Periods+connor+coffey

When do they start?
When a girl has her period, a small amount of bleeding takes place from her vagina. The bleeding will last for a few days and usually happens every month. This bleeding is referred to as menstruation and is not something to be scared of. Most girls will have their first period between the ages of 11 and 14. But some girls will start as early as 8, whilst others may be as late as 17. Some girls get a white stain in their underwear before they have their first period, and this means that they may start getting periods soon.

**What happens during a periods?**
When a girl has her period she may notice changes in her body and mood. PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome) is a term sometimes used to describe the physical and emotional symptoms a girl might experience just before and during her period. For example, her breasts may feel sore, or become larger, or she may get spots (pimples) on her face. She may feel tired and find it hard to concentrate, get food cravings, or feel very emotional.

How does a girl stop blood getting on her clothes during her period?
When a girl has her period she can use sanitary towels or tampons to soak up the blood. Sanitary towels are thin pads made of a soft cotton-like material. They are worn by a girl inside her knickers. Most towels have a sticky strip on them that sticks the pad to the inside of the girl's knickers. A tampon is like a small rolled up piece of cotton wool with a string at one end. A girl pushes a tampon into her vagina leaving the string hanging outside her body. The string is then used to pull the tampon out. Some tampons also come with applicators that help you to insert the tampon. As a tampon is put into the vagina, there is no problem about going to the toilet when using one. Never try to force a tampon in if it hurts. Towels and tampons come in different thicknesses so you can use a thicker one when the bleeding is heavier, and thinner ones for lighter bleeding. "Menstrual cups" are also available in some countries. These are small latex or silicone cups that are inserted into the vagina to collect the blood. The most common type of cup is reusable and can last for many years.

Do periods hurt?
Some girls feel uncomfortable or have cramp-like pains when they have periods. These pains are often not very bad and do not last very long, however some girls experience quite intense pains which can stop them from doing things that they normally would. If a girl is finding it difficult to deal with period pains, she should talk to an adult as there are a number of things that can be done to help. If the pains are very bad, it might be necessary to speak to a doctor. There are lots of ways that girls deal with period pains. Taking a warm bath or holding a hot water bottle to her stomach can be comforting. Painkillers can also be used if the cramps are bad. Many girls find that light exercise, such as going for a brisk walk or a swim, helps to ease the pain.