Your first period is here - and so is our one-stop guide

If you haven’t gotten your period yet:

1.     We’re super proud of you for reading all about it and prepping yourself.

2.     Don't worry; it will come when your body is ready.

The serious stuff

Periods (also known as menstruation) is when blood comes out through a girl’s vagina. It can begin at any age between 8 and 18. However, most girls begin their menstrual cycle between the ages of 11 and 14.

What’s that first period like?

·       You'll notice a small quantity of blood leaking from your vaginal opening when you get your first period. Don’t freak out. This is absolutely normal.

·       It can last from 2 to 5 or 7 days with a mild or heavy flow. It can even begin light, then become heavy, and then return to a light flow.

·       You will only lose 2 to 6 teaspoons of blood per period, so you won’t run out of blood and need a transfusion.

·       Now that you’ve gotten your first period, congratulations! It’ll come every month, so you have plenty of time to adjust.

Why do you get periods?

Getting periods is a sign that you are getting close to the start of puberty. Puberty is when your body goes from looking like a child’s body into looking more like a grown-up's.

Menstruation or your period, is when your body no longer needs the thicker lining of the uterus, so it starts to break down and is eventually expelled, along with some blood, from your vagina. This is your period. Read on to know what the real deal is.

The inside scoop

When you reach adolescence and your body starts producing the hormone estrogen (which regulates menstruation), your ovaries develop the eggs, and one egg is released once a month - this is known as ovulation. The egg goes from the ovaries to the uterus via the fallopian tubes (womb).

A period happens because of changes in hormones in the body. Hormones give messages to the body. These hormones cause the lining of the uterus (or womb) to build up. This gets the uterus ready for an egg (from the mom) and sperm (from the dad) to attach and grow into a baby. If the woman does not get pregnant, the lining breaks down and bleeds. This same process happens every month. That is why most girls and women get their periods around once a month.

Or, to put it simply:

It can be a pain too

For some girls, a period can be painful and uncomfortable with abdominal cramping. The pain could be mild and short, or long and excruciating. If this causes you discomfort, don’t hesitate to have a chat with your mom, a female family member or a doctor. There are so many ways to help lessen the pain. We get it

Periods can be pretty tough to handle for the first time. Or even the 20^th time, for that matter. How do you know when it’s time? Will it happen in the middle of a test at class? What about exercising in the gym? And, the one we all dread to think of: the awfulness of a leaky period. Why should you restrict yourself to wearing hues of black? When, let’s face it, pastels really are the rage.

Work it, baby

That’s right. Now’s not the time to shy away from that lunch outing or skip your gym time. What you need are period hacks.

TRACK IT

You might experience irregular period times during your first few years.  We say it’s the perfect time to try out this period tracker so you aren’t caught by surprise. Go on, don’t fee shy.

GET A PERIOD KIT

It pays to be prepared. So, fill up a bag of essentials with a Kotex Overnight Period Panty. It’s a lifesaver if that period hits you when you least expect it.

Treat your self

Shoo those period woes away with an extra treat or two. While chocolates are definitely a great pick-me-upper if you’re feeling low, we recommend some exercise too.

The good kind of period therapy

Healthy, well-balanced meals will help manage your stress levels. You won’t regret having that Waldorf salad, or filling up your plate with leafy veggies.

Let’s get to the good part

Don’t let the leaky syndrome scare the pants off you. Just let those kotex overnight period panties do all the work of absorbing with their super leak locks. So, go on and wear that pastel get-up you've always wanted to. With Kotex’s 360 anti-leakage protection, don’t let your period stop you. We say make friends with your period. Take it out to lunch too.

Source disclaimer: Article is adapted from original article source U by Kotex – AU

Sources: https://www.ubykotex.com.au/education/getting-your-period

https://www.healthline.com/health/why-do-women-have-periods#why