How Much Blood Is Normal
A normal menstrual flow should be about 2 tablespoons of blood per day thats only a tiny amount!
The first period can be confusing, exciting and even scary. Its normal to feel a little anxious about it.
Make sure you have time to yourself when your period starts so you can get used to it. You may also want to take a hot bath with some lavender oil in the water.
The most important thing is to remember that your first period is just the beginning of many more to come!
Welcome to the club! Your first period is a big milestone in your life and its exciting to be able to talk about it. Its also nerve racking because you dont know what to expect.
If you have a heavy flow, cramps, or pain during your period, there are some things that can help:
Change your pad or tampon every 4-6 hours
Try using liners if they make you feel more comfortable
Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for any pain and/or bloating .
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
What Does A Menstrual Period Feel Like
A few days before and during your period, you might feel cramping and bloating in your abdomen. The cramps are caused by increased production of hormones. These hormones cause the muscles of the uterus to contract.
Many teens who have cramps also notice aching in the upper thighs along with lower back pain. Some also notice nausea, diarrhea, irritability, headaches, and fatigue, among other symptoms.
To ease cramping, try applying heat to your abdomen with a heating pad or hot water bottle. Taking a warm bath may also help. Some teens find that exercise helps relieve cramps. Exercise improves blood flow and produces endorphins, the bodyâs natural painkillers.
Simple but effective non-prescription pain relieving medications can ease symptoms. These include acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . NSAIDs include medications like ibuprofen and naproxen . These drugs block the effects of prostaglandin hormones.
Discuss symptoms with your primary health care practitioner, so you can find the best medications and dosage.
Talk to your primary health care provider or your gynecologist if:
- Your cramps are severe
- Your bleeding is excessive, lasts longer than 7 days, occurs often or at the wrong time of your cycle
- If you have not had your first period by age 16
- If it has been 3 months since your last period
- You think you might be pregnant
- You develop fever and feel sick after tampon use
Before You Get Your First Period You Might Notice Changes In Your:
In the beginning, the small bumps around your nipples become raised. Then, the darker area of your nipples will get bigger and start to puff outâit might even feel like there is a little lump on your chest. These are called breast buds. This can happen on both sides at the same time, or on just one side at first. If it happens on one side, it can take up to 6 months for the other side to catch up .
Most people first get their first period 2â3 years after their breast begin to grow . If your breast buds start to grow around age eight or nine, it may take closer to three years for your period to start. If your breast buds develop later than most people in your class, like when youâre 13, it may take less than a year for your period to start .
The shape and height of your body will also be changing around this time. By the time you notice breast buds, your whole body will have already started growing more quickly .
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How To Honour Your Daughters First Period
Yes, go swimming just use a tampon! As long as it is inserted correctly, the tampon will not fall out. And no, sharks wont attack you just because youre on your period while swimming in the ocean.
Everyones duration is different the average is five days, but it can vary from about two days to about seven days.
Mood actually changes during the menstrual cycle. So instead of judging someone, lets support, encourage and strengthen them.
Talking to parents or caregivers about menstruation can be uncomfortable, but theres nothing to be ashamed of. The adults in your life wont be surprised when you tell them They know its coming. Your period is individual, so make sure you tell them in a way that makes you feel comfortable.
When Will I Get My First Period?
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It is not intended to be medical advice. Everyone is different, so be sure to talk to your doctor if you have any concerns. Do not delay or avoid seeking professional medical advice from your doctor solely because of what you read on this site.
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How Heavy Will Your First Period After Miscarriage Be
The first period after a miscarriage may be heavier, longer and more painful. That may be because your body didnt ovulate this cycle, causing the endometrial lining to become thicker and resulting in a heavier or longer period.
Try not to stress: Your periods wont be this way forever. Eventually, they will most likely return to the way they were before the pregnancy loss.
If your periods were short and light, theyll go back to being that way. If they were longer and heavier, you can expect the same once things have settled.
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How Can I Keep Track Of My Menstrual Cycle
You can keep track of your menstrual cycle by marking the day you start your period on a calendar. After a few months, you can begin to see if your periods are regular or if your cycles are different each month.
