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Menstruation is no fun - period. But since it's going to happen (once a month! for several decades!), girls should know what symptoms to expect and how to cope.
What is going on?
Women have two ovaries in their bodies that keep all their eggs. Every month, an egg plops out of an ovary. The uterus, or womb, prepares a cozy home for that egg by creating a lining of thick tissue. When women don’t get pregnant, the egg disappears and the uterus sheds the extra tissue. For most females, all that bleeding amounts to a just couple of tablespoons of blood.
The average time between the first day of each period is 28 days, but the truth is that each person’s menstrual cycle is different. Some girls have a period every 34 days like clockwork, others might go 24 days between periods one time, and 42 the next. It can take a couple of years for cycles to get regular, and sometimes it never happens.
Hormone levels see-saw every time women's menstruation happens. Because of this, many girls also experience the joy of Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS. That can include fun things like pimples, headaches, bloating, cramps, and that infamous nasty mood.
Coping
Being prepared. Girls should keep a few menstrual pads or tampons in their book bag and locker. Once a girl feels her period coming (some people feel crampy and/or bloated; for others, there are no symptoms), she should avoid light or brand new clothes. Embarrassing stains can happen! It’s easy to hide by wrapping a jacket around the waist until the girl can change.
Taming Menstrual Cramps. Exercising all month long can decrease the pain. When a period hits, its fine to take over-the-counter meds like Midol. Should a girl need something stronger, it’s important to ask a doctor about it. Borrowing prescription medicine from friends or family is a bad idea – even if it’s medicine for the same symptoms. When menstrual cramps hit, it can also help to act like a baby: laying on one’s back or side, curling into the fetal position, and pressing a heating pad or hot water bottle against one’s tummy.
Vanishing bloating. Sometimes a girl’s jeans don’t fit quite right (or at all) once a month. This is because the body is retaining water. Strangely, the best way to fight bloating is to drink plenty of water! That way the body won’t feel like it has to hold on to every little drop it gets. Cutting down on salt can help, too.
Ignoring Bad Moods. Instead of making a snappy come-back when a sibling teases, a girl bursts into tears. Or she practically claws her best friend’s eyes out when the friend nods at the wrong guy. It’s important to remember that girls may be a little (ok, a lot!) more sensitive this time of month. Girls should postpone making big decisions like breaking up with a boyfriend until they are feeling better. In the mean time saying things like “I’m sorry, I probably didn’t really mean that,” can help.
Resting! It’s normal to feel tired or sleep poorly when a girl is having her period. Some girls find they need to take a break from their busy schedule to get plenty of rest. Doing yoga or running a warm bath are not only relaxing, they help with the cramps.
Talking about it. Moms, aunts, and older sisters have all been there before, and they can help. Even fathers probably know more about periods than girls realize. If the idea of talking to family is just too embarrassing or a girl is worried something is wrong, she should head to the doctor. When over-the-counter meds don’t help with the pain, or a girl’s menstrual cycle is still very irregular after a few years, or a girl regularly soaks a pad in an hour, let a doctor know.
The copyright of the article A Girl’s Menstrual Period in Gynecological Health is owned by Estela Kennen. Permission to republish A Girl’s Menstrual Period in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Comments
May 9, 2008 1:50 PM
Guest :
this is a good site for girl's that don't know about period.When I frist
started my period I was scared at frist . Then i got use to it and i like
your site a lot
vanessa
May 10, 2008 6:28 PM
Guest :
This website is very very helpful to me!
-Thanks
Sep 24, 2008 3:36 PM
Guest :
will period ever go away
patricia
Sep 25, 2008 7:18 AM
Estela Kennen :
The first few periods can feel like they last forever and involve A LOT of
blood, but it's really not as bad as it seems. Periods usually last 3-5
days, then it's gone until the next month. Most women will have a period
once a month until they are in their 40s or 50s, though certain medical
conditions can change that.
If your period lasts more than 7
days, or if you are soaking a pad or tampon every 2 hours or less, you
should go see your doctor. This doesn't necessarily mean there is anything
wrong; it just means you want to check with your doctor to make sure.
The opposite is also true: If you already started menstruating, but
haven't had a period in 3 months, you should see a doctor.
Oct 5, 2008 1:18 PM
Guest :
can you have a baby right when you start your period?
Oct 5, 2008 5:32 PM
Estela Kennen :
Once you start having your period (and sometimes even before), you can get
pregnant if you have intercourse.
How to avoid getting
pregnant.
