Periods: the facts

What's normal and what's not for women and their periods? TheSite.org has the lowdown.

Terms and conditions

In medical terms, a period is known as menstruation.
Often women just say they're 'on', or 'coming on', or refer to their 'time of the month'.

A period is a monthly bleeding from the womb through the vagina.
It's a natural part of every woman's life, and a sign that her body is healthy and working normally.
Women are born with thousands of eggs inside their ovaries. Each month, a new egg is released into the womb, where a baby would develop if the egg was fertilised by sperm. Unless you become pregnant, the egg is shed, along with the soft lining of the womb. This is your menstrual bleed. At the same time, a new egg takes its place in the womb, the lining begins to thicken once more, and the cycle begins again.
A full cycle is roughly 28 days, but its perfectly normal to have much shorter or longer cycles.

A range of easy-to-use sanitary products are available to help make periods easy to live with. You can use either sanitary towels or tampons to absorb the blood. Towels soak up the blood as it leaves the vagina. Tampons are inserted inside the vagina, and absorb the blood there.
Sanitary products are available not just from chemists but supermarkets, some newsagents and garages. Different products are tailored to different blood flows. Use whatever feels most comfortable for you.
Towels and tampons need to be changed several times a day during your period.

Toxic Shock Syndrome is a rare condition, but if you feel sick, have a sore throat or sudden fever while using a tampon, then remove it immediately and consult your doctor.
Period pains (stomach cramps) can be eased with a hot water bottle, or a hot bath. Stretching exercises can help too, or you could take a mild painkiller - ask a parent or your pharmacist for advice. Very bad pains (dysmenorrhoea) can be helped by a variety of different treatments, so don't be afraid to ask your GP.
Some women have very heavy periods (menorrhagia), which can have a number of different causes. If you're losing significant amounts of blood, eg. a super-absorbent towel doesn't last for an hour, then make an appointment to see your doctor.
Starting a fortnight or so before a period is due to start, some women experience a change in mood and the way their body feels. This is known as Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS).

Generally, girls have their first period between the age of nine and 16.
Before the first period, girls may get a sticky white discharge for a few months. This is normal.
When periods first start they might not come regularly. Things will soon settle down, however, so theres no cause for concern.
Bleeding lasts anything from three to eight days, but the amount and flow is different for every girl.
On average, only about four to six teaspoonfuls of blood are lost during each period.
Periods shouldnt be treated as a curse or a taboo. Many girls turn to their mothers for help and info, but school nurses and GP will also be happy to answer any questions.
Women continue to have periods until the age of about 50, when the menopause (hormonal changes) occur.