How To Know That Your First Period Is Coming
This article was co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD. Dr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. She received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1995 and completed her residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Pediatrics in 1998. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 59 testimonials and 91% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 609,509 times.
Getting your first period can be exciting and scary! Your first period means that you are becoming a woman, and this happens at a different time for every girl. While there’s no way to know exactly when you will get your first period, there are a few signs that you can start looking out for.
Is It Normal For A Teen To Have A Light Period
An extremely light period after several menstrual cycles could be a sign of a health problem. Athletes who consistently train hard or underweight people might have a period that completely stops, which could cause problems down the road. Those considered obese or who have excessive acne or facial hair could have a common hormonal disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome . If youre dealing with a very light period, its a good idea to visit your OB/GYN.
My Period Just Started What Should I Do
If youve started your period and dont have something to use for the blood, try not to worry. You can fashion a temporary pad out of toilet paper to hold things over until youre able to get a proper pad or tampon.
Heres how:
If youre at school, you may consider asking your teacher or nurse for a pad or tampon. Theyve been asked before trust us.
Your first period may only last a couple of days. Your first period . .
It may take a couple of months for your period to settle into a regular schedule and consistency.
Once it does, your period may last anywhere from two to seven days each month.
Although a persons first few periods are often light bringing a few spots of red-brown blood throughout the week you may have a heavier flow.
Your monthly period will follow a more consistent pattern once your hormones stabilize.
Heavier bleeding isnt necessarily cause for concern. But if you feel like youre losing too much blood, tell your guardian or talk to the school nurse.
You should also tell a trusted adult if you:
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Breast Pain And Swelling
Do you experience increased pain in your breast before your period starts? Do you notice your breasts are slightly larger before your period?
Before period, some women may experience breast pain and swelling. This is a sign of period coming soon. Some women may have a lump in their breast that disappears after period starts.
Changes in the breast before your period is due to the effect of hormones. Hormones Estrogen and progesterone, will cause your ducts to enlarge and your glands to swell.
In women with a 28-day menstrual cycle, breast tenderness usually occurs 4 days before period .
What to do?
- Drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen can ease your breast pain
- If your breast pain is persistent, you should talk to your doctor
How Does Ovulation Relate To Periods
Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovaries. The same hormones that cause the uterus lining to build up also cause an egg to leave one of the ovaries. The egg travels through a thin tube called a fallopian tube to the uterus.
If the egg is fertilized by a sperm cell, it attaches to the wall of the uterus, where over time it develops into a baby. If the egg is not fertilized, the uterus lining breaks down and bleeds, causing a period.
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Periods And Additional Needs
Periods can be especially challenging for young people with additional needs and their parents. If your child has moderate to severe intellectual disability, they might not understand why theyre experiencing changes to their body and mood.
Your child still needs to know about periods and the menstrual cycle at a level they can understand. Your GP, or other health professionals involved in your childs care, can recommend resources you can use with your child, like books and visual aids. You could also speak to your childs school about support.
How To Manage My First Period
Irrespective of whether it is your first period, or you have been menstruating for a long time now, periods can be uncomfortable and sometimes, even painful. Slight discomfort during periods is normal and nothing to be worried about.
It is important to choose a period product that you feel comfortable using and maintaining hygiene. Change your pads or tampons as frequently as you need to and rest when possible. If you experience menstrual cramps, use a hot water bottle or a heated pad for comfort. Applying heat to the lower abdominal area has proven effective in reducing the cramps.
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Preparing For The First Period
The start of menstruation is a major event in a girls life. Some girls greet those first drops of blood with joy or relief, while others feel bewildered and scared. Whatever the reaction, the arrival of the first period holds the same meaning for every girl: Its proof that shes becoming a woman.
On average, most girls start their periods when theyre 12 or 13 years old . But if you wait until your daughter gets her period to talk to her about menstruation, thats too late.
So, how do you discuss menstruation and offer education, as well as guidance and support, before the big day arrives? Or, what do you tell your son? Before you can discuss menstruation, its important to have a good understanding of how the process works.
Are There Other Period Symptoms
Besides tracking the timing of your cycle, some people also know a period is near when they develop certain symptoms that are caused by the menstrual cycle hormones. The most common symptoms reported before a period include bloating, moodiness, food cravings, breast tenderness, headache or menstrual cramps. Within a day or two after the period begins, the symptoms disappear naturally. If you experience some or all of these symptoms before most of your periods, itâs called Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS.