You may want to track:
- Premenstrual syndrome symptoms: Did you have cramping, headaches, moodiness, forgetfulness, bloating, or breast tenderness?
- When your bleeding begins: Was it earlier or later than expected?
- How heavy the bleeding was on your heaviest days: Was the bleeding heavier or lighter than usual? How many pads or tampons did you use?
- Period symptoms: Did you have pain or bleeding on any days that caused you to miss work or school?
- How many days your period lasted: Was your period shorter or longer than the month before?
You can also download apps for your phone to track your periods. Some include features to track your PMS symptoms, energy and activity levels, and more.
What Is Heavy Bleeding
Heavy menstrual bleeding is excessive and/or prolonged menstrual bleeding. The amount varies from woman to woman and can change at different stages in your life for example, in teenage years or approaching menopause. It is defined as blood loss greater than 80ml per cycle, or periods lasting more than seven to eight days. Heavy menstrual bleeding affects about one in five women and is a common problem in the 30-50-year-old age group.
Heavy bleeding fact sheet
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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.
What Pms Symptoms Might Come With Your First Period After Miscarriage
Hormonal fluctuations after a miscarriage can be significant, and the miscarriage itself can be distressing. Sometimes the emotional symptoms women experience after a pregnancy loss may be similar to those of postpartum depression.
In fact, research suggests about 20 percent of women have symptoms of anxiety or depression following a miscarriage, especially those with a history of depression and those who dont have good social support systems.
Symptoms of depression include loss of interest in things you used to enjoy and hopelessness. If you think you might be experiencing depression, check in with your doctor. Help is available.
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Kat A Former Clue Intern Shared Her Personal Experience Of Waiting To Get Her First Period Below
“Periods can be frustrating, messy and sometimes downright painful. Nevertheless, I couldnât wait to get mine. When I was nine, my mom taught me about periods, but stressed that I shouldnât expect mine to start any time soon since she had gotten hers later than average. Still, I was determined that that wouldnât be the case for me.
When I was 10, I woke up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, looked down, and finally, a little spot of blood! The wait was over! I was a grownup now, ready to tackle anything! I rushed down the hall to tell my mom who gave me a pad with an unconvinced look on her face. That night I was almost too excited to sleep, knowing what I could tell all my friends in the morning. You can imagine my despair when there was not a hint of red to be seen, only a small cut on my upper thigh. False alarm.
Throughout elementary and middle school I had to sit through various puberty talks and was given countless handfuls of pads and tampons from sex ed teachers âjust in case.â I had to watch all of my friends come into school ready to spill the details of where they were and how they felt now that they were âa real woman.â I wasnât as physically mature as they were but I felt absolutely sure that this milestone would make me fit in again. Days, months and years passed. I watched everyone develop, claim that they had âsynced up,â and relate to each otherâs symptoms. I felt excluded.
Article was originally published July 26, 2017
What Does Brown Discharge With The First Period After A Miscarriage Mean
Brown discharge is old blood leaving your body. Its perfectly normal to experience brown discharge for a few days after you have your period.
If youre experiencing brown or pink discharge instead of usual menstrual blood around the time you expect your period, it could be due to a fertilized egg implanting in the uterine wall. Youll need to wait another week after implantation before you take a home pregnancy test for accurate results.
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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
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 .
What Are The Signs Of Your First Period
You know those changes we were talking about? If youve felt your breasts growing larger, if youve started growing pubic hair and if youve noticed a white discharge in your underwear, then it wont be long before your body experiences its first period. When it starts, you might also experience premenstrual syndrome . This causes symptoms like period pain , moodiness, bloating, backache, weight gain and skin break outs.
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The Little Red Kit My First Period Kit
Pillows: Pillows are the most commonly used period product and there are many different types. Pads vary in thickness, absorbency, and length, but all adhere to your underwear while they absorb occasional blood.
Liner: These pads are much smaller and thinner than night pads. They are an excellent option when the menstrual flow is weak, at the end of the period or for regular daily discharge.
Do Transgender Guys Get A Period
Not everybody who gets a period identifies as a girl or woman. Transgender men and genderqueer people who have uteruses, vaginas, fallopian tubes, and ovaries also get their periods.
