All about the first menstruation: when should it start, what to expect and whether it is worth worrying

When should your period start?

There is no exact answer to this question. It is believed that menarche (as doctors call the onset of menstruation, from the Greek words that translate as "month" and "beginning") occurs at the age of Starting your periods about 12 years. But this number is from a series of average temperatures in the hospital. The reality is much more variable: some girls may start their periods at 8, others at 16, and this is also normal.

The vast majority of girls experience their first menstrual period between the ages of 10 and 15 All About Periods.

However, each body has its own schedule.

What determines when your period starts

The onset of menstruation is associated with changes in hormonal levels. When a girl grows up, her body is rebuilt, preparing for possible motherhood.

The ovaries begin to actively produce estrogen and progesterone. These hormones, in turn, cause the body to change - the girl has pubic and armpit hair, her breasts grow. In addition, the lining of the uterus (endometrium) gradually thickens, preparing to receive the fertilized egg. If there is no ovum, the thickened endometrium is rejected and goes out - this is how menstruation occurs.

In adult girls and women, this process is cyclically repeated once a month. But in girls, the endometrium does not reach the required thickness immediately.

On average, your first period occurs Starting your periods about 2 years after your breasts begin to grow.

Or a year after the appearance of white vaginal discharge. However, there are other signs that suggest the imminent onset of menarche.

How to understand that the first menstruation will begin soon

First Period symptoms. Early Signs of approaching menarche coincide with signs of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It:

the appearance of pimples, skin irritation;
soreness in the chest;
bloating;
stool disorders - constipation or diarrhea;
feeling tired, increased fatigue;
excessive emotionality, irritability;
food cravings, especially sweets;
increased clear or whitish vaginal discharge.

However, not all girls have symptoms. Sometimes menstruation simply begins, without warning of their arrival by changes in well-being.

How long does the first period last?

Everything is individual. For some, their first period is limited to a few drops of blood on their underwear. In other girls, Starting your periods may last 5-7 days and be accompanied by quite “adult” (up to several tablespoons of liquid for the entire period) bleeding.

Also the question of regularity is personal. The monthly cycle can be established immediately - and then the next menstruation will come All About Periods 4-5 weeks after the first. But breaks are also possible, sometimes for several months.

In any case, 2-3 years after menarche, menstruation becomes regular and is repeated once a month. This suggests that the girl has finally grown up and is already fully ready to become a mother.

What to do if the first menstruation still does not come

Be sure to contact your pediatrician if the girl is already 16 years old and her period has not started yet. It is also worth consulting with a doctor if the teenager is 14, and there are no signs of puberty yet - hair does not appear under the armpits and in the groin, and the chest does not grow.

There are many reasons for Starting your periods for which menarche may be lagging:

Underweight. Including related to malnutrition.
Too much physical activity. This can be, for example, overly active dancing, rhythmic gymnastics, athletics.
Stress.
Hormonal imbalance.
Disorders in the development of the genital organs.

The doctor will examine the child, take an interest in his lifestyle, offer to take blood and urine tests. Depending on the result of the examination, the pediatrician will tell you what to do next, or send the girl to a specialized specialist: nutritionist, endocrinologist, gynecologist, psychotherapist.

What problems can arise during the first menstruation and later

Most healthy girls have no menstrual problems. But sometimes things can go wrong.

Be sure to contact your pediatrician or therapist if All About Periods:

Your periods last longer than a week.
Too much blood comes out. You can assume this situation if you have to change the pad or tampon once an hour or more.
Menses have been going on for more than two years now, but they are still irregular.
Bleeding occurs between periods.
During the period of PMS and menstruation, the stomach hurts a lot and this pain does not go away even after taking over-the-counter analgesic drugs.

The doctor will find the cause of these violations and help get rid of the discomfort.