Most girls will get their first period sometime between the ages of 10 and 15. However, a first period can occur as young as 8, so it’s a good idea to be prepared. The age of a first period can be impacted by genetics, diet, environment, weight, and other factors.
What is the average age for a girl to start her period?
The national average age for a girl to get her first period is 12, and girls can start as early as age 8. Why so young? No one would argue that an 11-year-old is emotionally capable of raising a child.
When do girls usually start their period?
Soon after they develop breasts, most girls have their first menstrual period. This usually happens between ages 12 and 13, but menstruation can start earlier or later. During a menstrual period, there are two to three days of heavier bleeding with two to four days of lighter flow. Menstruation happens to all girls.
When is the latest a girl should get her period?
When Do Most Girls Get Their Period? Most girls get their first period when they're around 12. But getting it any time between age 10 and 15 is OK. Every girl's body has its own schedule. There isn't one right age for a girl to get her period. But there are some clues that it will start soon: Most of the time, a girl gets her period about 2 years after her breasts start to develop.
Can you tell when a girl is on her period?
Some women experience pain on their breasts during their period. They are the type that could box you if your hand mistakenly runs by their boobies. To some, they might not be painful but extremely tender and heavier than usual. The pain and tenderness will only end when the progesterone levels get lower after her periods stop.
What hormones do you release during your period?
What is it called when you have a period without an egg?
How to prepare for a first period?
Why is it important to talk about your first period?
What factors determine the time of a period?
When do girls get their period?
See 3 more
About this website
Is it normal for a 9 year old to have a period?
Most young people will have their first periods when they're between 11 and 14½, but anywhere from 9-16 years is considered normal.
What are signs of a girl getting her period?
PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is when a girl has emotional and physical symptoms that happen before or during her period. These symptoms can include moodiness, sadness, anxiety, bloating, and acne. The symptoms go away after the first few days of a period.
Do boys get periods?
Guys don't have periods because they don't have a uterus, but their bodies develop and change too – the changes are just different. For example: their voice changes and they develop hair on their face and other parts of their bodies. So, although guys don't get periods, their bodies do go through changes too.
What is a first period called?
Your first menstrual period is called menarche. It usually happens around age 12. But it may start earlier or later. Your period is a part of your menstrual cycle.
Which age periods will stop?
Naturally declining reproductive hormones. In your 40s, your menstrual periods may become longer or shorter, heavier or lighter, and more or less frequent, until eventually — on average, by age 51 — your ovaries stop releasing eggs, and you have no more periods.
Why do periods hurt?
Period pain happens when the muscular wall of the womb tightens (contracts). Mild contractions continually occur in your womb, but they're usually so mild that most women cannot feel them. During your period, the wall of the womb starts to contract more vigorously to help the womb lining shed as part of your period.
What helps a girl on her period?
Ask Her What She NeedsBe patient! Don't blame her irritability on her period, but try to understand where she's coming from.Bring her the food she craves. Whether it's ice cream she's after or she's one of the rare women who crave a green juice, just go and get it. ... Be attentive. ... Give her a massage. ... Give her space.
Why do only girls have periods?
So, why do women have periods? As a woman, your period is your body's way of releasing tissue that it no longer needs. Every month, your body prepares for pregnancy. The lining of your uterus gets thicker as preparation for nurturing a fertilized egg.
No Period by Age 15? 10 Possible Reasons for the Delay - WebMD
Girls usually get their first menstrual period when they’re 12 or 13. It’s a sign that your body is maturing, so that one day, if you want to, you should be able to have a baby.. By age 15, 98 ...
I Started My Period At Age 10. My Mom Made It The Best Day Ever. - HuffPost
A stranger would probably have remarked on her surprising strength, but by the time I could form memories, I was already used to it. When my mom put her mind to something, from chopping wood to surviving poverty to becoming one of the first women on the local sheriff’s department, she didn’t care what people assumed she was capable of.
First Menstruation: Average Age and Physical Signs - Contemporary OB/GYN
Physical Signs That Precede First Menstruation. While girls vary in the ages that they are when they start their periods and when the other signs of puberty occur, the order is fairly consistent.
