Menstruation, also known as a period, is bleeding that comes from the vagina. The blood comes from the uterus and indicates the shedding of the uterine lining. This bleeding normally lasts between three and seven days. It is a completely normal process and a sign of your health and the maturity of your body.
When young girls reach their sexually mature phase, the body begins to produce sex hormones. Hormones are messenger substances that are produced in the body. Together with other systems, they control and regulate the entire organism. The female follicle hormones (oestrogens) cause the egg to mature and thus determine when the period occurs.
Talking to your mother is always a good idea. She can tell you what it was like for her and probably give you some good advice. If you don’t want to talk to your mother, maybe you have an older sister, aunt, cousin or friend? They will definitely help you!
When does the first period occur?
Nowadays, a young girl gets her first period between the ages of 10 and 16. The average age is around 12.5 years. The first menstrual period marks the last part of puberty, which has begun with the growth of the breasts and pubic hair.
Bleeding accompanies the mature woman from her first period (menarche) until the menopause (climacteric) at the age of 45 to 55. The period stops during pregnancy.
How often does the period occur?
Menstruation occurs once a month for three to seven days. There is usually a break of 24 days between the individual periods. However, this varies from woman to woman. The days of menstruation and the subsequent break until the next period are called the (menstrual) cycle.
A normal cycle lasts between 21 and 35 days. The first few cycles in particular are often very irregular. This is normal. After a few months, however, regularity sets in. If you note the days of your period in a calendar, you will soon recognize your personal cycle and can easily calculate when your next period will occur.
What happens in the body?
At the onset of puberty, a girl’s internal reproductive organs mature: the uterus, two ovaries and two fallopian tubes.
The ovaries fulfill two tasks:
The ovary now begins to produce gestagen in particular. This hormone initially causes the lining of the uterus to thicken further. If the egg travelling through the fallopian tube is fertilized by male semen, the fertilized egg nests in the lining of the uterus – this is the beginning of pregnancy.
If fertilization does not occur, the ovary stops producing progestin. Due to the reduction in progestogen, the lining of the uterus begins to thin and shed. This is exactly when you get your period. After that, the processes described start all over again.
Before your first period
Be well prepared for your first period: It’s best if you already have pads or tampons at home. You might even put them in your school bag. If you have your first period, you don’t need to use absorbent cotton or paper tissues. Absorbent cotton or paper are not very absorbent and are usually very uncomfortable to wear on the body.
Sanitary pads are absorbent and comfortable to wear: they are simply attached to your underwear. Nowadays, sanitary pads are individually wrapped in colorful foil. So you can always put one or two pads in your pocket.
If your first period starts during school hours, you can also ask your teacher or a friend for a pad or tampon. Both are usually available in the first aid box in the school office.
Disposing of pads and tampons
You should either wrap the used pad or tampon in toilet paper or in the plastic wrap of the new clean pad and throw it in a toilet bin. If there isn’t one, you can put the wrapped pad in your bag and dispose of it later.
Tip! A sanitary napkin does not belong in the toilet. It soaks up water, swells up and can block the drain.
Author & source information
This text complies with the requirements of medical literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