The only sure way is abstinence. There are many, many ways
to be physical with someone that don't include intercourse. However, if you
do have intercourse and don't want to get pregnant, ALWAYS use protection,
like a condom or birth control.
How do you know when you're
pregnant.
Pregnant women usually stop having their periods. But it's
possible to have your period (or at least spotting) when you are pregnant,
especially in the first few months. Also, it's possible to miss your period
and NOT be pregnant. If you think you might be pregnant, you can use a home
pregnancy test or get tested at a clinic.
Dec 5, 2008 5:18 PM
Guest :
periods go away during the stage of menopause
in the early 50's
or late 40's
melani
Feb 1, 2009 9:51 AM
Guest :
this is an excellent site to aid young girls. I remember being totally
clueless staring my cycle in the 7th grade, even after reading everything
in healthbooks, it was too clinical, not explaning things that a girl can
use. As a nurse now whose worked in a GYN clinic, I saw a lot of girls who
were almost totally ignorant about their bodies or too scared to ask what
was going on, this site uses a lot of the teachings that I used with them,
and ones i never thought of but use (the not wearing of white clothes for
instance)
this site is excellent.
Mar 18, 2009 6:58 PM
Guest :
ok i got my frist period on JAN-3-09 AND TODAY IS MARCH-18-09 AND I STILL
HAVENT GOTTEN MY PERIOD I NOW I GOT IT LAST TIME BUT LAST TIME I GOT IT I
HAD CRAPS RIGHT B4 BUT NO PMS SYTHOMES WHILE I HAD IT BC OF THAT MY MOTHER
THINK I NEVER GOT IT I REALY WANT IT TO COME BAK SO I CAN PROVE IT TO HER
THAT ITS COMING CAN ANYOF U GUYS TELL ME WHEN ITS COMING BACK PLZZZZZZZZZ
PLEASE HELP ME!
Mar 18, 2009 7:44 PM
Estela Kennen :
Ok, the first step is to breath. Calm down. When periods start, they can be
very erratic. You have one, the next one might not come for months, it may
be short or long or painful or not... it takes a long time for them to
settle down.
If you think you might be pregnant, please get a
pregnancy test right away.
If you are underweight and/or very
athletic, you will probably have irregular periods. You should to speak to
your doctor about this just to make sure everything is ok.
If you are
over 16, you should talk to your doctor about the fact that you've only had
one period.
If you are young and healthy, don't worry. Your period
will come when it's supposed to -- you can't give it a deadline. And don't
worry about your mom. You might never have PMS, but you probably do have
years and years worth of monthly periods ahead of you.
May 9, 2009 9:24 AM
Guest :
please predict!
grade:6th
age:12
discharge:yes- at least 6 months
hair:increasing in areas,
darkening everywhere
moody:yes
mom started:6th
grade,age 12
please help me predict!
May 11, 2009 1:39 PM
Estela Kennen :
Dear Please Predict:
Well, it sounds like it could happen any
day now... or not. If you seek a prediction, ask a magic 8-ball or see what
your fortune cookie has to say. I hope you can take some small comfort in
the fact that it sounds like you are on track and everything is going the
way it should. Sorry I can't be more specific.
Jun 14, 2009 8:46 AM
Guest :
Guest
This website helped me a lot because I'm the only one in
my school that has my peirod and I've had it since grade 4 I was 10 years
old and now I'm 11 so I've gotten use to it but I get so bad cramps that
sometimes when I get my peirod I have to stay home from school for a few
days because I can't move what should I do to help my cramps?
Jun 26, 2009 11:09 PM
Guest :
How thick would the period discharge be?
Oct 31, 2009 12:45 PM
Guest :
well ive had the discharge for awhile now,4about a year. i never told my
mom about it because it seeemed kind of weird. latly ive been having cramps
but then they go away in the next few days but alays come back worst!!!im
nervous to tell my mom about this,really im not sure how. ive been waiting
on my period for a long time. is their somethimg wrong with me or is it
normal? can you please help me on my confusing questions..
Alyssa age 11
Oct 31, 2009 4:04 PM
Estela Kennen :
Hi Alyssa,
It's not strange to have a period, and it's not strange to
talk to your mom about it! She's been there, and she probably wants to
help. If you are having cramps without having a period, then it might be
something unrelated. You might want to just tell your mom "Something
strange is going on with my body, and I'd like you to go to the doctor with
me." Then she can ask questions, and you can go from there. I know it
seems difficult to talk about something that seems so personal, but it
happens to half the people on this planet -- women! Please talk to your
mom; it may be very hard at first, but you'll be glad you did.
16 Comments
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