The first few years
Most girls have their first period around the age of 12, but they can start from 8. Being irregular early on is normal — the body needs a few months for its pattern to settle. Once it has, the NHS gives a range of 23 to 35 days for these years, with 2 to 7 days of bleeding. The adult range is a little wider, at 21 to 35 days.
What helps
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1
Log a few months first. Two or three cycles can't tell you what your pattern is.
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2
Always have a spare. A pad in your bag or backpack, even when you're not expecting it.
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3
Tell someone. Your mother, a sister, a friend, or the school nurse. There's no shame in asking, and the answer is usually simpler than you think.
When to ask
The first two are the NHS's:
- if periods haven't started by the age of 15
- or by 13, if there are no other signs of puberty either
- very heavy bleeding — soaking through a pad every 1 to 2 hours, clots, or blood through to your clothes or bedding — or pain that stops you going to school
Sources
Health information, not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. For your own symptoms, talk to a doctor.
Your cycle, honestly.
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