Periods. Your questions answered

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Q. How will I know that my period is coming?
A. Sometimes the breasts feel tender and the tummy may swell and feel uncomfortable. You might feel tired, a bit moody and get some aching in your lower back, legs or tummy. Some girls get a few spots just before their period is due to start. Gradually you will get to know your own signs. After 4 to 6 years of your very first period (the menarche), your menstrual pattern will be more regular.

Q. How long will my period last for?
A. Between 3 and 7 days. There can be just a small amount of blood for the first day so that you would only need to use a regular pad or low absorbency tampon. For the next few days, the loss will be heavier so you might find that you need to use a super pad or a regular or super tampon. If you use a tampon be sure to change it every 4 hours, and change to a sanitary pad at night. For the last few days, the loss will become much less until it stops. You may only need to use a panty liner for the last day or two. Sometimes the blood is a rusty colour and quite watery and sometimes it can be dark red and thicker. Only an eggcup full of blood is lost each period. Most of the flow that you see is made up of the cells from the special lining made each month in the uterus. Your period will be made up of no more than between one half and one whole cupful of liquid.

Q. How often will I have my period?
A. About once a month. A cycle can be as little as 21 days or as long as 35 days between bleeding and it can change month to month. Keeping a menstrual calendar will help build up a picture of your personal cycle, and after a while, you will be able to predict when you will bleed again. This will also help you to know when you need sanitary pads or tampons. Also, you will be able to know if your period is late or early and will have a record if you need to see your doctor about your periods.

Q. How will I feel during my period?
A. You may feel tired and sluggish and a bit grumpy if your periods are very heavy (needing to change your pad every hour). You may feel drained so make sure that you take time to relax and eat foods that are rich in iron. Good nutrition and plenty of exercise is always very important, but do make sure that you take care of your diet to avoid becoming excessively tired or anaemic by eating sensibly, taking appropriate supplements and light exercise. See your doctor if you are worried.

Q. Will my period hurt?
A. The bleeding does not hurt at all. Some girls do get cramps that can be felt in the legs, lower back and lower abdomen (tummy). This is caused by your uterus squeezing and contracting, and is your body’s reaction to the hormone prostaglandin. Putting a hot water bottle or wheat bag on your tummy may help to ease the cramps. It may only last a few days, but if it is so painful that it stops you from doing the things you would normally do, go and speak to your doctor about it.

Q. How do I stop the blood staining my clothes?
A. Use either sanitary pads or tampons or both. You can buy them from the grocery store, pharmacy or health store. Sanitary pads stay in place by sticking to the inside of your pants. They can be bought in all shapes, sizes and absorbencies to suit you. You probably need different pads for different days of your period. Tampons fit inside the vagina. The tampon will not get lost inside you and will stay in place until you remove it. Each tampon has a string that hangs outside of the vagina - slowly pulling down on the string removes the tampon easily. Using a sanitary pad or tampon may seem strange at first. Try different types until you decide what you like best. Ask for samples. The kind of clothes you wear or the activities you are doing may help you to decide which type of protection to use. Some girls feel more comfortable wearing a tampon whilst exercising or wearing close fitting clothes or a swimming costume, but be extra careful when using tampons by taking time to read the instructions in and on the packet very carefully. These instructions will tell you how to use the tampons, and will also give you very important safety information on how to reduce the risk of developing Toxic Shock Syndrome - TSS

Q. Will other people know that I have my period?
A. Definitely not. If you enjoy exercise, swimming and sport, you will still be able to take part, and selecting the best sanitary protection for your needs will help you to feel more confident during these activities. Remember to change your pad or tampon often to stay comfortable. Good daily hygiene is important for your own self-confidence, so be careful to wash your pubic area with perfume-free, soap less cleansing washes every day, but remember that the vagina is self-cleansing and there is normally a faint odour that is unnoticeable to other people. To put your mind at rest, the belief of a vaginal odour is often encouraged by manufacturers who have an interest in you as a consumer of their products. The average girl or woman, who bathes each day, has no need for vaginal deodorants or perfumed sanitary products. If you feel that you have an exceptional odour problem or vaginal irritation, then visit your doctor to check for any underlying problems.

