Video Transcription
What are periods and why do girls get them?
As girls get older and their bodies change, they’ll start getting their period. This happens as part of the menstrual cycle, which is the way a girl’s body gets ready to possibly become pregnant one day when she’s older.
The menstrual cycle lasts for about 28 days, so girls will usually get their period about once a month. The period itself usually lasts between three and seven days.
To make a period happen, different parts of the female reproductive system all work together. Inside the ovaries are millions of tiny eggs. Each month, one ovary releases an egg, which travels down the fallopian tube to the uterus.
The uterus is where a baby would start to grow if a woman were pregnant. Each month, the lining of the uterus thickens with blood to support a possible pregnancy. If there is no pregnancy, the lining of the uterus breaks down, and the blood and lining flow out through the vagina as a period.
Once the period has finished, the cycle starts all over again.
When girls first start getting their period, it might not come regularly. Periods may last for longer or shorter each month, or come at unexpected times. This is normal, and over time periods usually become more regular.
If you’re worried, it can help to speak to an adult you trust.
“My first period came for a few days, then it came again after two weeks, and then nothing for a few months before it came back again.”
Periods are a completely normal and natural part of life. It’s something all girls go through, so starting your period is nothing to be embarrassed about — it just means you’re growing up.
For more information on body changes and periods, visit the Know Your Health website at fpnsw.org.au/know-your-health and click on the Periods tab. You can also call the Family Planning New South Wales Talkline on 1300 658 886 for free and confidential advice.
If you’d like to speak to someone in your own language, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask to be connected to the Family Planning New South Wales Talkline.
