Every month, a single egg leaves your ovaries and makes the long trip down the fallopian tubes, landing in your uterus. Your uterus has been hanging out for its arrival, developing a thick cushioning of blood-filled tissue incase of fertilisation by sperm. If the egg isn't fertilised then the uterus lining will break down and come out through the vagina - which is your period.
Click here to see a cool moving diagram, showing the monthly journey an egg makes from the ovaries to the uterus....
Just as some girls begin puberty earlier or later than others, the same applies to periods. Periods usually happens somewhere between the ages of 9 -16 years (or two years after your breasts start growing). However, don't worry if you start earlier or later than your friends. Our bodies have their own personal body clock for periods and puberty. If you're at all worried, see your doctor for reassurance.
The amount of time between a girl's periods is called her menstrual cycle. The cycle is counted from the start of one period to the start of the next). Some girls will find that their menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, whereas others might have a 24-day cycle, a 30-day cycle, or even a 35-day cycle.
When you are just beginning your periods it may take the body a while to sort out all the changes going on - so a girl may have a 28-day cycle for 2 months, then miss a month or have two periods with hardly any time in between them, for example. Usually, after a number of months, the menstrual cycle will become more regular.
The amount of time that a girl has her period for can also vary. Some girls have periods that last just 2 or 3 days; other girls may have periods that last 7 days or longer. The menstrual flow — meaning how much blood comes out of the vagina — can vary widely from girl to girl, too. You generally have heavy days at the start and they lighten out towards the end.
For most girls an entire period consists of anywhere from a few spoonfuls to less than 1/2 cup of blood — it just looks like a lot!
If you're worried about your blood flow or whether your period is normal in other ways, talk to a doctor.
You may have to deal with a few annoying things premenstual (PMS) symptoms before you get your period. These vary from girl to girl but can include:
PMS usually goes away soon after a period begins, but it can come back month after month. Exercising, eating well, and getting heaps of rest can help with the symptoms of PMS. Visit your doctor if you are finding it hard to deal with PMS.
There is always a first time for everyone.... here's a check list of some things you'll need...
Basically, go with whatever you feel is right for you and whatever you feel most comfortable with. The choices you have are:
Tampons: small, compacted absorbent cloth used internally. They are inserted into the vagina with an applicator or by using your finger and have a string to remove them. Some girls prefer using tampons so they can continue activities, such as swimming, during a period.
Sanitary pads: a piece of asorbent cloth that's worn outside the body. They have adhesive strips to help them stick to your undies. Make sure you keep the adhesive strips away from pubes to avoid them tearing them... you'll never make a mistake like that twice!.
Sanitary pads and tampons absorb different amounts of blood - look on the packet to see if the absorption rate is right for what you need. There are certain ones perfect for light flow, moderate flow, heavy flow and night time.