, she didnt care what people assumed she was capable of. She just did it.

My mom valued education in all its forms. Growing up as one of six siblings, in a small house in Kokomo, Indiana, college was a dream that was beyond her familys financial reach . But for me, her only child, she wanted nothing more than a good education. This included good health and sex education, which had been gravely lacking in her own childhood.

Less than 10% of girls in the U.S. start their periods before age 11. My mom was one of those few, and her experience was traumatic.

So, she made a point to educate me about periods from a young age, using simple, friendly language that she knew Id understand. She became an expert at quelling doubts and fears before they ever had a chance to settle in my brain.

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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.

Recommended Reading: Negative Pregnancy Test But No Period

What Is A Normal Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle is a term used to describe the sequence of events that occur within a womans body as it prepares for the possibility of pregnancy each month. A menstrual cycle is considered to begin on the first day of a period. The average cycle is 28 days long however, a cycle can range in length from 21 days to about 35 days.

The steps in the menstrual cycle are triggered by the rise and fall of chemicals in the body called hormones. The pituitary gland in the brain and the ovaries in the female reproductive tract manufacture and release certain hormones at certain times during the menstrual cycle that cause the organs of the reproductive tract to respond in certain ways. The specific events that occur during the menstrual cycle can be described as follows:

How Often Should I Change My Pad/tampon

You should change a pad before it becomes soaked with blood. Each woman decides for herself what works best. You should change a tampon at least every 4 to 8 hours. Make sure to use the lowest absorbency tampon needed for your flow. For example, use junior or regular tampons on the lightest day of your period. Using a super absorbency tampon on your lightest days increases your risk for toxic shock syndrome . TSS is a rare but sometimes deadly disease. TSS is caused by bacteria that can produce toxins. If your body can’t fight the toxins, your immune system reacts and causes the symptoms of TSS .

Young women may be more likely to get TSS. Using any kind of tampon puts you at greater risk for TSS than using pads. The Food and Drug Administration recommends the following tips to help avoid tampon problems:

• Follow package directions for insertion.
• Choose the lowest absorbency for your flow.
• Change your tampon at least every 4 to 8 hours.
• Consider switching between pads and tampons.
• Know the warning signs of TSS .
• Don’t use tampons between periods.

If you have any of these symptoms of TSS while using tampons, take the tampon out, and contact your doctor right away:

• Sudden high fever
• Muscle aches

Don’t Miss: Signs Of Starting Your First Period

Why Do Girls Get Periods

A period happens because of changes in hormones in the body. Hormones give messages to the body. These hormones cause the lining of the uterus to build up. This gets the uterus ready for an egg and sperm to attach and grow into a baby. If the woman does not get pregnant, the lining breaks down and bleeds. This same process happens every month. That is why most girls and women get their periods around once a month.

When Does The Next Period Start And End

For a menstrual cycle length of 31 days, period length of 4 days and the latest period starting on November 15th 2014: Based on your last period starting at November 15, 2014 and having a length of 4 days, the results are: Your next menstrual period is most likely to start on December 16, 2014 You next period will end on December 19, 2014

Recommended Reading: Why Am I Still Having My Period At 54

Frequently Asked Questions Expand All

If these problems do not go away after treatment or if you cannot go to school or do your normal activities, you should talk to your doctor.

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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

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When To Call A Doctor

There is a broad range of “normal” among menstruating women. Unpredictable or long menstrual cycles are normal for teenagers and women in their 40s. For teens, a normal cycle can be as short as 21 days or as long as 45 daysfootnote 2. If you are a teen, you can expect cycles to even out over time. If you are nearing the age of menopause, you can expect menstrual cycles to become longer and eventually to stop. If you are not a teen and you are not older than 40 and your cycles are shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days, there is a chance that you have a problem that needs to be checked by your doctor.

You will need a medical check by a doctor if you have any change in your menstrual pattern or amount of bleeding that affects your daily life. This includes menstrual bleeding, for three or more menstrual cycles, that:

• Lasts longer than 7 days.
• Is a sudden or big change from your usual period.
• Is very heavy. This means that you are passing large clots or soaking through your usual pads or tampons each hour for 2 or more hours.

Other symptoms you need to have checked include:

• Bleeding between menstrual periods.
• Pelvic pain that is not linked to menstrual bleeding and lasts longer than a day.

If you are a teenage girl, see your doctor if you have not started having periods by age 15.

For more information, see the topics Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding and Abnormal Uterine Bleeding.

Your Menstrual Cycle In Your 20s And Early

Your period should have become regular and predictable by this time. The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days when counting from the first day of one cycle to the first day of the next cycle. Eighty percent of cycles occur within 21 to 45days. Typically, cycles will last two to seven days.

Be sure to watch for the following:

• heavy flow or abnormal bleeding that last more than seven days
• menstrual cycles less than 21 days or longer than 38 days
• spotting or bleeding between cycles or after intercourse
• missed periods, as this could be an early sign of pregnancy or may be caused by polycystic ovary syndrome , especially if missed periods are accompanied by excess hair growth, weight gain and high cholesterol.

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