Your first few periods may be very light. You may only see a few spots of reddish brown blood. Anywhere from 2 to 7 days is normal. If your period lasts for more than 7 days, you should talk with your doctor.
It may begin gradually, starting with some spotting or brown discharge before becoming red. For others, periods begin suddenly, with bright red blood appearing straight away. In either case, this is normal. Period blood can range in color from brown to dark red.
Your first period should last anywhere from 2 to 7 days. It may be very light, with just a few spots of brownish blood. Or it may start and end more brownish, but be brighter red on heavier flow days.
Your first period (and the next few after that) may just look like brown spotting in your knickers. It's not the red blood you may have been expecting. So what actually DOES your first period look like? A lot of girls are surprised when their first period looks like just a few brownish spots in their knickers.
At the beginning or end of your period, blood can be a dark brown/red shade and can have a thick consistency—but it's also normal for the first signs of your period to be bright red and more liquid.
Lots of girls expect their blood to be bright red during their periods. But it's completely normal for menstrual blood to be brownish. It's also perfectly normal for some girls to have their first period for just 2 or 3 days.
Day 1 of your cycle is the first day of your period, meaning the first day of full flow (spotting doesn't count). During this time, the uterus sheds its lining from the previous cycle.
Brown discharge is simply old blood. If it is watered down by your normal vaginal discharge or even by semen, it may look light brown.
The colour of the blood can look very different and varies during menstruation. In the beginning the blood is probably more brownish or light red and slightly pink.
Take a deep breath, walk up to her and say something like, "This is really embarrassing, but I need to talk to you about my first period." She might be surprised, but your mom can get to the point right away — and she'll probably do her best to make the conversation as painless as possible.
Myth: menarche means the end of growth is near
Follow-up data from the Fels Longitudinal Study show that girls who start menstruating at age 10 grow, on average, 10 cm (4 inches), while those in whom menarche is delayed until age 15 grow, on average, 5 cm (2 inches).
If you're bleeding but not on your menstrual period, it can be caused by several factors. Some reasons you may be bleeding could include infection, an underlying medical condition, medication or hormonal imbalance.
Discharge: Vaginal discharge (white or yellowish fluid) is usually a sure sign that your first period is on its way.
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. If you think you're getting close to your first period, it might make you more comfortable to be ready.
Sometimes, irregular periods can be caused by some medicines, exercising too much, having a very low or high body weight, or not eating enough calories. Hormone imbalances can also cause irregular periods. For example, thyroid hormone levels that are too low or too high can cause problems with periods.
Pinkish-brown discharge or spotting is common around the time of a person's period, but it can also happen at other times because of ovulation, pregnancy, or health problems. However, this color of discharge is rarely a cause for concern.
Menarche is defined as the first menstrual period in a female adolescent. Menarche typically occurs between the ages of 10 and 16, with the average age of onset being 12.4 years.
While your child is young, the skin around the vulva (external female genital area) can be quite thin, and this can lead to it being easily irritated. Occasional itching around the vulval area is common.
Anal Fissure or Tear
An anal fissure is the most common cause of blood in the stools. It causes blood on the surface of a stool. Blood may also be found on toilet tissue after wiping.
Brown discharge may be a sign of implantation bleeding. This occurs when a fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining. As it does, it creates a small amount of bleeding. You might notice implantation bleeding as brown discharge when wiping after urination.
Light flow that starts a period may turn brown if it is exposed to oxygen during this journey. This can mix with vaginal discharge and appear as light brown discharge for 1-2 days before full period flow begins.
Brown discharge before a period is typically vaginal discharge that contains blood. Brown discharge that occurs when a period is not due may cause worry. However, brown discharge before a period is not typically a cause for concern.
This is completely normal and natural during puberty. If your child experiences a sudden change of color or smell of the vaginal discharge talk to your child's doctor to make sure she doesn't have an infection.