Girls' first periods: signs and symptoms. How do you get your period for the first time? Take the test when girls get their first period test Test when do I get my first period

The first period is a long-awaited, but at the same time joyful, exciting, and even frightening event. After all, they will be the signal that yesterday’s girl has turned into a girl, that she has now acquired a completely new status, thanks to which she can perform a real miracle - give a new life.

Teenagers experience the anticipation of menstruation in completely different ways. Some are absolutely calm and don’t even try to understand the essence of the upcoming changes, while others have long since found out the points of interest from their mother or older sister and are fully prepared for growing up. But in the minds of most girls, the stream of questions related to this does not dry out. They scrupulously study various websites, communicate on forums, download special applications to smartphones, etc. And without exception, everyone is trying to find a test that will allow them to accurately determine when their periods will begin and what the first signs of menarche are. Is there a universal way to calculate the arrival of menstruation, how accurate is it, and how can you still understand that the regulations are “on the threshold” - we will find out further.

Test for girls: “When to expect your first period”

Popular online resources and printed publications offer various testing options for girls that help calculate when their first period will begin. As a rule, to obtain the result it is necessary to indicate:

Your exact age, height and weight.
The age the mother was when she started menstruating.
At what age did the first signs of breast swelling appear?
Has hair appeared in the armpits and pubic area (when it became noticeable).
Is there white or any other vaginal discharge?

Girls very often answer the questions of such questionnaires collectively, and the answers can often coincide. And when the test is passed, but its predictions have not come true for everyone, then panic begins: “My friend and I answered the questions the same way, but she has already had her period, but I haven’t! What is wrong with me? When should my period start? In fact, there is no reason to worry in such a situation. After all, if, for example, you and your desk neighbor have the same hair color, eyes and lip shape, this does not mean that you are twins, right? So the results of such tests can either coincide 100% or not coincide at all. Here everything depends on the individual characteristics of the organism and many other factors, including race, place of residence, lifestyle, etc.

With a normally functioning reproductive system, during menstruation, a woman loses up to 60 ml of blood per day...

Signs of the first critical days

If you turn to statistics to find out when girls' first periods begin, you can become even more confused. According to various opinion polls and studies, menarche can appear at 8–9 years of age, or it can be forced to wait until 15–16 years of age. In fact, by carefully observing the behavior of your body, you can completely do without various tests and statistical information in order to determine the arrival of menstruation with almost one hundred percent accuracy.

So, let's talk in more detail about the signs that your period is approaching. One of the earliest signals indicating puberty is the appearance of white vaginal discharge. Approximately 8–15 months after this, you can expect the onset of menarche. During this period, the girl’s figure changes noticeably - a waist appears, breasts and hips increase. In addition, hair begins to grow on the legs, pubic area, and armpits; acne and pimples may appear on the face and back. All these phenomena are associated with increased hormone production as a result of growing older.

The following symptoms indicate the imminent approach of critical days:

Pulling and aching pain in the lower back and abdomen.
Increased sensitivity and even soreness of the breast.
Frequent mood swings (out of nowhere irritability, aggressiveness, tearfulness).
Nausea, changes in taste preferences in food, loss or, conversely, increase in appetite.
Drowsiness or insomnia (sleep disorder).

All of the listed signs are nothing more than PMS (premenstrual syndrome), which is an absolute variation of the norm and should not cause concern if it is not accompanied by other symptoms, for example, fever, discomfort, itching in the genital tract. Such symptoms may indicate an infection in the body and require urgent intervention from a specialist.

What should the first menstrual flow look like?

Many girls, when faced with menstruation for the first time, are very frightened, because previously blood for them was exclusively a sign of injury. Therefore, it is very important to explain to the teenager that in this case the mechanism for the appearance of bloody secretion is completely different, completely understandable and absolutely normal. There is no single standard for what discharge should be like at menarche. Their color may vary, most often the secret is:

bright red;
brown;
burgundy;
dark brown, etc.

The same applies to the intensity of menstruation - neither scanty nor abundant periods should frighten a teenager, so it is very important to explain all the nuances to the girl in a timely manner.

See also: Is it okay to throw tampons down the toilet?

