I still remember the day I got my first period. It was a regular weekend morning- nothing out of the ordinary at all. Little 12 year old me had just gone into the bathroom to have a wash, decided to go to the toilet, and when I was sat on the toilet I noticed that I had a small amount blood in my underwear- no more than about half a teaspoon worth. Despite the preparation that my VERY Catholic secondary school had given us about how female bodies work, and that getting your first period is nothing to be afraid of, I was utterly terrified! I hadn’t experienced any of the warning signs I had been preparing for, I didn’t have anything prepared like sanitary towels, and worst of all, I was stuck in the bathroom with no one but my dad in the house for help!

Periods can be very daunting, especially if you haven’t had anyone properly explain to you what a period is and why you get them. This is where I will step in. In this post, I will give you as much advice as I can on how to prepare for your first period, and what to expect! I have also put in a little bit of information on why we get periods, just to help ease your mind that this is all completely natural.

Getting over those initial nerves

Of course my first point to mention is that your parents are always there to help you- especially those in your household who also get periods like you mum, or your aunt or sister. Never be afraid to ask one of them for help. They have been in this same position before, therefore are the best people to ask for support at this time. Even if that person turns out to be your dad, do ask him for support if you feel comfortable with it. When I got my first period my dad turned out to be my biggest supporter and was more than happy to help me prepare the things I needed. You can also talk to your friends who have already got their periods if you feel like you need some advice in a chilled-out, funny setting.

My second piece of advice is definitely don’t be scared! Periods are an extremely natural process that all girls go through at some point in their life. Some girls get their first period much younger than I did, whereas I know other girls who didn’t get their first period until they were 16! Although it is important to remember that if you haven’t got your first period by the time you are 16, you should go and see the doctor, typically, there is no timeline for your period, as everyone is completely different. Everything you body is doing for you, and the time it takes to get your first period is what is normal for you, so please don’t feel nervous if you find that all your friends have got their period and you haven’t.

Why do we get periods?

I think firstly, it is very important for you to know the biology behind why females get periods. However, I completely understand if you would rather not know the biology behind it, or maybe you already know it and don’t feel like you need to read this next bit. If this is the case, feel free to skip this section! Now onto the explanation.

As you get older, your body goes through puberty. Puberty is where your body begins to develop and change, ready for you to enter adulthood- everyone goes through it, regardless of their gender. As girls reach the end of puberty, the body begins to release higher levels of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. These hormones then work together to thicken the lining of your uterus and to release an egg from your ovaries (feel free to look at the easy to read diagram I have put below to help you visualise this process). The reason why the uterus lining thickens is so if the egg released from the ovaries is fertilised, the fertilised egg can imbed itself in the uterus lining and grow a baby. However, if a fertilised egg does not implant into the uterus lining, your body has no use for the thickened lining nor the unfertilised egg, therefore it gets rid of it by shedding the extra lining. This turns into blood and leaves the body through the vagina. This bleeding is what we call your ‘period’, or ‘menstruation’.

This whole process takes around 1 month, with the average ‘menstrual cycle’ takes around 28 days, with the actual period itself lasting around 5 days on average.

Of course it is also very important of me to mention that once you begin ovulating (the process of your body releasing an egg from the ovaries) there is a chance you could get pregnant if you engage in unprotected sex. Therefore, if you plan on having sex, make sure you are using a form of contraception (something used to prevent pregnancy) such as a condom, or the contraceptive pill, to prevent pregnancy.

Are there any signs that I will get my period?

There are some common signs that your period may be about to make an arrival! Typically however, especially for your first period, these signs can come some months in advance so just make sure you’re prepared wherever you go! These signs are:

• Finding discharge in your underwear. Discharge looks a bit like mucus, is usually white and liquidy. It is absolutely nothing to be afraid of and is completely normal! Your vagina is self-cleaning, and white discharge is just a sign that your vagina is clean and healthy! Discharge usually appears 6-12 months before your period begins, so keep a look out.
• Usually, girls will get their first period 2 years after their breast tissue starts to develop. This is again linked to the release of the hormone oestrogen. Closer to the time of your period coming, you may also begin to feel that your breasts are quite tender and sore.
• Cramps. Everyone’s heard of them! Cramps often feel like either a deep, dull ache or sharp pains in your lower stomach. They are usually a sign that your uterus is contracting and trying to shed its lining. Cramps are extremely common, however can be very uncomfortable therefore please do that some paracetamol or another form of pain relief, put on some comfy clothes and get yourself a hot water bottle to hold on your lower tummy to help ease the pain (chocolate also helps too!).
• Your emotions being a bit out of whack can also indicate the possible beginning of your period. During your menstrual cycle, your hormones are all over the place- especially in the beginning when your body is trying to get used to the new levels of hormones. Because of this, you might find that you feel more teary or agitated and you may feel more tired then usual. Make sure to do plenty of self-care and take lots of time to rest as this will really help to alleviate these symptoms. Your body is doing a lot, so take it easy!
• Acne is also a prime indicator that you might get your first period, so look out for some spots on your face.