Menstruation: What's Normal for Girls - WebMD
Nov. 7, 2006 -- New guidelines explain what to expect -- and when to see a doctor -- during a girl's first years of menstruation. The guidelines come from the American Academy of Pediatrics ...
How To Prepare For Your First Period
Its difficult to predict when your first period will happen, so its a great idea to be prepared. You can take steps now to make sure youre ready when your first period occurs. Some steps to take include:
How Do I Deal With Pms And Cramps
PMS stands for Premenstrual Syndrome. Its when the hormones that control your menstrual cycle cause changes in your body and emotions around the time of your period.
How Does Puberty Affect Growth
Girls typically have a growth spurt in the one to two years before menstruation starts.
Causes & Risk Factors
Once a month, hormones cause the lining of the uterus to grow and thicken with extra blood and tissue in preparation for nourishing a fetus. When an egg is released by the ovaries but doesnt get fertilized by a sperm cell, the uterus sheds this extra lining it had prepared for a baby.
When Should I Talk To My Kids About Periods
Talking about periods shouldn’t be one big talk at a particular age. Instead, start the conversation early and slowly build on your child’s understanding. Girls and boys need reliable information about periods. So make sure you talk to your sons too!
Menstruation And The First Period: What Girls Should Know
âWhat are these, Mommy?â asked the 7-year-old girl, reaching into their motherâs vanity drawer and pulling out a box of tampons. Caught unprepared to talk about puberty and menstruation, their mother improvised. âUmâ¦theyâre windshield wiper cleaners, honey.â
What Should I Use
You can use Always Dailies pantyliners to help absorb daily discharge, and Always pads for your period.
When Do Most Girls Get Their Period?
Most girls get their first period when they're around 12. But getting it any time between age 10 and 15 is OK. Every girl's body has its own schedule.
What Causes a Period?
A period happens because of changes in hormones in the body. Hormones are chemical messengers. The ovaries release the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones cause the lining of the uterus (or womb) to build up. The built-up lining is ready for a fertilized egg to attach to and start developing. If there is no fertilized egg, the lining breaks down and bleeds. Then the same process happens all over again.
How Does Ovulation Relate to Periods?
Ovulation (pronounced: ov-yoo-LAY-shun) is the release of an egg from the ovaries. The same hormones that cause the uterus lining to build up also cause an egg to leave one of the ovaries. The egg travels through a thin tube called a fallopian tube to the uterus.
Do Periods Happen Regularly When Menstruation Starts?
For the first few years after a girl 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 every 4–5 weeks.
Can a Girl Get Pregnant as Soon as Her Period Starts?
Yes, a girl can get pregnant as soon as her period starts. A girl can even get pregnant right before her very first period. This is because a girl's hormones might already be active. The hormones may have led to ovulation and the building of the uterine wall. If a girl has sex, she can get pregnant, even though she has never had a period.
How Long Do Periods Last?
Periods usually last about 5 days. But a period can be shorter or last longer.
Should I Use a Pad, Tampon, or Menstrual Cup?
You have many choices about how 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.
How long before your period do you have to be ready?
Usually, this happens about 6 months before you get your first period. If you think you're getting close to your first period, it might make you more comfortable to be ready. Put a pad and change of underwear in your backpack or purse in case your period comes when you aren't at home.
How do you know if you're getting your first period?
A good sign you're getting close to the time when your first period will arrive is if you notice a discharge coming from your vagina. It might be thin and slightly sticky or thick and gooey, and can be clear to white or off-white in color. Usually, this happens about 6 months before you get your first period.
When do you start your period?
This means a lot of growing and changing — both inside and out. Some girls start puberty at age 8, and others may start as late as 13 or 14.
When does hair grow under arms?
For most girls this is around age 12. But it can be as early as age 8 or as late as 15.
How long should a tampon stay in your vagina?
Tampons must be changed every eight hours at most. Leaving a tampon in for more than eight hours can increase your risk for irritation or infection as a result of the bacteria present.
What to do if you feel like you're losing blood?