What to do if your first period suddenly starts

The most important thing in such a situation is not to get confused. Menstruation is a completely natural process that you should neither be afraid nor embarrassed about. If you notice obvious signs of the onset of your first period, you need to meet them fully prepared. This will be facilitated by:

Menstrual calendar. With the help of your mother or older sister, mark the approximate date of the onset of menarche in it, so you will not give a chance to your critical days to take you by surprise and sow panic.
Panty liners. Despite their small size, these hygiene items are able to retain the amount of blood that is usually released on the first day of menstruation.
Support from friends and family. Don’t be shy to ask a friend, school nurse or teacher for help if you suddenly start to feel urinary and don’t have a pad or tampon with you.
Vigilance. Try to visit the toilet at every break or every few hours so as not to miss the moment when your period starts. Carry not only pads in your purse, but also spare underwear just in case.

Menarche often comes accompanied by dizziness, cramps, pulling sensations in the lower abdomen, etc. It is not at all necessary to endure all this. Without waiting for the onset of your critical days, contact a gynecologist who will advise teenagers on medications to eliminate pain during pregnancy.

Important! Self-prescribing antispasmodics and analgesics is strictly prohibited!

The site is a medical portal for online consultations of pediatric and adult doctors of all specialties. You can ask a question on the topic "when will my first period come" and get a free online doctor’s consultation.

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Questions and answers on: when will your first period come?

2011-06-21 21:49:38

Anastasia asks:

Hello, I got my first period when I was 12 years old, now I’m 18. I have this story:
I went for an examination with a gynecologist because I was constantly feeling sick for 10 days, the pregnancy test was negative, they diagnosed a torsion of my cyst, and immediately from the doctor’s office they took me by ambulance to the hospital for surgery, when I arrived at the hospital, they told me, that the doctor was mistaken, I just had inflammation. We started injecting Metrogyl and Biotum 2 times a day for 7 days. The nausea went away, but severe pain in the lower abdomen began, I went to another hospital for an ultrasound, they told me it was a hormonal cyst, it would come out with menstruation, i.e. in the last hospital they treated me incorrectly and caused severe thrush, they prescribed me Nystatin and hormonal pills Jazz. The pain seemed to have gone away. My periods started, in general they last 7 days. From the first day of menstruation I started taking Jazz. On the seventh day I had sex with my husband, and bright scarlet blood began to flow, this has never happened before. I read on the Internet that this happens with erosion, I think I had it, but I cured it. I’m already on the 9th day of my period, I don’t know what to do, I can’t get to my gynecologist, so how she went abroad and I don’t know when she’ll arrive, I’ll call accordingly and call too. Please tell me exactly what it could be, maybe it’s a side effect from Jazz?

Answers Konovalenko Natalia Vladimirovna:

Anastasia, hello! One of the reasons for spotting may be during sex. This process causes a rush of blood to the internal genital organs. Your period lasted 7 days, you no longer saw discharge, but in small quantities it could still be discharged from the cervical canal. And having sex provoked their intensification.
The second reason may be related to the beginning of taking jazz. This is a drug containing small doses of hormones. In the first months of taking it, spotting between menstrual periods is possible, which is quite possible for you.
In addition, menstrual irregularities may be associated with the presence of an inflammatory process.
But this is all speculation. The most reasonable thing is to make an appointment with a gynecologist and together with him find out the reason for what is happening to you. If your doctor is currently unavailable, then you can make an appointment with another gynecologist, using the advice of your friends or family.
Take action! All the best!

2010-06-18 13:30:34

Anna asks:

Hello! My husband and I decided to have a second child! Conception occurred around June 2, but menstruation started yesterday! I read that this is possible in the early stages of pregnancy! I would like to know when should I take the test now, after the end of my period or wait for the next one, there may be a delay! With my first child I had my period in the first month! thank you in advance!!

Answers Medical consultant of the website portal:

Hello Anna! Bloody discharge during pregnancy in most cases is evidence of a threat of miscarriage, usually due to insufficiency of the hormone progesterone, which ensures the maintenance of pregnancy, which is secreted by the ovaries until 12-14 weeks of pregnancy. The second option is the absence of pregnancy. That is, menstruation was really menstruation. To check which of the options is reality, you need to do a pregnancy test, especially since the timing allows it. Right now you can buy a pregnancy test and get tested without waiting for your next menstruation. You can learn more about the work of pregnancy tests from the article Pregnancy test or how to find peace of mind, posted on our portal. Take care of your health!

