A Girl's Guide To The First Menstruation

The first menstruation is a huge milestone in most girls' lives, and you know it will happen sooner or later. You may have heard about getting your period from your mom, older sister, from friends, or at school, but you are probably still curious about what to expect from your first mentrual peruid — and about when to expect it.

Here, we answer the questions girls usually have about getting their first period, from what menstruation really is to how to use tampons and pads, and what to do about the weird symptoms that many girls experience before and during their very first periods. 

What Is Menstruation? 

Most girls get their first period between the ages of 11 and 14, but you can start menstruating when you are as young as nine, or you may not start your periods until you are 15. The first period a girl has marks menarche, the start of her reproductive stage of life.

What exactly is menstruation? You already know that you bleed from your vagina when you menstruate, usually between three and six days, and that it happens in monthly cycles.

The start of a period marks the beginning of the menstrual cycle — the time from one period to the next. The first half of the menstrual cycle is called the follicular phase, and it gets your body ready for ovulation or the release of an egg cell from one of your ovaries. If an egg is fertilized, it implants into the uterus (womb), where it needs a cushy place to implant so it can grow. So during the follicular phase of your menstrual cycle, the lining of your womb gets thick with tissue and blood. 

When you don't get pregnant, your body cleans the womb out again to prepare for the next menstrual cycle. Some of the blood and tissue is reabsorbed by the body, but some is expelled through the vagina. That's menstruation. 

People often say that a girl becomes a woman when she gets her first period, and that's because she can get pregnant if she has sex from that point.

Young girls often have irregular periods the first few years after menarche, meaning their menstrual cycles don't always last the same number of days. You probably won't ovulate (release an egg) every month either yet. Your periods will normally become more regular later on, but you don't need to panic if your periods are quite unpredictable in the beginning. Regular menstrual cycles can last between 21 and 35 days, with an average of 28 days. 

Read More: Signs And Symptoms Of Menstruation

What's It Like To Have Periods?

What To Expect From Periods

Most girls don't have any advance warning before their first period — but you'll know it's your period when you notice bleeding from your vagina in your underpants or on your toilet paper. Periods are nothing to be ashamed of, and you'll want to let your mom know you've started so you can buy menstrual pads or tampons together. 

A period usually lasts between three and six days, and it will seem like you lose a lot of blood! Your menstrual blood is mixed with other fluids and most girls and women actually won't lose more than a cup of blood through menstruation, but this fluid loss is still quite inconvenient. After you get your first period, you will need to choose between tampons, pads, and even reusable menstrual cups, to absorb the blood. 

Do periods hurt? That's a question most girls have before they start menstruating, and unfortunately the answer is usually yes. Cramps and pain are very common before and during periods. Taking an over-the-counter painkiller can help you feel better if your pain gets really bad, though if you do this, you should always make sure you don't take more than the allowed daily dose. A hot water bottle on your tummy can also help ease the pain.

Read More: Best Home Remedies For Menstrual Pain

In addition to cramps and pain, many girls also have a bloated stomach and get pimples as they are about to start their period. You can also expect mood swings — feeling very emotional or irritated. These feelings may be difficult to deal with, and they may lead to some explosive situations at home and with friends! Don't be embarrassed to let your parents or friends know you're having your period or are about to start one, because they'll be more understanding if you do. 

Some girls have back pain when they get their periods, and headaches can also happen. Your breasts also feel a little different just before and during your menstruation. 

Using Tampons Or Pads

You'll have to choose between tampons and menstrual pads to catch your menstrual blood. The choice is entirely up to you, and you may want to try out both to see which you prefer. 

Menstrual pads are pads that you put into your underwear to absorb the menstrual fluids that come out during your period. Many girls are scared to put tampons in and prefer pads for that reason. Pads are available in different sizes, with different absorbency levels, and with or without "wings". 

Tampons are inserted into the vagina. They come in different sizes, and you can also buy them with an applicator that is supposed to make it easier to insert the tampon. You'll probably want to start off with a smaller size if you choose tampons, and practice inserting them. You can sit on the toilet with your legs wide, or stand with one foot on the toilet bowl.

You can be much more active with tampons, and are less likely to leak. Tampons also prevent nasty odors. Whether you choose tampons or pads, you have to change them at least four times a day.

Girls who have started their period should ideally always carry tampons or pads around in their bags, so they don't have to deal with embarrassing leaks when their periods start unexpectedly. 

A third option that is now becoming more popular is reusable menstrual cups, which are folded and then inserted similarly to tampons. They are more environmentally friendly, but may make you nervous for the same reasons tampons could.

Read More: Reusable Menstrual Cups — What Are They, And Why Should You Use One?

Having Periods Means You Can Get Pregnant

Girls usually start being interested in boys (or girls, if they're gay!) during puberty. You may have had your first crush already, and you might even have a boyfriend soon! Puberty means you will develop sexual feelings, and that is totally normal. You might be thinking about losing your virginity and wonder what it will be like. 

Sex is a powerful emotional experience, and getting your period certainly doesn't mean you're emotionally ready for it. But some girls do have sex shortly after they start menstruating, so you should know that having periods also means you can get pregnant now. When you do start thinking about "doing it", make sure you do it safely — with a condom, to protect you from pregnancy and infections at the same time. Even more important than doing it safely is doing it only when you are sure you are ready, and with someone you like and trust.