Also Check: First Signs Of Pregnancy Before Missed Period
When Do Most Girls Get Their Period
Most girls get their first period when they’re around 12. But getting it any time between age 10 and 15 is OK. Every girl’s body has its own schedule.
There isn’t one right age for a girl to get her period. But there are some clues that it will start soon:
- Most of the time, a girl gets her period about 2 years after her breasts start to develop.
- Another sign is vaginal discharge fluid that a girl might see or feel on her underwear. This discharge usually begins about 6 months to a year before a girl gets her first period.
What If My Period Doesnt Come Or If It Starts When I Am Very Young
If you have not had a first period by the age of 15, or its been more than two to three years since your breasts started developing and you have not had a period, its best to talk to your doctor. If you get your period very young, at nine or ten it is usually just simply that you developed early. However, its a good idea to see your doctor to rule out other underlying medical conditions.
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What Are The First Period Signs And Symptoms
Everyones first period experience is different. Some people get their first period before theyve even learned what a period is. Others wait years to get their period and wonder when it will finally arrive. You may feel a bit more tired that day, and may also experience some more intense moods. If you have mood changes around your period, dont sweat it! This is a common symptom of our hormones changing. These strong emotions are linked with our menstrual cycle, and it can be helpful to remember that these strong feelings dont always last. Getting your period is part of puberty. There are other signs of puberty that you may see before your period, but that you will also continue to see after your first period.
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How Do I Know When My Period Is Coming
There may be signs of your first period such as the breasts becoming tender and the abdomen may swell and feel uncomfortable. You might even feel tired and a bit moody and get a crampy feeling in the lower back, legs or tummy. Some girls get a bit grumpy and can get a little spotty a few days before their period is due to start. Gradually you will get to know your own signs and be prepared. It takes between 4 to 6 years for your menstrual pattern to become well established.
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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
What Causes Menstruation
Menstruation is a result of puberty. This is when your body becomes capable of reproduction.
When your menstrual cycle begins, your estrogen levels increase. That causes the lining of your uterus to thicken.
The uterine lining thickens so it can support a fertilized egg and develop into a pregnancy.
If there isnt a fertilized egg, your body will break the lining down and push it out of your uterus. This results in bleeding your menstrual period.
It doesnt matter if youve had a period for years or youre waiting for your first one periods can be difficult to navigate.
This article will go over everything you need to know, from how to find the right menstrual products and dealing with cramps to saving stained clothes.
Most people start their periods between the ages of 12 and 13. Your first period . .acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Your-First-Period-Especially-for-Teens However, its normal to start your period a little earlier or later, too.
As a general rule of thumb, menstruation will start about two years after your breasts begin to develop.
Some people start their periods without any warning. Others may experience premenstrual syndrome in the days leading up to their period.
Symptoms of PMS include:
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Why Do Periods Happen
Each month during puberty, chemicals inside of you, cause the body to release an egg from one of the two egg sacks, called ovaries. This is where all of your eggs are stored. The egg then travels to the womb. Only if the egg meets sperm released from a boy during sex will it slowly develop over 9 months into a baby.
Usually, the egg just passes right through without being fertilised and just dissolves. Since the womb no longer needs to be ready to grow the egg, it sheds the extra blood and tissue it made out through the vagina. This loss of tissue is called menstruation or the period.
This cycle will happen nearly every month except when being pregnant or until there are no more eggs to release, usually between the ages of 45 and 55.
Pubic And Underarm Hair
- For most girls, the second symptom of puberty is the appearance of little hairs growing “down there.” This pubic hair usually appears about six months before your first period.
- Pubic hair is soft and thin when it begins to appear and then gets darker, coarser and curlier.
- It covers the pelvic bone and vulva and takes on a triangular shape.
- The color and amount of the hair vary from woman to woman.
- You will probably get pubic hair before you get underarm hair but each girl is different.
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At What Age Should I Spay My Dog
Although veterinarians used to recommend spaying your dog as young as four months old to ensure she never experienced a heat cycle to prevent mammary cancer, current research is leaning toward allowing large- and giant-breed dogs to grow before removing the hormones necessary for skeletal development. Discuss health concerns with your veterinarian before deciding what age is appropriate to spay your dog.
What Should I Expect
You already know that a period is when the lining of the uterus is released and flows out of the vagina as bloody fluid. Great, but what exactly will that feel like? Does it come out fast or slow? How much fluid will there be? How long does it take? Will it hurt? What does it look like? Itâs normal to have all these questions, so keep reading to be a period pro!
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