Life After Puberty
All about the Menstrual Cycle
Overview of Periods
Getting your period is a totally healthy, normal part of your life cycle. Your first period, or menstruation, will start some time between age 9 and 18. Don't worry if you haven't gotten your's yet.every body develops at a different speed.
Periods are a sign that your body is now physically mature enough to have a baby. The blood comes from the lining of your uterus after it has prepared for the implantation of an egg. This is what happens when you get pregnant. If you are pregnant, you will not menstruate again until after you give birth. You'll likely get your period for about 40 years, until your body runs out of its supply of eggs. When your body runs out of eggs, there is no more need for you to have your period, and you will be too old to have children. This is called menopause.
If you have had sex recently and you go a month without getting your period, this may be a sign that you are pregnant. Or it could happen because you're really underweight or have a medical problem.
You should get your period every 24 to 35 days or so. The time frame is different for everyone because all bodies are so different. When you're older, you'll probably be able to predict the start of your periods to the exact day, but as a teenager they may not be so predictable.
The first day of your menstrual cycle is the first day you start "bleeding", and the last day of your cycle is about a month later, on the day before you get your next period. The length of your cycle will not always be the same, so don't worry if it's not always 28 days.
It's normal to get cramps and other symptoms before and during your period. Usually they are annoying but harmless, but for some women they can be really painful. Here are a few things you can try to deal with them:
- Stay away from salty foods. They cause your body to hold water, adding to the "bloating" feeling you may get before your period begins.
- Use a hot water bottle on your stomach or back if you experience cramps or aches.
- Try using simple over-the-counter remedies like ibuprofen (sold as Advil® or Motrin IB®), but remember to follow the directions carefully. If your symptoms are serious, a doctor can prescribe stronger medication, like Naprosyn®, Anaprox®, Ponstan®, Motrin® or Vioxx®.
- Exercise and sleep are also important. They keep your mind and body healthy, and should make you feel better.
- If none of these things work for you, don't hesitate to speak to your doctor. There are a lot of medicines and treatments available to help you, and there's no reason to suffer.
To avoid staining your clothing, you will need to wear a sanitary pad, a tampon, or a combination of the two. It's important to choose the right absorbency so that there is no leakage. You may find that you will have to change your pad or tampon every 4 hours or so. Because the tampon is worn inside the body, it is important to change it regularly because of a very rare but serious condition called Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). It is caused by a common bacteria that lives on everyone's skin. Doctors believe that because blood is a breeding ground for these bacteria, leaving a tampon in too long causes the bacteria to grow excessively. When this happens there is an EXTREMELY SMALL chance that you may develop a sudden high fever and achy body, and become very weak. Serious side effects follow, and it can even cause death. Remember, this is extremely rare and if you change your tampons regularly they are very safe - in fact, about 100 million women across the globe use them!
But the moral of the story? Change your tampon every 4-8 hours! If you are removing a tampon, and after 4-8 hours the white fibre is still showing, you still should change it. You might want to try a lower absorbency. When using a tampon overnight for up to eight hours, insert a fresh one right before you go to sleep, using the lowest absorbency needed, and remove it right when you wake up. (Read below for absorbency answers).
Tampons are simple to use, but women tend to have a lot of questions when they first start using them. Many girls ask if they're still a virgin if they use a tampon but have never had sex. The answer is yes.nothing but sex will make you lose your virginity. Some girls want to know if inserting a tampon will hurt. The answer is simple.if used correctly, a tampon won't hurt you, although they may be a little uncomfortable the first couple of times you use one, especially if you're a little bit nervous or tense. The best advice is to follow the steps written on the instruction sheet in the tampon box. There are usually pictures to help make it clear.
When deciding on the level of absorbency to use, the best thing to do is to get to know your cycle a bit first. You'll find that a slim tampon on lighter days will do the trick, while on your heavier days a super tampon is best.
Last Modified: December 21, 2007
