What is a period?
Every woman goes through something called the menstrual cycle, every month. It can be scary and confusing as your body changes but don’t worry… you are not on your own.
Puberty starts in most girls at about the age of 10 and means that you start to develop breasts and grow hair in your armpits and pubic area.
Periods start towards the end of puberty when breast and hair growth is almost finished. A period is when a girl bleeds from her vagina for a few days. This usually happens once a month.The most common age for periods to start is between the age of 12 and 13. However anywhere between 10 and 16 can be normal.
A ‘normal period’ lasts anywhere from a couple of days to a week. Every girl will bleed different amounts. During the heaviest part of your period, you will probably need to change your tampon (or towel) every 3 to 4 hours.
Feeling moody? Emotional?
You’re not the only one! Most girls do (feel moody or emotional) on the run-up to their periods. This is to do with your hormone levels changing.
Heavy Periods? Periods lasting longer than a few days?
For the first few years your period might last a bit longer than a few days. And it might happen more or less often than once a month. As your hormones settle down and your body gets used to it, it will start to get into more of a pattern.
But… that’s not always the case…
