Sunday 21 November 2021
Saturday 20 November 2021
Should I Watch for Any Problems?
Most girls don't have any problems with their periods. But call your doctor if you:
- are 15 and haven't started your period
- have had your period for more than 2 years and it still doesn't come regularly (about every 4–5 weeks)
- have bleeding between periods
- have severe cramps that don't get better with ibuprofen or naproxen
- have very heavy bleeding (bleeding that goes through a pad or tampon faster than every 1 hour)
- have periods that last more than about a week
- have severe PMS that gets in the way of your everyday activities
What Can I Do About Cramps?
Many girls have cramps with their period, especially in the first few days. If cramps bother you, you can try:
- a warm heating pad on your belly
- taking ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, or store brand) or naproxen (Aleve or store brand)
What Is PMS?
PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is when a girl has emotional and physical symptoms that happen before or during her period. These symptoms can include moodiness, sadness, anxiety, bloating, and acne. The symptoms go away after the first few days of a period.
How Much Blood Comes Out?
It may look like a lot of blood, but a girl usually only loses a few tablespoons of blood during the whole period. Most girls need to change their pad, tampon, or menstrual cup about 3‒6 times a day.
Should I Use a Pad, Tampon, or Menstrual Cup?
You have many choices about how to deal with period blood. You may need to experiment a bit to find which works best for you. Some girls use only one method and others switch between different methods.
- Most girls use pads when they first get their period. Pads are made of cotton and come in lots of different sizes and shapes. They have sticky strips that attach to the underwear.
- Many girls find tampons more convenient than pads, especially when playing sports or swimming. A tampon is a cotton plug that a girl puts into her vagina. Most tampons come with an applicator that guides the tampon into place. The tampon absorbs the blood. Don't leave a tampon in for more than 8 hours because this can increase your risk of a serious infection called toxic shock syndrome.
- Some girls prefer a menstrual cup. Most menstrual cups are made of silicone. To use a menstrual cup, a girl inserts it into her vagina. It holds the blood until she empties it.
