What you need to know about periods

Periods are a sign that you have reached puberty. The first period usually happens between the ages of 12 or 13, but could begin as early as aged 8 or as late as aged 17. A period lasts between 2 to 5 days and involves a small amount of blood loss from the vagina that is only about the amount of about 4 to 6 tablespoonfuls. The time between one Period to the next is called the Menstrual Cycle. This usually lasts between 28 to 32 days, but your body will need to get used to the new routine over a year or two before the menstrual cycle becomes more regular. You will need to use either sanitary pads or tampons to protect your underwear. Pads soak up the blood as it leaves your body and tampons fit inside your vagina and absorb the blood before it leaves your body. It is for you to choose which is the easiest and most comfortable to use.

Why do periods happen?

Each month during puberty, special chemicals inside of you, cause the body to release an egg from one of the two egg sacks, called ovaries. This is where all of your eggs are stored. The egg then travels onwards to the womb. Only if the egg meets sperm released from a boy during sex will it slowly develop over 9 months into a baby. Usually, the egg just passes right through without being fertilised and just dissolves. Since the womb no longer needs to be ready to grow the egg, it sheds the extra blood and tissue it made out through the vagina. This loss of tissue is called menstruation or the period. This cycle will happen nearly every month except when being pregnant or until there are no more eggs to release, usually between the ages of 45 and 55.

The menstrual cycle is actually a very special and very complicated process that happens because many parts of the body are working together. The body, including the brain, all have to work together properly to make this cycle work. This includes:

Releasing an egg each month from the ovaries.
Preparing the body by making a special lining in the womb in case the egg is fertilised and develops into a baby.
Making the womb discard this special lining if the egg has not been fertilised

Females are truly amazing!
Keeping a menstrual diary helps you to work out when your next period should start. It is also very important to learn how to examine your breasts each month. This is good practice for life so that you get to know what is normal for you.

What different sanitary pads and tampons are there to use?

Sanitary pads fit inside your pants by means of a sticky strip, which keeps the pad in place. There are different types of pad and it is a matter of choice, which style you use. There are pads with read more