Heavier bleeding isn’t necessarily cause for concern. But if you feel like you’re losing too much blood, tell your guardian or talk to the school nurse. You should also tell a trusted adult if you: have to change your pad, tampon, or menstrual cup every one to two hours. feel lightheaded.
What is period underwear?
Period underwear is a relatively new invention. It’s like regular underwear, except it’s created with a special fabric that absorbs menstrual tissue and traps it within the fabric.
Why does my period start bleeding?
The uterine lining thickens so it can support a fertilized egg and develop into a pregnancy. If there isn’t a fertilized egg, your body will break the lining down and push it out of your uterus. This results in bleeding — your menstrual period.
How long does a period last?
(2019). It may take a couple of months for your period to settle into a regular schedule and consistency. Once it does, your period may last anywhere from two to seven days each month.
When does your period follow a pattern?
Your monthly period will follow a more consistent pattern once your hormones stabilize.
Do you need a pad for your period?
Generally speaking, the smaller the pad, the less blood it can hold. You’ll probably use a more absorbent pad at the beginning of your period then switch to something lighter once the bleeding slows down. You may also find it helpful to wear a heavier pad overnight so you don’t have to worry about leakage.
Can my period be stopped?
No method guarantees no periods, but, according to a 2014 article in the International Journal of Women’s Health, you can suppress your cycle with various types of birth control such as:
Why does the lining of the uterus get thicker?
The lining of your uterus gets thicker as preparation for nurturing a fertilized egg. An egg is released and is ready to be fertilized and settle in the lining of your uterus.
How much blood does a woman lose during her period?
The average person who menstruates loses about 2 to 3 tablespoons of blood. Trusted Source. during their period.
What happens if you don't have estrogen during pregnancy?
If pregnancy doesn’t occur, estrogen and progesterone levels fall, eventually hitting a level that tells your body to begin menstruation.
What happens if you don't get pregnant?
Every month that you don’t become pregnant, your body expels tissue that it no longer needs to nourish a fertilized egg. If you experience inconsistencies such as a change in your menstrual regularity, frequency, duration, or volume, talk with your doctor or gynecologist. Last medically reviewed on February 4, 2021.
How long does it take for birth control to stop your cycle?
Birth control pills. If you take daily birth control pills, after a year you’ll have about a 70 percent chance of suppressing your cycle.
How long does it take to bleed during your period?
Trusted Source. during their period. The time between periods (last day to first day) typically averages 28 days, with bleeding typically lasting around 4 to 5 days. However, people can experience longer time between periods, and fewer or more days of bleeding, and still have totally “regular” periods.
When Do Most Girls Get Their Period?
Most girls get their first period when they're around 12. But getting it any time between age 10 and 15 is OK. Every girl's body has its own schedule.
Do Periods Happen Regularly When Menstruation Starts?
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.
How Long Do Periods Last?
Periods usually last about 5 days. But a period can be shorter or last longer.
Should I Use a Pad, Tampon, or Menstrual Cup?
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.
Will I Have Periods for the Rest of My Life?
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.
Do All Girls Get Cramps?
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.
What are pads made of?
Pads are made of cotton and come in lots of different sizes and shapes. They have sticky strips that attach to the underwear. Many girls prefer to use tampons instead of pads, especially when playing sports or swimming. A tampon is a cotton plug that a girl puts into her vagina.
What does a Pap smear show?
Pap smears look for evidence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, which can cause pre-cancerous and cancerous changes to the cervix. We've learned more and more about HPV in recent years, including that adolescents are much more likely to clear the HPV infection on their own, without need for medical intervention.
How to shave your armpits?
Around the time they reach middle school, many girls begin to show interest in shaving their legs and armpits. This is a personal choice; there is no medical reason to shave armpit or leg hair. Before giving them a razor, show them how to use it properly and avoid skin irritation and cuts, which can become infected. Some tips: 1 Wet the skin & use lotion or gel. Shaving dry skin can scratch and irritate it. It may be easiest to shave in the shower or bathtub when the skin is already wet. Shaving gel, lotion, or cream acts as a buffer on the skin and can help avoid cuts. 2 Use light pressure. Pressing too hard on the razor could shave off some of the skin. Use extra care around the knees and ankles to avoid nicking the skin. 3 Replace the razor or its blade often. A dull blade is more likely to tug, scrape and irritate the skin. 4 Don't share razors. Sharing a razor can spread bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and cause skin infections. 5 Electric razors. Some electric razors are designed specifically for girls. These may be less likely to cut the skin, although they can still cause irritation.