2016-03-29 09:33:31

Ekaterina asks:

Hello. Please help me determine the approximate embryonic age of the fetus (conception), it is very important. The last menstruation was 11/09/2015 and ended on 11/15/2015. PA was regular, unprotected (spermatozoa got inside) PA was until November 20, 2015. After which there was no PA (until December 6, 2015). The next menstruation was supposed to begin on December 4-5, 2015, but it didn’t start, the stomach hurt very much below, the next day there was PA on December 6, 2015, but interrupted (it turns out when it was already there was a 1-2 day delay). My period never started, I waited another week exactly and on December 15, 2015 I took a test, it came out positive and immediately went to the doctor, after examining me in the chair, I was told that I was already 5 weeks pregnant. Then another week later (December 25, 2016) I had my first ultrasound, and it was determined that it was not 6 weeks, but already 7 weeks, two days ago. When approximately did conception occur? Thank you very much in advance.

2016-02-24 08:05:01

Daria asks:

Hello!
I am 21 years old, married. I started getting my periods at the age of 12, before university there were no problems with them at all, but somewhere from the first year, delays of up to three months began to appear (when such delays began to appear, I had not yet had sexual activity). Then everything seemed to settle down, everything was regular again, then again there were delays. With the onset of sexual activity (since March 2014), the cycle was regulated, but then delays occurred again. The sex was protected, the tests gave a negative result. But probably those delays could be attributed to university and when I had a cold. I'm dealing with the same problem now. For the last six months, my periods have come on time (30-35 days on average). The latter began on February 9 and lasted 4 days. But yesterday (February 23) they started again, exactly two weeks later. Could this situation be due to stress? The last session was very nervous, and last week there was clearly a nervous breakdown (in all physical, emotional and other symptoms), but an ambulance was not called. Could my period start so early due to the factors listed above? I saw a gynecologist once in my life for a school examination (which was extremely unpleasant, and they put me in a chair, and in general), since then I have been very afraid to go to him, in principle, a wild fear.

Answers Bosyak Yulia Vasilievna:

Hello, Daria! Most likely, delays in menstruation are not associated with study and stress, as well as colds. Hormonal imbalances most often occur due to endocrine disorders. If you are married and sexually active, then I advise you to find a gynecologist whom you will trust and not be afraid to come for an examination. First of all, after the end of the next menstruation, it is necessary to undergo an ultrasound scan of the pelvic organs. Most likely you have multifollicular ovaries or polycystic syndrome (PCOS); based on the ultrasound scan, a preliminary diagnosis can be made. Then the gynecologist will prescribe therapy or refer you for a blood test for sex hormones. Taking COCs should most likely regulate your hormonal levels.

2013-12-28 19:55:52

Heda asks:

Hello! I am 22 years old, my periods are not regular, they vary every 2-3 months, the longest period is 9 months. I got married a year ago, and after the first sexual intercourse they began to go normally, they went every month, but about 3 months ago there was a delay, after 5 weeks bleeding began, I could neither stand up nor lie down from pain in the back and pain in the lower abdomen, and immediately discovered a clot blood like a piece of meat. but when I took the test, it was negative, now I can’t understand whether it was a miscarriage or menstruation, since I don’t have any pain during menstruation, and could I still get pregnant if I had ovarian dysfunction before? Now 3 months have passed and I only had my period once.

Answers Purpura Roksolana Yosipovna:

What diagnosis were you given – polycystic disease? Have you had an ultrasound scan of the pelvic organs, a test for sex hormones? It would be advisable to submit the clot that came out for histology. Now it is impossible to say whether it was pregnancy. Today, the issue of another hormonal imbalance is relevant, so you need to be examined, and then the gynecologist should prescribe hormone therapy. If you do nothing, it will be difficult to get pregnant.

2013-05-10 17:07:59

Ekaterina asks:

Please tell me if the obstetrician-gynecologist gave me the correct due date and explained what was what, I can’t figure out why I have three of them?!) January 31 seems to be the last period, the cycle is broken, irregular, in March there was a delay, but signs of ber. began to appear only after the 7th, on March 13, the pregnancy was not detected by ultrasound, on the 15th, nothing was detected, but my stomach and lower back hurt a lot, so I went in, then the tests began to show weak two stripes, on March 26, the due date showed 4, 3 weeks embryonic, that is, conception at the end of February, the doctor explained, at the screening at 12 weeks from my period, I was diagnosed with 10.4 - April 25 and moved to May 8, when the ultrasound reading was 12.1 and 13.6 monthly, and from conception it is approximately 10.2, is this true? I didn’t understand the scratching at the first ultrasound, then they set the due date shorter than the previous ones, but the pregnancy did not appear after two weeks of delay. They say whoever has a broken cycle always has three deadlines

2011-10-28 16:47:34

Natalia asks:

Hello. At 9-10 weeks of pregnancy, I started having slight burgundy discharge and mild pain in the lower abdomen. The local doctor examined her, put the pregnancy at risk and sent her for preservation. In the hospital, literally on the 2nd day of treatment (I took Utrozhestan, Nokhsha and Noshpa intramuscularly) everything went away. After 21 days I went for the first ultrasound (in a private office) and they told me that the fetus froze for 5-6 weeks. On the same day, I had a “curettage” done in the same hospital where I was being kept. Afterwards, I was told that the fetus was not 5-6 weeks old, as the ultrasound showed - but 7-8, possibly 9. While keeping me in the chair, they examined me once and then upon admission... but they constantly only felt the stomach... there is their mistake ? Are their conclusions reliable? why I didn’t have any symptoms of a frozen fetus (I felt great), even my tummy was getting bigger, as it seemed to me and my husband. Why did everyone set a time frame significantly longer than 5-6 weeks when the fetus froze? after all, they set 12 weeks during examinations... there was also one nuance, my husband and I purposefully conceived a child on August 13, July 20 was the first day of menstruation... we took a pregnancy test in early September - it didn’t show anything. done in early October - showed a positive result. please explain my situation to me! For reference, I was in hospital No. 7 in the city of Dnepropetrovsk.

Answers Wild Nadezhda Ivanovna:

Hello. I really sympathize with you and understand how painful it is for you. The fact is that a frozen pregnancy at 5-6 weeks is the presence of a congenital genetic pathology incompatible with life. Usually, after the fetus has frozen, the threat of miscarriage begins - spotting. But you were prescribed treatment, so the miscarriage did not take place. Frequent examinations are not done when there is a threat of miscarriage, but an ultrasound should have been done. The size of the uterus may be greater than the gestation period, because the fetus first stops growing and after a while dies, after which it may decrease in size. There may have been no signs of a frozen fetus because you were taking morning-after pills (progesterone). Why the decision to conceive specifically on 08/13/2011 is either late ovulation or an old egg - this could lead to a missed abortion. You need to be examined by a geneticist 2 months after the termination of pregnancy, be examined for the presence of TORCH infection, check the functioning of the thyroid gland and kidneys. It is necessary to find out and eliminate the cause of a frozen pregnancy.

Answers Petrenko Galina Alexandrovna:

Hello, Natalia. I sympathize with you on the loss of your desired pregnancy. But let me consider this situation point by point: 1. You will not be able to establish after the fact either the fact of a doctor’s error (if any) or the cause of a missed abortion. 2. The data you provided are not clear facts on which conclusions can be drawn 3. Diagnosis of a frozen pregnancy is carried out using ultrasound data, preferably over time at intervals of a week. The diagnostic criteria are: - absence of growth of the fertilized egg in a period of up to 4-5 weeks - absence of heartbeats in the embryo in a period of 6-7 weeks 4. You do not write how the pregnancy was initially diagnosed - only on the basis of tests and the size of the uterus during a bimanual examination , or there was also an ultrasound. 5. A frozen pregnancy usually does not manifest itself in any way. The uterus can continue to enlarge while the embryo is already frozen. The abdomen cannot noticeably increase in such a short period of time.

2011-07-09 13:08:16

Oksana asks:

I’m 19 years old, I took acyclovir for 5 days, I was cured when I was late for 2 weeks, I found out that I was pregnant, the doctor put it at about three to four weeks. He prescribed vitamins, three days passed, closer to the night my stomach began to feel like I was on my period, I woke up in the morning, I started bleeding and blood clots began , I immediately went to the hospital, but the doctor said that he would not examine me since I had not been registered for too long, if I had a miscarriage, it would come out in clots, if it became bad, call an ambulance, she told me. and even during pregnancy I had a high temperature of 38 6 that lasted for 2 days. I’ve been bleeding for the 7th day now, but there aren’t so many clots anymore, you can say it’s getting dirty, the breast is swollen again, it hurts, irritability, good sense of smell, there are a lot of symptoms of pregnancy, and even when the clots went away, it started getting dirty on the 7th day, I bought a test of 2 strips, what could this even be? many said that they had dirt coming out in the first month, some had washing of the fetus, and women also told me that they had this during pregnancy, everything was normal but they gave birth, what could it be???

