Video Transcription

Most people born with a uterus can expect to start having a period sometime during puberty. Periods can happen to people who are girls, women, or people who are transgender, non-binary, or gender diverse.

Periods start at different ages for different people. This can be anywhere between about 9 and 15 years old, but for most people it’s around 12 or 13.

Periods are a big change because they mean a person may be able to become pregnant. To understand periods, it helps to know a little about the reproductive system, which includes the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.

From puberty, around once a month, a special lining called the endometrium builds up inside the uterus. This lining grows in case a pregnancy begins. The ovaries contain egg cells, and each month a mature egg is released from one ovary. This is called ovulation.

For the next 24 hours, the egg moves along the fallopian tube. If it joins with a sperm during this time, a pregnancy could start. If no pregnancy begins, the egg dissolves and the lining is no longer needed.

The uterus then squeezes and pushes the endometrium out through the vagina. This is called a period. The blood may look red, pink, or brown and can be thick or mucus-like. A period usually lasts between 3 and 7 days.

Periods often happen about every 28 days, but they may not be regular for the first year or two.

People choose different products to manage period blood so they can continue their daily activities. These can include pads, tampons, period underwear, menstrual cups, or discs.

It’s common to notice changes such as breast soreness, tiredness, pimples, mood swings, low energy, and cramping or discomfort around the time of a period. Most of the time, people can still do their usual activities.

A person should see a doctor if period symptoms stop them from doing everyday activities. This includes strong pain in the belly, back, bottom, or vulva, very heavy bleeding, strong emotional changes, or unexpected changes to their usual cycle.

Periods are a normal part of puberty for many people. While there are common experiences, everybody’s period is different, and there are lots of ways to get help and information when needed.