What are the bumps under the nipple called?
The earliest sign of puberty in most girls is the development of breast "buds," nickel-sized bumps under the nipple. It is not unusual for breast growth to start on one side before the other. It's also common for breast buds to be somewhat tender or sore.
Why is puberty so early?
Obesity is also a risk factor for earlier puberty, in part because body fat is involved in how the body processes hormones like estrogen.
How old do you have to be to get your period?
Periods. While timelines can vary, most girls get their first period within 2 – 3 years after the development of breast buds. The average age for girls to get their first period in the United States is around age 12. It's important to emphasize that periods are a normal part of growing up.
How to think about healthy lifestyle and weight gain?
When thinking about healthy lifestyle and weight gain, remember that habits like physical activity and healthy eating develop very early―the same goes for the development of unhealthy food preferences and too much screen time. Ask your pediatrician for ideas on how to incorporate healthy habits into your family's everyday routines.
What is the best medicine for period cramps?
Abdominal cramping or pain with periods is also common. For most people, ibuprofen or naproxen used as needed are the best medicines to help with period cramps. If menstrual cramps are severe or causing your child to miss school, talk to your pediatrician about other options.
Turning Puberty On In America
What is menstruation? // Why do women get their periods? // Moon Cycle Explained
Your Serotonin Levels Are Diminished
Strangely enough, the hormonal changes you experience also influence how the chemicals in your brain function. “Neurotransmitters in the brain probably have something to do with PMS symptoms,” Dr. Dweck says. Research suggests that serotonin drops when your period starts, due to all the hormonal fluctuations.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Menstration
Some women get symptoms leading up to and during menstruation, for example, cramps or pains low in the abdomen, bloating or swelling in the abdomen, constipation before your period, diarhrea when your period starts, acne, tiredeness, and mood changes.
What To Do When You Get Your Period
Before you start getting periods it is good to be prepared for when it eventually comes. Hopefully you will have an opportunity to talk with your mother or sister or someone else in your family who can help you to prepare. Meanwhile here are some tips for when you do start bleeding.
Pms Is Still A Mystery
Itâs 1 or 2 weeks before your period starts, and here come the breakouts, sluggishness, cravings, bloating, and mood swings. Sound familiar? Every woman is different, but for many, PMS is a fact of life.
What Is A Normal Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle is a term used to describe the sequence of events that occur within a womans body as it prepares for the possibility of pregnancy each month. A menstrual cycle is considered to begin on the first day of a period. The average cycle is 28 days long however, a cycle can range in length from 21 days to about 35 days.
Can I Go Swimming During My Period
Swimming during your period isn’t a problem. However, you will want to use a tampon when swimming so you don’t bleed on your swimsuit. Pads won’t work and will just fill with water. The tampon won’t fall out if it is inserted correctly, so go ahead and make a splash!
What hormones do you release during your period?
A period happens when your brain sends a signal to your ovaries to release hormones called estrogen and progesterone.
What is it called when you have a period without an egg?
This blood is what is seen during a period. This cycle repeats every month and is called a menstrual cycle .
How to prepare for a first period?
You can help your child prepare for a first period by having an open and direct conversation about periods and what to expect. It’s also a good idea for your child to begin keeping menstrual supplies and an extra pair of pants in their bag or at school.
Why is it important to talk about your first period?
However, a first period is part of overall health and development, and having an honest conversation about it is an important way to help your child as they grow up.
What factors determine the time of a period?
Factors such as family history, race, diet, environment, and weight can all determine the time a first period occurs. Children who participate in intense athletics or are underweight might get their periods later.
When do girls get their period?
Most girls will get their first period sometime between the ages of 10 and 15. However, a first period can occur as young as 8, so it’s a good idea to be prepared. The age of a first period can be impacted by genetics, diet, environment, weight, and other factors.
