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Your Period
A period occurs once some of the reproductive organs inside of your body have matured enough to secrete hormones. Your ovaries (small organs inside your belly) have eggs in them and when you reach puberty, these eggs ripen and are released each month. Certain hormones are also released and act on the lining of your uterus (the organ where a baby develops). The lining of the uterus builds up during the month. This bloody lining is what passes through your vagina and comes out each month in a period. If someone is not prepared for their period, it can be scary to see blood coming from your vagina. Just remember this is a normal part of growing up. It may feel like a warm liquid is coming out. When periods start, it's not unusual for them to be a little irregular. Most girls are told that you should get a period every 28 days and bleed for about 4 days. The truth is, it's common for girls to get their first period and then occasionally skip one now and again, especially the first year. Some girls have very heavy periods and some have a lighter flow. Some girls will even notice little clots on the toilet tissue when they wipe. This is also normal. The best thing to remember is that everyone is little different. If you have questions about your period, ask a parent or your health care provider.
What is all this talk about cramps? Some young women get kind of a painful feeling in their lower stomach before or when their period starts. Others don't have any clue their period is coming and are surprised when they find blood on their underwear. Again, everyone is different. Some young women also feel a little sick to their stomach or get a headache or even diarrhea at the time of their period. If you have cramps or pain that is very uncomfortable, often times taking some over the counter medication such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen or Midol can help a lot. Talk to an adult to see if this is something that might be helpful. If the cramps are very bad and you find you have to miss school or activities, it is probably a good idea to talk to your health care provider to see if there is something else that might help. You don't need to suffer because there are a lot of things that can make your periods easier. Some girls are advised to go on birth control pills to help regulate their periods and lessen the cramps. Waking up with your period as a surprise, or worse yet, starting it at school when you don't expect it can be a little embarrassing. It's a good idea to mark on a calendar when your period starts and then count ahead to when you think the next one is going to start. This will be easier to predict once you get into a more regular pattern. It's a good idea to pack some sanitary supplies in your backpack or locker just to be prepared. The nurses at school should also have supplies as well.
Pads or Tampons: Which Are better? Speaking of supplies, girls often don't know which is better to use. Sanitary pads are absorbent pads usually with a sticky side on the bottom to attach to your underwear. Nowadays, the pads are much thinner and don't show through your pants. They make thicker ones for nighttime, as you will be leaving that one on for longer periods of time when you go to bed. It's best to change your pad about every three or four hours during the day, or sooner if the blood is soaking it. There are all kinds of brands to try, see which one you are most comfortable with. A lot of girls (and their mothers) are nervous about using tampons. Some people worry that using tampons will harm your hymen. The hymen is a thin piece of tissue that partially blocks the opening of the vagina. You don't need to worry about this happening. They are very effective if you feel comfortable using them. They are also safe to use. There is a very low risk of something called Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) with tampons. Changing them regularly (about every 4 hours) will help prevent this. Always read the directions on the package.
Girls can participate in any activities while they are having their period. As it was mentioned earlier, exercise may actually help with PMS and even with cramping. Some people find it is easier to participate in some activities if they use tampons instead of pads. Summer might be a good time to start using tampons so that you can enjoy swimming.
You might hear people talk about PMS. PMS is the abbreviation for something called Premenstrual Syndrome. It's a group of symptoms that occur about one week before your period begins. Some people get a little moody or mildly depressed. Others complain that they feel extra tired or get a headache or even that their breasts feel kind of tender. Other things you might notice are an increase in acne, backaches, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and maybe even food cravings. Some girls have a lot of symptoms, some only have one or two and others have no problems with PMS. The bottom line is, it is normal to feel a little different during this time of the month. It helps to get lots of exercise, eat a healthy diet, maybe take a multivitamin and get enough rest. Many women can get relief from PMS just by following this simple advice. If you find that you have more serious symptoms, talk to someone you trust such as a parent, the school nurse or your health care provider.
I Missed My Period: What Could This Mean? Young women miss their periods for lots of reasons. As we mentioned before, some girls have irregular periods and even skip them, especially during the first year after their period starts. Once you have established a regular pattern of periods and then miss periods, there are several possible explanations. Some girls who participate in lots of sports or exercise may actually stop menstruating regularly. Have you been really stressed lately? That's another reason someone might miss periods. Certain eating disorders, especially when a girl is eating very little and getting thinner and thinner can cause amenorrhea (the medical term for no periods). An imbalance in some hormone levels can also lead to missed periods or irregular bleeding. Unprotected intercourse can also lead to pregnancy which is usually first noticed by not getting your period. If you have been having fairly regular periods and start to skip them, you should talk to your health care provider. It is important that you have this evaluated as skipping a period due to some of the above reasons is not good for your body. Girls who stop getting periods for a long time due to an eating disorder or excessive exercise are at risk to develop osteoporosis, which is thinning of the bones (see section on “Female Athletic Triad”). No matter what the reason, it's important to let someone know what is going on if you experience a change in your menstrual pattern.
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Featured Question of the Month © University of Connecticut Health Center. All rights reserved. |
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Everyone hears about periods from someone or another. Some girls are well informed and some are not. Don't believe everything you hear from your friends. Getting your monthly menstrual period
is a normal part of growing up. Most girls have their first period when they are about 12 or 13. However, some girls start as early as 9 and others may not have their first period until 15 or 16.
Nancy Kalagher, A.P.R.N., OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner