Choices
Education
Free Time
Health
Housing
Law and Your Rights
Links
Money
Relationships
Travel and Transport
Work and Training
Periods
Girls and young women usually start their periods around the age of 12 or 13, although for some it may come a few years before or after that time. Everyone is different, so if you have started your period before your friends, or if you're a bit older and still waiting, try not to worry - your periods start when your body is ready.
You'll know you're having your period if you start to have bleeding through your vagina that lasts from 2 - 8 days. You'll get your period about once a month, although some girls and women have it more often, while others have it less often. Starting your period means that you can now get pregnant. Each month, your body gets ready for a possible pregnancy, and the lining of your womb becomes thick and soft. You release an egg from your ovaries and it moves through your fallopian tubes into your womb. If the egg has been fertilised by a man's sperm, it grows in the womb and develops into a baby. If it hasn't been fertilised, then your body gets rid of the egg and the lining of the womb - it passes through your vagina and that's when you get your period.
You can still get pregnant when you're having your period. That's because your body can release an egg at any time, and sperm can live for up to five days in your body. If you're planning to have sex, it is important to visit your GP or family planning clinic to get the best advice on preventing an unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection.
You might find that before your period, your breasts feel a bit sore, or you have spots, headaches, stomach cramps or feel moody or tearful. Take care of yourself by eating healthy foods and avoiding too much sugar or salt. A lot of women find that exercise helps to reduce cramps, or you could try using a hot water bottle. If your periods are very painful, don't suffer in silence. Talk to your doctor, who can prescribe medication to ease your symptoms and make sure you're okay.