Having a period can be a stressful experience for some trans folks because its a reminder that their bodies dont match their true gender identity this discomfort and anxiety is sometimes called gender dysphoria. Other trans people might not be too bothered by their periods. Either reaction is normal and okay.
Sometimes trans people who havent reached puberty yet take hormones to prevent all of the gendered body changes that happen during puberty, including periods. And people who already get periods can use certain types of birth control that help lighten or stop their periods. Hormone replacement therapy, like taking testosterone, may also stop your period.
If you start taking testosterone, your period will go away. But this is reversible if you stop taking testosterone, your period will come back. There can be some changes in your menstrual cycle before it stops for good. Periods get lighter and shorter over time, or come when you dont expect it. You may have spotting or cramping every once in a while until you stop getting your period, and sometimes even after it seems to have stopped this is normal. Testosterone injections make your periods go away faster than testosterone cream.
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Preparing Your Daughter For Her First Period
by Women’s Health Specialists | Aug 16, 2021 | General
Your little girl is growing up! Signs of her age are apparent from simply observing changes that begin to happen before she even gets her first period. Most girls start to menstruate between ages 10 and 15 years old, with an average age of 12. But, changes often start a couple of years sooner. Talking with your daughter about what to expect and reassuring her these changes are normal is key. Here are some signs and symptoms of puberty that you and your daughter will notice before menstruation begins:
- Breast buds She may experience pain or firm bumps in or behind her nipples, signaling the first signs that breast buds are developing. The areola may look bigger or puffy. You can expect her period to start about two years after her breast buds develop.
- Pubic hair Once her pubic hair starts growing, you can expect her period to develop in one to two years. It may begin soft and thin but it will become courser and thicker towards the end of puberty.
- Vaginal discharge She may notice white or yellowish fluid in her underwear which usually means her period is going to start in next few months. Depending on the amount, you may want to offer her a panty liner.
When should you take your daughter to see a doctor?If your daughter hasnt gotten her period by age 16 or if she has bleeding that occurs more frequently than every 21 days or is lasting longer than 7 days, you should make an appointment with one of our OBGYNs.
The Clue Guide To Getting Your Period
Browsing the topic can be uncomfortable at first. Just as parents are embarrassed to talk to their daughters about menstruation, so can children.
It is necessary to educate our children with correct and daily information. Instead of avoiding aspects of menstruation that may be uncomfortable, we should talk about all aspects. Talk to your family doctor and get verified information and ways to explain menstruation in child-friendly ways.
Track what you know about periods and track down reliable sources of information that are available for your child to refer to. Look for good books or videos to help you have more educational discussions.
To break the ice, start the conversation by asking your child a few questions. Ask if she knows about periods, from commercials shes seen on TV, or if shes talked to her friends and family about it.
How To Prepare For Your First Period
Please talk about your experience with menstruation and add how you dealt with it. This will empower your daughter to approach periods with a healthy attitude and know that women go through everything.
If you hear your child mention something about periods, start the conversation by asking where the information came from. This can be a great way to clear up misconceptions and myths about menstruation.
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When Can I Get Pregnant During My Menstrual Cycle
You have the highest chance of getting pregnant on the days leading up to ovulation these are called fertile days.
Ovulation usually happens about 14 days before your period starts but everyones body is different. You may ovulate earlier or later, depending on the length of your menstrual cycle.
Your egg lives for about 1 day after its released from your ovary, and sperm can live in your uterus and fallopian tubes for about 6 days after sex. So you can usually get pregnant for around 6 days of every menstrual cycle: the 5 days before you ovulate, and the day you ovulate. You can also get pregnant a day or so after ovulation, but itâs less likely.
Many people track their menstrual cycles and other fertility signs to help them figure out when theyre ovulating. This is called fertility awareness some people use it to prevent pregnancy, and others use it to try to get pregnant. Check out our app, which makes it easy to chart your cycle and figure out your fertile days.
Some people have very regular cycles, and other peoples cycles vary from month to month. Its really common for young people to have irregular periods. Since your period can be unpredictable, its hard to know for sure when youll ovulate . So if you dont want to get pregnant, use birth control every time you have vaginal sex.
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