During your period, you may notice red or brown blood on your underwear or in the toilet after using the bathroom. You may bleed so little that you only see a few spots before your period ends. Or, your bleeding may start light, get heavier, and then become light again before it ends.
One day, you'll see blood in your underwear or on your sheets, and boom — there it is! There may be signs of your first period (like cramps, bloating, or pimples), but this doesn't happen for everyone. Most people get their first period between ages 12 and 15, but some people get theirs earlier or later than that.
Typically, a girl gets her period about 2 years after her breasts start to develop. Another sign is vaginal discharge fluid (sort of like mucus) that a girl might see or feel on her underwear. This discharge usually begins about 6 months to a year before a girl gets her first period.
Spotting is light bleeding that can occur between periods. It usually appears as a small amount of blood when wiping or on underwear. Possible causes include birth control, pregnancy, menopause, and more.
For some, the first period is light, with a small amount of blood. 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.
A normal discharge usually begins in girls when they start breast development and puberty. It is due to increased estrogen (hormone) levels. The discharge is clear or whitish, thin and small in amount.
Most of the time, a girl gets her period about 2 years after her breasts start to develop. Another sign is vaginal discharge fluid (sort of like mucus) that a girl might see or feel on her underwear. This discharge usually begins about 6 months to a year before a girl gets her first period.
Pubic hair – Once her pubic hair starts growing, you can expect her period to develop in one to two years. It may begin soft and thin but it will become courser and thicker towards the end of puberty.
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.
When you first start having your period, it may last only a few days. 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.
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.
In the years leading up to your first period, you'll notice changes in your nipples, chest and pubic hair. Your body will become more like an adult, and becoming pregnant will become possible. For most people, these changes become noticeable around ages 8–10, but can happen earlier or later than that (1,2).
Heavy bleeding is a common concern for adolescents still learning what a “normal” menstrual cycle is for them. However, most adolescents do not experience blood loss severe enough to be considered heavy menstrual bleeding.
In the first couple of years after periods begin, it's really normal for periods to be irregular — and for some of them to be heavy. At the beginning, periods aren't associated with ovulation, and the hormones and hormonal patterns that help regulate periods haven't fallen into place yet.
She will probably get her first training bra at this time. About a year after all this (a total of two years after budding), she will get a real bra and armpit hair. First period will come about 4 months before or after these events.
Menstrual blood leaves the body much more slowly than rapidly flowing urine. That's why the pads you use to manage your period will likely not be able to quickly absorb enough for incontinence needs. In addition, some people find a period pad will bulk up on them (talk about uncomfortable!)
If your period feels stuck or doesn't seem to be coming out, it could be due to hormonal changes or from some type of obstruction. If your period feels unusual or different than normal, it's best to contact a gynecologist for an evaluation.
Tell him in a straightforward way.
Chances are he's been through sex ed and had other partners (or a sibling or close friend) who have mentioned it before, so it shouldn't be a big deal to him. Say something simple, like "Hey, I just started my period. I'm not feeling so great."
Cruciferous vegetables more commonly known as green leafy vegetables include spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and so on. They are rich in calcium and magnesium, both of which help relieve period pain. Lack of water in the body might also cause dehydration and headaches during periods.