My next period still hasn't started. I went for an ultrasound on May 19. All organs are normal. Phase 2 of the cycle. The only thing is that the endometrium is enlarged - 14 mm, the corpus luteum is not detected, there is no free fluid. They said that pregnancy is possible, but this is a 1 chance in 1000. My husband and I had unprotected sexual intercourse on April 23 and May 14. A pale pink line began to appear on the tests. Since May 24, the basal temperature has remained stable at 36.7, today it has risen to 36.8. Is pregnancy possible with these indicators? Thanks for the answer.

There comes a time in every girl's life when her body changes. The figure becomes more feminine, breasts begin to form, and with it the menstrual cycle, the first periods appear. All these processes are interconnected, so it is very important to explain and prepare the girl for these important metamorphoses. As a rule, the onset of puberty occurs at 11–14 years of age, but each organism is individual, so critical days can go either later or earlier. In any case, many girls are very worried about the wait. The body often sends clues that will help you predict when your first period will begin. To be prepared for this moment, you can take a simple test to determine the onset of menstruation.

Test for girls for the appearance of their first menstruation

Experts have developed simple tests for girls that help determine when their first period will begin. If a girl is wondering when should I get my first period, she should first answer the following:

How old are you?
Are your breasts growing?
Do you have hair in your armpits and pubic area?
Have you noticed clear or whitish vaginal discharge?
Do you experience frequent mood swings?

If the test is passed by a girl of approximately 12 years of age, and all questions are answered positively, then, most likely, the first menstruation will not take long. You need to prepare for this event, carry a sanitary pad with you so as not to get confused at the crucial moment.

Usually a couple of years before the onset of menstruation, the hormone estrogen begins to activate. Under its influence, the uterus and mammary glands grow, the pelvis expands, and a waist appears. The girl's figure begins to take on feminine shape. From now on, you should prepare for the onset of menstruation.

Very often, the onset of menstruation is influenced by the girl’s weight, hereditary characteristics, and the presence of hormonal disorders. Therefore, despite the set of typical signs of approaching menstruation, each organism has individual indicators, and tests can give an erroneous result.

Signs of the appearance of the first menstruation

As a rule, menstruation is accompanied by certain unpleasant sensations. Girls' first periods are no exception, so it is very important to warn about possible symptoms:

There is nagging pain and a feeling of fullness in the lower abdomen.
Frequent mood changes are a harbinger of the first menstruation.
The abdomen may swell.
Increased sensitivity of swollen mammary glands.
Signs that your period is approaching may include headache and weakness.
Bloody vaginal discharge.

Read also 🗓 All about periods in 12 year old girls

The first menstruation is a very important moment in the life of every girl. Mothers should prepare them for this event, explain why this happens, talk about the features of personal hygiene these days and how to use sanitary pads correctly.

What should your first period look like?

Menstruation is manifested by bloody vaginal discharge, which should be dark red or brown in color. The first menstruation is not characterized by increased intensity, but there are exceptions. Girls who encounter this phenomenon for the first time may be scared, but this is a normal manifestation of the first menstruation. The volume of discharge sometimes reaches 150 ml, which does not pose a danger if the girl’s well-being remains within normal limits. But if, with heavy bleeding, you feel dizzy, your face turns pale, or you faint, you should immediately consult a doctor.

What to do if your first period starts

If a girl already knows that significant changes in her life and some associated inconveniences await her soon, she should monitor her well-being. Before the onset of the first menstruation, there is a nagging pain in the lower abdomen, mood swings, breast swelling, and the appearance of leucorrhoea in the underwear.

All these signs indicate that you need to be prepared for menstruation at any time, carry a pad and a change of underwear with you. What to do if you get your period for the first time?

