periods

What is it?

Menstruation, or 'having your period', usually starts somewhere between the ages of 9 and 16, about 1-2 years after breasts and pubic hair start to grow. Around this time, there is often a growth spurt and acne can start to develop. The average age is around 12-13.

Periods usually start because the ovaries are maturing and starting to make the female hormones needed for pregnancy. Each month, the ovaries release an egg (ovulation) and the uterus (womb) prepares for a possible pregnancy by growing a thick lining. If there isn't a pregnancy, the lining comes away and you have a period.

A period is made up of blood, fluid and tissue from the lining of the uterus. The average amount of blood lost is around 40mls or 2 tablespoons.

On average, a period happens every 28 days and lasts around 5 days, but this can vary. Periods lasting up to 8 days and happening every 3 to 5 weeks is considered normal. When you first start having periods, they might take a year or two to become regular. It's not uncommon for a woman to miss a period occasionally, but if you're having sex, you need to check for pregnancy.

Period pain isn't uncommon and many women experience cramps that can move into their back and legs on the days leading up to, and during the first few days of their period. This pain can usually be eased by taking anti inflammatory medications available from the chemist without a doctor's prescription. These include ibuprofen (e.g. Nurofen®) and naproxen (e.g. Naprogesic®).

Managing periods

You can use either pads or tampons to soak up period blood. You need change them at least every 3-4 hours, depending on the amount of blood. On your heaviest days, you will need to change them more often.

Problems with periods

Pain

Many women have severe period pain. You should see a doctor if:

it's not eased by medication from the chemist
it's getting worse
you have pain when you have sex
you have abnormal bleeding
you want to get pregnant and are having trouble.

Most of the time, there isn't a serious cause for period pain. Many women find taking the contraceptive pill very helpful. Some women with period pain have endometriosis. For information on endometriosis, see the Jean Hailes Foundation's endometriosis website.

Heavy periods

Abnormally heavy periods mean more than a total of 80mls of blood. Signs of heavy bleeding include:

fully soaking your pads and tampons within an hour
regularly flooding (blood soaking through your pad or tampon onto your clothes)
needing to use two pads or a pad and tampon together.

The most common cause of a women being diagnosed with a low blood count or iron level is having heavy periods. If you notice any of the above signs, it might be a good idea to see a doctor, as there are a number of effective treatments such as the contraceptive pill and hormonal IUDs (Mirena®).

No periods

If a young woman hasn't shown any signs of puberty (such as starting to grow breasts and dark pubic hair) by the age of 14 or hasn't started having periods by 16, she should see a doctor. For most, it's just late puberty, but it's important to be sure.

Woman who have regular monthly periods that stop for more than three months and women who have periods that come at odd times should see a doctor. Often, a serious cause isn't found. Changes in weight, exercise and stress can all contribute and in some women, it can be due to polycystic ovarian syndrome. For information on this common condition, see the Jean Hailes website.

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