Hi Isobel, thank you for contacting me!
At this point I think you probably should not worry. When you first start to menstruate, your period can be very irregular; starting, stopping and starting again. Some periods may be very light whilst others could be heavy. Some girls have one period and then wait as long as six months for the next one! This isn't unusual. Until your body adjusts to your cycle, your period may be unpredictable, so please don’t worry. It can take up to two years for hormones to settle down enough to make them regular.
I suggest you keep a menstrual calendar and record each period, including your flow pattern. If you are at all concerned, see your Doctor and take the calendar in with you to explain your irregular flow.
Also, here is a link to the “Your Body” section of BeingGirl, our teens site, where you can find more information about periods: http://www.beinggirl.co.uk/yourbody/yourbody.php Just check the menu bar on the left hand side for all the different tools (like a period calendar) and information you can get!
Hope this was helpful!
Danai
HI Saskia!
I am really sorry to hear you feel so scared about getting your period! And I am happy you can talk to your mum about it!
Periods do sometimes hurt, but not for all women, and not necessarily always. Remember, all women are different and so are their periods!
The pain is caused by cramps when your uterus contracts (squeezes) slightly to help get rid of most of it’s lining.
If you do get pain when you get your period, there are many ways to relieve it, most of which work with finding ways to warm up your belly (like placing a hot water bottle on it). And if these techniques do not work, there are also helpful medications you can get at the pharmacy.
So I would say do not panic, as first of all you do not know if you will be one of the women that has any period pain at all, and secondly, there are ways to manage it even then!
One last thought: as you grow up things tend to get better! When I was younger I used to have period pain as well, and liked lying in bed all day, rubbing my belly to keep it warm. Now, I do not even feel I have my period, and nothing else has changed other than that I am a bit older!
So, please do not panic, and when the time comes, whatever your experience will be like, I promise you that with the help of your mum you will manage it!
You may also want to look into www.beinggirl.co.uk , our teens site, that also has a lot of information on periods!
Hope this helps!
Hi Annie-mai!
No worries, you can ask as many questions as you like :-)
A period usually lasts between 3 and 7 days. However, when you first start menstruating, the length of your period may not be regular, so it is not as worrying if it lasts more than 7 days.
Still, if you feel you are having heavy flow and it has been 11 days already, I would urge you to talk to a close family member or your doctor to get it checked out properly.
You know, sometimes you will not be sure what your body is doing, and it is perfectly normal and ok to talk to someone about it. I know it feels weird at the beginning but as you grow older you will get more comfortable about it… I know I have!
Let me know if you have more questions!
Hello Annie-mai!
The amount of blood in the menstrual cycle fluid varies from woman to woman, and from day to day during the period. A period usually end quite lightly, with most menstrual fluid lost in the first few days. Even then, it doesn’t come out very quickly. You lose about 80-85ml of menstrual fluid during your period, but only about 35ml of it is blood-although some women do lose a bit more. It might look like quite a lot bit is isn’t as much as much as you think.
However, if you suffer from heavy menstrual flow and you are using the highest absorbency tampon or sanitary pad and having to change them more often than is recommended on the box, you should see your doctor for intervention. I also advise that you keep a menstrual diary to include details of how many heavy days, kind of product used and how often you needed to change your sanitary protection, and take this to the doctors with you.
Regarding the pain that you are feeling, I would like to assure you that many women feel some kind of cramps during their period at some point in their lives. You get cramps when your uterus contracts (squeezes) slightly to help get rid of most of it’s lining. Not all women feel that same pain, some women only feel pain occasionally, and some women never feel any pain. That’s because all women are different, are so are their periods.
Some ways to ease period cramps;
· Rub your tummy gently with your hand to make it feel warm
· Soak for a while in a warm bath
· Hold a hot water bottle against your tummy
· Do some gentle exercise
There are also helpful medications you can get at the pharmacy.
However, if you experience a lot of period cramps it may be a good idea to talk to a close female relative or consult a doctor for this as well.
Finally, I would urge you to visit our teens website at www.beinggirl.com for more period advice, and to better understand the changes your body is going through, under our “Our body” section.
Hope this helped!
HI Emily!
Thanks for contacting me! Weight should not affect when you will get your period, provided you are at a healthy weight for your height. Some times if you are underweight, that indeed may affect getting your period and things like eating disorders and excessive exercise may also be responsible can cause you to stop having periods even after you first started menstruating.
If you are worried in general that you will never start your period, I would like to re-assure you that everyone has her own "biological clock" and yours is different from everyone else's. So even if you feel like you'll never get your period, don't worry! Some girls have their first period at 8 or 9 - some don't have it until they're 15 or 16.
So there is a big chance you may not have gotten yours yet because your "clock" is not ready, and not because of a medical reason. If however you still worry, I would urge you to discuss it with your doctor next time you visit.
Also, I would suggest you visit our teens site www.beinggirl.co.uk, that has a lot of information on the changes your body goes through in puberty, as well as fun games and beauty tips.
Hello Silvia!
Thank you for your email.
Always Ultra Night is our best protection pad. While it is longer, it is still an ultra pad, so it is quite discreet, and there is no reason why you could not wear it during the day as well as during night.
If you suffer from heavy menstrual flow and you are using the highest absorbency sanitary pad (Always Ultra Night) and having to change them more often than is recommended on the box, you should see your doctor for intervention. I also advise that you keep a menstrual diary to include details of how many heavy days, kind of product used and how often you needed to change your sanitary protection, and take this to the doctors with you.
I am not trying to scare you, but I think a doctor will be more appropriate to examine your individual case and offer some solution.
I would also urge you to visit our teen website at www.beinggirl.co.uk, for any other type of questions you may have regarding your period, the changes your body is having, but also for fun, as we host games, beauty tips and more there!
Good Luck
HI Amelia!
Doing sports during your period should not normally affect you. If anything, mild exercise is advised as a way to reduce period pain. Actually, it has been observed that excessive exercise can lead to the opposite, meaning it can even cause your period to stop!
If you are worried about your flow, I would recommend you discuss it with your doctor.
At Always we do not have such a thing as what you describe as a "period panty". If you explain to me why you are looking for one, however, I may be able to help you find another solution!
Hi!
Technically, if you have reached menopause, you can no longer get pregnant as, at this time, the ovaries stop releasing eggs and the menstrual cycle comes to a stop. However the process to arrive to menopause can take years. Hot flushes, or sweats may start years before you actually go through menopause, not to mention changes in your menstrual cycle. So while your cycle may become erratic during the years before menopause, your ovaries will still release eggs, and as a result you can still be fertile and get pregnant. If you are worried you may be pregnant, I would suggest you take a pregnancy test, which will help clear any doubts. You can get more information about pregnancy tests at the Clearblue website: http://www.clearblueeasy.com/
