What you need to know about periods

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Periods are a sign that you have reached puberty. The first period usually happens between the ages of 12 or 13, but could begin as early as aged 8 or as late as aged 17. A period lasts between 2 to 5 days and involves a small amount of blood loss from the vagina that is only about the amount of about 4 to 6 tablespoonfuls.

The time between one Period to the next is called the Menstrual Cycle. This usually lasts between 28 to 32 days, but your body will need to get used to the new routine over a year or two before the menstrual cycle becomes more regular.

You will need to use either sanitary pads or tampons to protect your underwear. Pads soak up the blood as it leaves your body and tampons fit inside your vagina and absorb the blood before it leaves your body. It is for you to choose which is the easiest and most comfortable to use.

Why do periods happen?

Each month during puberty, special chemicals inside of you, cause the body to release an egg from one of the two egg sacks, called ovaries. This is where all of your eggs are stored. The egg then travels onwards to the womb. Only if the egg meets sperm released from a boy during sex will it slowly develop over 9 months into a baby.

Usually, the egg just passes right through without being fertilised and just dissolves. Since the womb no longer needs to be ready to grow the egg, it sheds the extra blood and tissue it made out through the vagina. This loss of tissue is called menstruation or the period. This cycle will happen nearly every month except when being pregnant or until there are no more eggs to release, usually between the ages of 45 and 55.

The menstrual cycle is actually a very special and very complicated process that happens because many parts of the body are working together. The body, including the brain, all have to work together properly to make this cycle work. This includes:

Releasing an egg each month from the ovaries.
Preparing the body by making a special lining in the womb in case the egg is fertilised and develops into a baby.
Making the womb discard this special lining if the egg has not been fertilised

Females are truly amazing!
Keeping a menstrual diary helps you to work out when your next period should start. It is also very important to learn how to examine your breasts each month. This is good practice for life so that you get to know what is normal for you.

What different sanitary pads and tampons are there to use?

Sanitary pads fit inside your pants by means of a sticky strip, which keeps the pad in place. There are different types of pad and it is a matter of choice, which style you use. There are pads with and without wings. Some are for the earlier days of your period when the blood loss is heavier, and others for less heavy days towards the end of your period. You should read the packaging carefully to try to find out what the pads are made from because some materials used in many pads can be irritating to the skin. The pads should be changed regularly and disposed of in a bin.

Tampons are also available in different sizes to suit the amount of blood lost during a period. Some tampons you insert using only your index finger, and other tampons have a cardboard or plastic applicator to help you to insert it into the vagina. There is a cord that hangs outside of the body to help you to remove the tampon when you need to change it. It may not be easy to see when a tampon needs to be changed, but you should change the tampon at least every four hours. You need to make sure that you wash your hands before and after doing so. Always remember to remove the tampon before inserting a new one. At the end of a period when there will be only a very small amount of blood, it is better to use a pad rather than a tampon. Some practice is needed before you get used to putting in a tampon, but you should not use a tampon unless you are having a period. Using them when you do not have a period can cause dryness and irritation, and will absorb the protective mucous that your vagina produces to keep it clean.

Looking after your body

You should read the packaging carefully to try to find out what the tampons and pads are made from before buying because most are made from synthetic materials that are made without care for the environment. Try to avoid tampons made from materials like rayon and viscose which are man made (synthetic) and pads that use lots of plastic, and synthetic materials that claim to be “cotton-like” as they are largely made from synthetic materials that are almost impossible to get rid of in the environment. If you would like to find out more information about waste disposal and feminine hygiene products like sanitary pads and tampons, take a look at the Citizenship projects.

Organic cotton tampons and plastic and chemical-free pads are recommended by many gynaecologists in order to avoid the risk of allergic reaction caused by exposure to synthetic materials and chemicals. Try to choose natural products whenever possible.

When your periods start for the first time, it is important to start checking your breasts each month so that you learn what is normal for you so that if something unusual is noticed you can get it checked out straight away by a doctor. Look at the diagrams and the instructions on how to examine the breasts and start the routine of checking your breasts after your period has finished each month