Q. What do I do if my period starts in school?
A. Carry a few pads and/or tampons in your school bag all the time – You can bet that if you don’t need them, a friend will! If you forget, or your period starts earlier than you expected, ask the school nurse for supplies. Some schools have dispensing machines in the toilets, so check them out and keep the correct coins with you if you can. If your period starts in a lesson, wrap a sweater or a jacket around your waist and go to the school nurse or a female member of staff. Best to carry some spare pants and a perfume-free feminine wipe with you, or keep them in your school locker, so you can freshen up.

Q. Will I still be a virgin if I use a tampon?
A. The hymen is a thin skin that stretches across the lower part of the opening of the vagina. The OS is a tiny opening in the hymen that allows the menstrual blood to flow out of the body. Tampons may stretch the hymen a little bit, but they do not usually stretch it open all the way. Most girls are born with a hymen and it is important to some people. Some girls are born without a hymen and others stretch open their hymen by exercising a lot. If you are worried then you may prefer to use a sanitary pad.

Q. What is sanitary protection and how do I use it?
A. Sanitary protection is the name given to the products used to protect your clothes from the blood lost during a period. There are two different types. Pads are worn inside the pants and stay in place by sticking to your underwear. They absorb the blood after it has passed through the vagina and out of the body. There are different types and absorbencies available. Most pads are made using synthetic materials like polypropylene and plastic, and use a super absorbent material that is made from petroleum and are, therefore, not biodegradable or compostable. There are menstrual pads available that are made from natural materials and are produced without the use of damaging chlorine bleaches.

Tampons are worn inside the vagina and can be inserted using your longest finger or by using a special applicator. You will need to read the instruction leaflet carefully before using tampons because they have been associated with a condition called Toxic Shock Syndrome. Most tampons that are sold in the stores are made from synthetic materials such as viscose or rayon, or a mixture of rayon with some cotton and polypropylene. However, there are tampons made from 100% cotton, that are the preferred choice of microbiologist Dr. Phillip Tierno, professor of microbiology at New York University Medical School, and also of some gynaecologists and allergists.

Q. My friend says that her breasts feel tender before her period. Why is this and will it happen to me?
A. Breast swelling and tenderness in the breasts, bloating, food cravings, mood swings and feeling irritable are caused by the changes in hormone levels just before a period. Amazingly, 90% of women having periods suffer some or all of the symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS. It is important to be sensible about the foods you eat and what you drink to help to manage the symptoms. Avoid salty foods and drinks that contain caffeine such as coffee, cola and fizzy drinks. Taking a supplement of Essential fatty acids (EFA’s) in the form of Evening Primrose oil, Borage or flaxseed oil which is very helpful as are Vitamins B6 and E. Being careful about the types of foods you eat will help to keep PMS at bay, so avoid highly processed foods and junk foods and try to eat healthy foods based on grains, fish, beans, chicken and fresh vegetables and fresh fruit. Eat organically grown foods if possible, and make sure you drink plenty of water too.

Q. I have a sticky discharge that is sometimes clear, is it normal?
A. Normal vaginal fluids are either thick and whitish or slippery and clear. It depends on where you are in your menstrual cycle. There is little odour and no itching or burning. Regular bathing keeps the fluids from getting stale or uncomfortable. The fluids come from the walls of your vagina. They also come from your cervix at certain times in your cycle. They leave the body through the vagina. How much fluid you produce depends on the hormones that guide your menstrual cycle. Usually there is more fluid just before you ovulate, when you are pregnant, and when you are sexually excited. You will have less fluid just before your period and while you breastfeed.

Q. What are vaginal fluids for?
A. They wash the vagina clean, lubricate it during sexual intercourse and nourish acid-producing bacteria that fight infections. If you think that you have a discharge that is different in that it is coloured or causes itching or soreness, be sure to visit your doctor for advice.

Q. I have underarm hair. Some of my friends do too but a few of them hate it, I am not sure what I should do?
A. Everyone gets body hair. It is part of the changes your body goes through during puberty. Some girls choose to remove the hair by shaving or waxing. If you are happy with the way you look, there is no need to do anything other than wash carefully each day. If the hair makes you feel unhappy, you can use a special lady’s shaver, a hair removal cream or have them removed by waxing. It is your choice.