Starting your period is a normal part of growing up, but it’s natural to have questions about when it’ll happen and what it will be like. This guide is for anyone expecting their first period, and for parents and carers who want to help.
What is a period?
A period is the bleeding that happens when the lining of the womb (uterus) breaks down and leaves the body through the vagina. It’s part of the menstrual cycle. Each month, the body prepares the womb lining in case of pregnancy. When there’s no pregnancy, the lining is shed as a period.
What age do periods start?
Most girls start their periods at about 12, but it can be as early as 8, and some don’t start until 16 or 17. Every body is different, and starting earlier or later than your friends is usually completely normal.
People sometimes search for this as “what age can a girl start coming”. It means the same thing: when periods begin.
Signs your first period is on its way
There’s no exact way to predict the day, but these are good clues:
- Breast development. Periods usually start about 2 years after breasts start to grow.
- Underarm and pubic hair. Growing hair in these places is a sign your period is getting close.
It’s a good idea to keep a pad in your school bag once you notice these signs, so you’re ready whenever it happens.
What happens during a period?
- Bleeding usually lasts between 2 and 7 days, often about 5. It’s usually heaviest in the first 2 days.
- The amount is smaller than it looks: most people lose about 20 to 90ml over a whole period, roughly 1 to 5 tablespoons.
- The colour can range from bright red to dark red or brown, and that’s normal.
- First periods may be short or light, and are sometimes just a few spots of brown.
You might also notice some symptoms around your period, such as cramps in your tummy, bloating, sore breasts, spots, or feeling more emotional than usual. These are common and usually ease after the first day or two.
Will my periods be regular?
Not straight away. It can take some months, or even a couple of years, for periods to settle into a regular pattern. Once they do, most people have a period every 23 to 35 days.
During this time it’s normal to skip a month or have two periods close together. Keeping track helps you learn your own pattern. The period tracker can do this privately, on your own device.
Choosing period products
There’s no right or wrong choice. Many people start with pads because they’re simple to use, but all of these are options:
- Pads, which stick inside your underwear. Reusable cloth pads are available too.
- Tampons, which go inside the vagina. They can’t get lost inside you.
- Menstrual cups, which collect blood rather than absorb it. Read our period cup guide.
- Period underwear, which looks like normal pants with an absorbent layer. Read our period panties guide.
If you use tampons or a cup, wash your hands and follow the instructions, and don’t leave them in longer than recommended. This reduces the small risk of a rare but serious illness called toxic shock syndrome.
Dealing with cramps
Period pain is common. Things that help include a warm bath, a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel on your tummy, gentle exercise such as walking or swimming, and painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, following the pack. The cramp relief planner has more ideas.
When to see a GP
- Your periods haven’t started by age 15
- Your periods haven’t started by age 13 and you have no other signs of puberty, such as breast development
- Your period pain stops you doing everyday things, like going to school
- Your periods are very heavy, for example soaking through a pad every 1 to 2 hours
A GP can check whether anything needs looking at, and it’s a very ordinary thing to ask about.
For parents and carers
Talking about periods before they start makes the first one much less scary. Explain what a period is, show them what products look like, and make sure they know they can come to you, a school nurse, or a GP with questions. Our period FAQ covers many of the questions young people ask.