Getting your first period can feel…confusing. Maybe even a little scary. You might find yourself wondering when it’ll happen, what it’ll feel like, how it will change your body. First of all, take a deep breath, you’re not alone. Every girl goes through this. First-period anxiety. It’s natural because anything that happens for the first time is scary.
Here’s a simple guide to help you with it, and hopefully make it a little less overwhelming.
Puberty: Where it all begins…
Your first period is not something that happens overnight. It is a full-blown production that your body has been working on for years.
Around the ages 8-13, your hormones go a little crazy and cause all these new physical and emotional changes to your body. This is puberty. Although it can feel like A LOT to deal with, it’s important for your sexual maturity and reproductive health.
Let us take you through the stages of puberty so you can understand it a bit better:
Stage 1: You notice physical changes in your body for the first time, usually between the ages of 8 and 13. You can expect:
- Budding of breasts
- Changes in body odour
- Appearance of pubic hair
Stage 2: During this stage, your physical development goes into overdrive. So, expect:
- Breast development
- Coarser pubic hair
- Armpit hair
- Oilier skin and possibly even acne
Stage 3: Now, it’s time to meet your period for the first time (this is called menarche). It signifies that you have fully hit puberty (Congrats! You’ve joined humanity’s oldest club!), usually between the ages of 10 and 16.
But what actually causes your first period?
Believe it or not, the story of your first period begins inside your mother’s womb. Yup, research shows that while you’re still inside your mum, your ovaries start forming tiny immature eggs. When you hit puberty, your brain signals your body to produce special hormones, mainly estrogen and progesterone. These hormones trigger the maturation of one egg each month.
Then, certain other hormones (yes, there are a lot of hormones at play here) known as gonadotropins cause mature eggs to be released from the ovaries. This is known as ovulation.
Now, your body begins to think that the mature egg might result in pregnancy and starts building a soft, thick lining inside your uterus. You know, a cosy spot for the baby to grow in. But when there’s no pregnancy, the thick lining is not needed. So, it breaks down and flows out of your vagina as blood.
Does that mean you’re meant to have a baby now? Nope! You’ve still got lots of growing to do. Technically, yes, you can get pregnant, but that doesn’t mean you have to do anything about it yet (or ever).
Anyway, the blood flow from vagina is your first period. And basically every period after that. This whole cycle takes about a month and repeats till menopause or your last period, around the age of 45.
So, when will you get your first period?
Most girls get their first period around the age of 12, but that’s just the average. Some get it as early as 8 or 9, and others might not start until 15 or 16. As per research, it all depends on factors like:
- Genetics: When it comes to menarche, genes have a big say – 50 to 80% of puberty changes are decided by genes. So, if your mom, aunt, cousins, or grandmum got her period late, there’s a good chance you’ll follow a similar pattern!
- Physical Factors: Body type matters too – underweight girls may get their period later, while slightly overweight girls may get it earlier. However, very, very high body fat can disrupt hormone balance and delay menarche.
- Mental Health: Periods are closely linked to mental wellness. Studies show that stress or anxiety may impact when you get your first period.
- Nutritional status: Clinical data indicate that diets high in calories, animal protein, and iron may lead to earlier periods, while fiber may delay them slightly.
While you can’t exactly predict when you will get your first period, your body will give you hints to let you know that it is on the way. If you’ve already experienced stages 1 and 2 of puberty (explained above), it might be coming soon!
What can you expect during your first period?
Your first period might come with a few extra surprises. These are symptoms from the hormonal chaos in the body, and together form PMS or premenstrual syndrome, they include:
- Abdominal pain
- Back cramps
- Bloating
- Breast tenderness
- Acne breakouts
- Mood swings
- Tiredness
Learn more about everything PMS entails here.
We know all of it sounds frightening, and to be honest, your first period and PMS will be a little overwhelming.
But…hey, you’re not expected to get a hang of it on your very first day. It will take you multiple periods to get to know your body, understand what it needs, and learn how to take care of it through the ups and downs. So remember to go easy on yourself. You’ve got this!
How can you prepare for your first period?
The first step is mental prep because first periods can make you feel a little anxious. But here’s the thing – you don’t have to go through it alone!
Start by talking to someone you trust about what to expect during your first period. This could be your mom, older sibling, a teacher, or even a friend who’s already had their period. Ask your questions. Share your worries. You’ll feel so much lighter by sharing your feelings.
It’s also a good idea to learn about menstrual hygiene products that could help you through your first period. Here’s a little first-period checklist for you:
- Sanitary product of your choice: Pads are a popular first-period product that simply stick to your underwear and absorb the blood. For pads made with 100% toxic-free materials and zero irritation, you can try Nua pads. However, if you’ve a very active lifestyle, you might want to try tampons. Nua offers the easiest tampons to insert for your first period.
- Panty liners: If you experience a not-so-heavy flow and need something lighter for your first period, you can try Nua’s ultra-soft pantyliners.
- Pain relief medicine: Sometimes, to manage period pain and cramps, you might need an over-the-counter painkiller like paracetamol. However, we strongly suggest that you speak to a doctor to find out which medicine will work the best for you.
- Heat patches: If medicines are not your cup of tea, you can manage cramps using self-heating patches. The one from Nua provides 8-hour cramp relief and is made of only natural ingredients.
- Spare underwear: When it’s your first time, you’re still figuring out how to use the sanitary products, which can lead to little mishaps like leakage and staining. So, for such moments, you should always carry spare underwear.
Pro tip: You can also make things super easy by grabbing the Nua starter kit. It comes with a cute pouch and all the basics for a comfy first period.
What will your first-period flow be like?
For some, it’s just a few drops of blood (called spotting), while for others, it might be a little heavier. Either way, it’s completely normal. The colour might also vary from bright red to dark brown and can change every day. You can learn more about that here.
How long will your first period last?
On average, your first period lasts about 5 days, but as per studies, anything between 2 to 8 days is normal.
Will it come back exactly after one month?
Not always, and that’s totally normal. Everyone’s body is different, and while some people get their period every 28 days, for others it might be a bit shorter or longer. It can also take time for your cycle to settle into a regular pattern, especially in the first year or two.
Does it mean I’m a woman now?
Not really. It just means your body is working the way it’s supposed to. You’re still a kid with a little more responsibility, sure, but there’s no rush to feel grown-up. You become a woman when you feel ready, and there’s no fixed timeline for that.
Here’s what you should remember…
Not knowing what to expect during your first period can feel scary. Your first period is like a rollercoaster ride. It is filled with ups and downs that can be quite scary. But trust yourself and give yourself some time to adjust to it.
After the initial few months, you’ll get the hang of what’s going on and how to manage your menstrual symptoms. Always remember that everybody is unique, so no two periods are the same. So, see what works for you and come back to us if you’ve any questions.
