A period is when blood comes out through a girl's vagina. It is a sign that she is getting close to the end of puberty. Puberty is when your body goes from looking like a kid's into looking more like a grown-up's.
There is a lot to learn about periods. Here are some common questions that kids have.
Most girls get their first period when they're around 12. But sometimes it comes a few years earlier or later. Every girl's body has its own schedule.
There are some signs that a girl's period may start soon. These include:
A period happens because of changes in hormones in the body. Hormones give messages to the body. These hormones cause the lining of the uterus (or womb) to build up. This gets the uterus ready for an egg (from the mom) and sperm (from the dad) to attach and grow into a baby. If the woman does not get pregnant, the lining breaks down and bleeds. This same process happens every month. That is why most girls and women get their periods around once a month.
For the first few years after a girls starts her period, it may not come regularly. This is normal at first. By about 2–3 years after her first period, a girl's periods should be coming around once a month.
Periods usually last about 5 days. But a period can be shorter or last longer.
Periods usually happen about once a month. But some girls get their periods around every 3 weeks. And others only get a period about once every 6 weeks.
There are a few ways to deal with period blood. You may need to experiment a bit to find which works best for you. Some girls use only one method and others switch between different methods.
Although it may look like a lot of blood, a girl usually only loses a few tablespoons of blood for the whole period. Most girls need to change their pad, tampon, or menstrual cup about 3–6 times a day.
When women are around age 45‒55, they stop having periods (this is called menopause). Women also won't have a period while they are pregnant.
PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is when a girl has emotional and physical symptoms right before her period starts or during the early part of her period. A girl with PMS might:
Lots of girls have cramps with their period, especially in the first few days. If the cramps are very uncomfortable, a warm heating pad on the belly and medicines can help. If you have cramps, talk to your doctor or your mom or dad about what medicines can help.
Periods are a natural, healthy part of a girl's life. They shouldn't get in the way of exercising, having fun, and enjoying life. If you have questions about periods, ask your doctor, a parent, health teacher, school nurse, or older sister.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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