Periods

What you need to know

Periods are a natural part of growing up. And your periods are a sign that your body is now able to have a baby. Each month one of your ovaries (you have 2) releases an egg. The egg travels down 1 of 2 tubes called fallopian tubes and into your womb.

The lining of your womb thickens for a short while during this time. If the egg is fertilised by sperm from a boy's body, it will stick in this soft lining and grow. This is how you get pregnant. If the egg is not fertilised, then the lining of the womb breaks down and passes out of your body through your vagina as a small amount of blood — this is called a period.

Try not to feel embarrassed — half the population has to go through this, so you shouldn't feel like it is a negative or dirty thing. It's part of the cycle of life!

Things to know about periods:

periods are an important part of growing up
it's good to plan your periods in case they start unexpectedly
it can feel confusing or embarrassing but there's nothing to be ashamed of
you can talk to your mum, aunt or another adult you trust about what's going on.

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tips to manage your period

Sometimes you can start your period when you're not expecting to, so it's always a good idea to plan ahead. You could try to:

keep sanitary products in a bag, drawer or locker
have a plan in case you do start your period - for example, a change of underwear, leggings, skirt or something that's easy to carry around if you're at school or on a trip
find things that help you with any pain or discomfort - hot water bottles or wheat bags. You could also ask your parent, carer or school nurse about pain relief tablets
try to eat fresh fruit and vegetables during your period and avoid too much sugar and caffeine - this can sometimes make pain worse
try gentle exercise to help relieve pain and bloating - yoga, stretching or walking are good for this
keep a diary, calendar or notes to help keep track of what is normal for you so you can notice any changes or unusual things.

How long do periods last?

Your period will start when your body is ready and happen about once a month from then on. Girls usually start their periods around 12 years old, but this is only an average age.

Some girls start their periods much younger and some start when they are older. If you haven't started your period by the time you are 16 years old, you should see a doctor or nurse for a check-up.

The average time between the start of one period and the start of another is between 24 to 35 days. This is called a menstrual cycle. Again, this different for everyone, so don't worry if gaps between your periods are shorter or longer than this.

Irregular periods

You may also find that your period can be irregular when it first starts. This often happens as your body adjusts to the new hormones it is making. This can make your period hard to predict at first.

You may even find that you skip a period after your first one. If your periods don't settle down into a regular pattern, it may help to talk this through with a doctor or nurse. This way you can make sure there are no other problems causing your periods to become irregular.

A period lasts a few days and the average length is between 2 and 7 days. For some people, bleeding can be heaviest on the first couple of days of your period. For others, it could start with a little amount of blood.

Some women may experience "spotting" in between periods. This is when they discharge a very small amount of blood on days they weren't expecting their period. This can be caused by several things including starting a new form of contraception, but it's always good idea to check this with your doctor.

A period doesn't mean you'll bleed all day. It's normal to stop bleeding for a few hours and then bleed a bit more. Everyone is different and what you experience may be different to what someone else experiences. Most women will continue to get a period every month well into adulthood.

How much blood do you lose?

The amount of blood you lose during your period is about 5 to 12 teaspoons full, although it might seem like a lot more.

If you find that you have very heavy periods, you should talk to your doctor as you can take medication to stop this from happening. Bleeding between periods could mean that something is wrong, so it's important to talk to a doctor about this, too.

Period pain and mood changes

Throughout your period you have different levels of hormones in your body. It's natural to have some side effects from this.

Premenstrual tension (or PMT, Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS) is the name for the feeling you might get a few days before a period. Around 90% of women and girls get PMT and the symptoms can be mild or severe.

Common symptoms of PMT:

mood swings and getting easily annoyed
crying or feeling sad all of a sudden
not being able to concentrate
feeling really tired
your breasts feeling softer than normal
your stomach feeling really full or bloated
cramping in the stomach area
temporary weight gain
headaches.

Tips to soothe the pain

Gentle exercise, using a hot water bottle, having a bath or taking some pain relief tablets can help. Always ask your parent, carer or school nurse about pain relief tablets before you take them.

If the pains get too much, you can talk to your doctor about other options or to see if there's another reason for the pain.

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Tampons and sanitary pads

When you have your period you will need to use something called a sanitary product to soak up the blood. There are different products which you can use and you can buy these from supermarkets, pharmacies and some newsagents. You could ask your mum or someone else who you trust to buy these for you.

The most common products to use for periods:

Sanitary towels or pads

Lots of women use sanitary pads when they first start their period, as they're very easy to use. These are strips of padding which have a sticky side that you can attach to your underwear to keep them in place.

They also have a side made of a special material which is similar to cotton wool – this soaks up the blood. There are lots of different sizes of sanitary towels, so you can change them depending on how heavy or light your period is.

Tampons

These are specially made small tubes of cotton wool which have a string at one end. You push these into your vagina and they soak up the blood before it comes out of your body. You use the string to pull it out when you need to change it.

Some tampons have applicators which can make it easier to insert them into your vagina. This will be explained on the pack when you buy them.

When you buy tampons, you'll find an instruction leaflet in the box. This will explain how to use tampons correctly. When a tampon is inserted correctly, you shouldn't be able to feel it, so if you can feel it or if it hurts, it might not be inserted properly.

A tampon can never get stuck or lost inside you as there simply isn’t anywhere for it to go. The muscles of your vagina hold your tampon in place and it will expand inside you as it fills with blood.

Pantyliners

These are smaller and thinner versions of sanitary towels or pads and are used on days when your period is very light. You can also use these if you have a lot of discharge in between your periods.

Menstrual cups

These are small rubber or silicone cups which can be put inside the vagina to catch the blood. The muscles of the vagina keep them in place so they don't fall out. They're then emptied, washed and used again

5 tips to help you use tampons:

try to relax — if your muscles tense up it can be harder to insert
see which style of tampon works best for you - some brands do a range for teenagers, these are smaller in size but have the same absorbency, so you may want to start with these
if you're struggling you may want to use a handheld mirror to help you see what you're doing
you should change your tampon every 3 to 6 hours
never use a tampon when you're not on your period as it can cause an infection or damage your vagina.

Staying active when you have your period

Exercise - like playing sports - doesn't usually affect your period but if you feel uncomfortable or in pain, you could take pain relief tablets or have a break if you can. You can still play sports while you have your period. You can wear a sanitary pad or tampon as you would normally do.

If you decide to swim while on your period, you can use a tampon. A tampon will absorb the blood and won't show through your swimwear. It's important to remember to change the tampon when you have finished swimming. Using a pad will not be as effective because it will absorb water.

Sex during periods

You can have sex at any time of the month as long as it's something that you and your partner both feel comfortable with. Some people prefer not to have sex during their period due to personal choice or finding it is more painful at this time.

If you do choose to have sex it is important to use protection as there is still a chance you can get pregnant and catch or pass on sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Sperm can live in the body for up to 7 days so it can be possible to get pregnant at any time of the month.

If you use tampons, it is important to remove a tampon before you have sex. You can damage your vagina if you have sex while a tampon is inside of you.

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TALKING ABOUT YOUR PERIOD

Talking about periods can sometimes feel embarrassing. Remember that almost all women will have had periods. They might remember what it's like to experience it for the first time.

You could try talking to your mum, aunt or another family member. Talking to friends can sometimes be helpful too.

If the only person you can talk to is a male relative it might seem hard. Some men will have an understanding of what a period is and how it affects women.

You don't have to explain everything, you could just talk about what you feel comfortable saying. Sometimes writing a letter to someone you trust can be a way of letting them know.

Remember that you can always talk to us. Our counsellors are there to listen to you and support you.