There is no need to panic, this is completely normal.
First of all, you need to go to the toilet, change your underwear and attach a pad to clean panties.
If you suddenly don’t have a pad on hand, you can put toilet paper folded several times in your panties. At school, there will probably be hygiene products in the nurse's office, so it's worth asking her for help.
During your first period, you may experience discomfort in the lower abdomen that is difficult to tolerate. In this case, you should always have means to eliminate pain symptoms with you.
You can apply a heating pad with cold water to your stomach. This will soothe the pain and reduce the intensity of menstruation. You need to be very careful not to overcool the internal organs.
If critical days suddenly overtake you and a brown stain appears on your clothes, you can tie a sweater around your waist to hide the trouble, and remove traces of blood with cold water at home.

You should not be ashamed of such phenomena. You can safely turn to a nurse, a teacher, a friend for help, but best of all, your mother. Any woman will understand this problem, as she faces it every month.

How long does menstruation last?

As a rule, the first period lasts from 3 to 5 days. But due to the unstable initial cycle, this period may vary. However, exceeding a week period may indicate pathology or hormonal imbalances, so you should consult a doctor. The next menstruation should ideally begin in 28–30 days, but in the first stages of the formation of the cycle, such accuracy rarely happens.

Regardless of the age at which the first menstruation began, the cycle may be unstable throughout the year: menstruation is either delayed or comes earlier than expected. This hormonal behavior is considered normal at first, as the normal cycle is being set up. But if after 2 years the menstrual cycle has not stabilized, you should consult a doctor and get tested for sex hormones.

Hygiene products for girls during menstruation

There are different hygiene products that women use during their periods. But not all of them are suitable for girls during their first critical days.

For girls, sanitary pads are best. They have a special adhesive surface that should be glued to your underwear. The soft, smooth surface comes into contact with the body and absorbs all secretions. Pads come in different sizes, depending on how much liquid they can absorb. Typically, the number of droplets shown on the packaging indicates how much secretion they can absorb.

The gasket must be changed at least every 3-4 hours, even if it is not yet completely saturated. Blood is a favorable environment for the proliferation of pathogenic microbes, which can lead to inflammation.

More attention should be paid to personal hygiene. It is advisable to cleanse the external genitalia of menstrual blood after each pad change. This must be done very carefully so as not to damage the mucous membrane.

There are special gaskets for night time. They are large in size and able to absorb a lot of liquid. They can be used to avoid night leaks.

Theoretically, from the first menstruation you can use tampons. But for a girl it is better to first learn how to use simpler means, such as pads. During the first menstruation, you can use tampons only in the smallest sizes, change them at least every 3-4 hours. If wearing one pad for a long time can lead to the proliferation of pathogenic microbes, then a tampon, being in a warm, humid environment, further contributes to the development of bacterial diseases.

Every mother of a young princess is preoccupied with the question of when her daughter will begin. Usually it falls on the mother’s shoulders to tell her daughter about the physiological characteristics of the female sex, as well as explain what menstruation is and how it proceeds.

In this article, we will tell you about when girls' periods most often begin, and by what signs you can suspect their imminent onset.

When should girls get their periods?

Typically, menstruation in teenage girls begins at 12-14 years of age. However, all children have different physiology, and some may start their periods earlier, while others may start later. The normal age range for the onset of the first menstrual flow is considered to be from 10 to 16 years. If your daughter’s period started too early, or at 17-18 years old she still doesn’t have it, this is a reason to visit a gynecologist.

The first menstruation usually lasts about 3-5 days. In some cases, critical days may be slightly delayed, but the discharge should not last more than a week. Most often, the first periods are not heavy, but still give the girl a lot of discomfort.

The next period can begin in 28-30 days. However, in most cases, young girls have irregular periods for a long time, and the interval between spotting can be up to 6 months. Gradually, a girl’s menstrual cycle should shorten, approaching the ideal “lunar” value of 28 days. If, after two years after the start of the first menstruation, the cycle has still not returned to normal, the girl should consult a doctor.

How can you tell when a girl's period starts?