When you do get your period, the blood may not be bright red like it was with mine. It may very well be brown or black. This is okay! All this means is that the blood may have been sitting in your vagina for a little while before making its exit, meaning that the blood has been exposed to more oxygen. Additionally, you may not get a lot of blood, but instead you may get spotting.

Is there anything I can do to help me prepare?

Yes! There’s a lot you can do.

• Ensure you have spare underwear with you wherever you go. Your first period is unpredictable therefore you could get it whilst you’re at school, out shopping, or at the beach, so make sure to carry a change of underwear with you just in case.
• Pack a period kit. When I was leading up to my first period, I found having a period kit very reassuring. A period kit could include pads, tampons, refreshing wipes and your spare underwear. By having this to hand, your always covered if you get your first period whilst on the go. You can make your own period kit using sanitary items from the shop and with a little makeup bag, however if you do not want to make one yourself, you can buy one. The brand Lil-Lets sell a wonderful period kit called ‘Lil-Lets Teens Starter Pack’ full of pads, panty liners and tampons. It also contains a miniature booklet that can teach you about periods, puberty and growing up. I will link the Lil-Let’s starter pack down below if you would like to have a look at it.
• Make sure to have paracetamol or other pain management on hand! Periods can sometimes be painful, therefore having some pain relief on you is really important to keeping you as comfortable and pain-free as possible.
• If you have period cramps, lay on your back, not in a ball. This will help ease the cramps.
• Use a hot water bottle on your lower stomach to ease cramps, or alternatively you could take a warm bath or shower to help relax your muscles.
• Make sure you are eating well and staying hydrated. Taking care of your body is extremely important during your periods. This will really help to ease pain and discomfort, and can sometimes help your period finish early.
• Relax and take it easy on yourself! You are going through a very big change and you are coping with it so well. You should be really proud of yourself. Make sure to take some time for you and do some self-care. Watch a good movie maybe? Or have your favourite snack.

Pads, tampons or a menstrual cup?

These are the three sanitary products that are available to you when you start your period. I have put some information on all three down below if you wish to have a read about them!

Pads are made of cotton, and stick to the inside of your underwear. Pads are made either with, or without sticky wings that help secure the pad to your underwear, and are made in a range of absorbencies. Therefore, you can gage for yourself which type of pad works for you. You should make sure to change your pad at most every 4 hours. After around 4 hours, bacteria can begin to grow on the pad, which increases your risk of infection and can sometimes be quite smelly. Therefore, make sure to change them often.

Tampons are also made of cotton, however are inserted up the vagina using either your finger, or a plastic or cardboard applicator. They absorb the blood before it exits the vagina. These can be a little bit uncomfortable when inserting them for the first time, however this should subside with time. To remove the tampon, there is a small piece of string that will hang outside the vagina which you can use to pull it out, however make sure to change them at most every 6 hours. If you don’t this increases your risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Menstrual cups are often made of rubber and are also inserted up the vagina. These cups collect the blood and then once removed, you would then pour the blood down the toilet and re-insert the cup. Menstrual cups should be washed every 12 hours, and sterilised after each period.

For your first period, I personally would recommend going with pads. They are easy to put on and take off and for most people more comfortable then tampons or the menstrual cup. The only downside about pads really is that they can’t be worn in water. However, if you feel like one of the other methods would be better for you then definitely don’t be afraid to give them a go.

Final take away

Remember little sisters, as I said before, your period, although sometimes annoying, is a completely natural and incredible thing, so please try not to be scared of it. Your body is doing some truly wonderful things, preparing you for life as an adult. Another thing to note, never ever let anyone cause you shame over your period, and also, don’t feel embarrassed or self-conscious if you haven’t had your period yet! There is no normal timeline to when you will get your first period and it will come.

If you have read this far, thank you so much for reading and supporting my first ever blog post! It really means a lot. I plan to post approximately 2 times a week, however this may fluctuate due to my very busy schedule! Please leave your comments and suggestions down below if there is anything you would like me to write about next, I am more than happy to help you with any topic you need.

Until next time little sisters.

All my love,

– Jen x

Links

Lil-Lets Teen Starter Pack- https://www.lil-lets.com/uk/our-products/teens/lil-lets-teens-starter-pack/