You can determine the time when girls start menstruation by the following signs:

You will be able to notice the very first signs of your daughter’s puberty several years before the onset of her first period. The girl's figure becomes more feminine and rounded, the sebaceous and sweat glands begin to work in full force. Most teenagers develop acne at this age.
A few months before the onset of the first menstruation in girls, the nature of vaginal discharge changes. Most often, mothers notice that there is a lot of moisture on their daughter’s panties that does not have any foreign odor. Also, the discharge may be viscous and transparent. If you notice yellowish discharge on your child’s underwear that has an unpleasant odor, this is a reason to consult a doctor. Perhaps they indicate the presence of some infectious disease of the genitourinary system.
Finally, 1-2 weeks before the approach of menstruation, a girl may experience changes in her condition such as frequent mood swings, discomfort in the lower abdomen, weakness and malaise, headache and dizziness, vomiting and nausea.

Test for girls “When will your first period start?”

Today, on popular Internet sites, as well as in various women's magazines, you can find a test to determine the time when girls start their periods. The result of such tests is most often based on the girl’s answers to questions such as:

How old are you?
At what age did your mother start getting her period?
What is your weight and height?
How long ago have your breasts started to get bigger?
Is your pubic hair and armpit hair growing?
Have you noticed white discharge on your panties?

Such tests can be quite accurate, but do not forget that each person is individual, and the time when a girl begins her first period depends on many factors.

The first menstruation is always very exciting and even scary! The first menstruation indicates that you are growing up and becoming a woman. And for every girl this happens at different times. There's no way to know exactly when you'll get your first period, but there are a few signs you can use to predict when your period is coming.

Steps

Part 1

Watch for signs of maturation

Pay attention to breast development. Breasts will continue to grow for several years before they reach their final size, but when you first notice your breasts beginning to enlarge, you can conclude that puberty is beginning. Most girls get their first period about two to two and a half years after their breasts first begin to enlarge.

Pay attention to the presence of pubic hair. Most girls begin to grow pubic hair (between their legs) shortly after their breasts begin to grow. This is another sign that you should expect your first menstruation within the next couple of years.

You may notice that hair in your armpit area begins to grow around this time.

Pay attention to vaginal discharge. Many girls during puberty notice whitish or transparent discharge in small quantities on their panties. This is usually a sign that your period will begin within the next few months.

Notice the growth spurts. Your first period usually begins shortly after your first growth spurts begin (during puberty), when you suddenly begin to grow faster. So if you've recently discovered that you've grown a few centimeters, your first period is just around the corner. Your hips will become a little wider, but don't worry about it. This period is a little uncomfortable.

Notice the heaviness in your chest. Many girls feel heaviness and slight swelling of the breasts (sometimes even pain) right before menstruation. If you notice this symptom, expect your period to start soon.

Pay attention to sudden mood swings. Many girls experience emotional swings in the days leading up to their period. These changes may be different for everyone, but in general you may feel unusually sad, angry, or irritable. Usually these feelings go away after a few days.

Pay attention to the appearance of pimples and acne. Acne can appear at any time, so acne and pimples should not be considered a mandatory symptom of menstruation. However, if you notice a sudden increase in the number of pimples in just a few days, it could be a sign that your period will begin within the next few days.

Pay attention to cramps. Right before your period starts (as well as right during your period), you may experience cramps and cramps in your abdomen and lower back. These cramps can be mild or severe and may vary in intensity from month to month.
- If you are experiencing severe cramping and pain that prevents you from doing normal activities, you may need to take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Exercise and a heating pad can also help reduce discomfort from cramps.
- Contact your doctor if your cramps become increasingly severe and you are unable to control the pain with over-the-counter pain relievers.

Part 3

Focus on age

Keep in mind that you should expect your first period at a certain age. On average, girls begin their periods at 12–14 years of age, but for some, their first period may begin a little earlier or a little later. Normally, menstruation can begin at any age between 9 and 15 years.

Don't compare yourself to others. If your period starts earlier or later than your friends, you may feel "different." You may get your period at age 9 or 10, or you may not get your period until you reach puberty. And that's absolutely normal! It is important to understand that all girls experience menstruation at different times.

Ask women in your family. Genetics plays a huge role in determining when to expect your first period. Ask your mother, grandmother and sister when they first got their period. Of course, there is no guarantee that your first menstruation will occur at the same age as your mother, but the chances are very high.

If you decide to start using tampons, be sure to read the instructions. Remember that tampons need to be changed every few hours to prevent the development of a dangerous infection caused by toxic shock syndrome.

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This article was co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD, our regular co-author. Regular wikiHow contributors work closely with our editors to ensure that articles are as accurate and complete as possible.