Periods

Periods are a normal part of growing up, all girls get periods.\nPeriods are a part of the menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle is how a girl’s body gets ready to be pregnant one day. The menstrual cycle usually lasts 28 days but can be longer or shorter. A girl’s period can last between 3-7 days.\nA girl will not know when her first period might start. Before the first period, some girls might:\n• Feel pain in their tummy\n• Feel a bit sick\n• Feel no changes at all\n\nA girl can prepare for her first period by making a period pack.\nIn a period pack, a girl can have:\n• Pads\n• Tampons\n• Tissues\n• Wet wipes\n• Pain relief (Panadol)\n• Spare underwear\n• Cloth\n\nSome girls might feel good when they get their first period. This means they are growing up! Some girls might feel scared. This is OK, it is normal to feel this way.\nTo soak up period blood girls can use pads or tampons. These are bought at the supermarket, chemist or pharmacy and come with instructions for use.\nPads:\n• Sit in the underwear\n• Soak up the period blood that comes out of the vagina\n• Come in different shapes and thicknesses, with wings or without\n• Should be changed every three to four hours during the day\n\nTampons:\n• Are inserted into the vagina\n• Soak up the period blood inside the vagina\n• Come in different sizes and some include an applicator\n• Are useful when swimming or wearing something tight like a leotard\n• Should be changed every three to four hours during the day\n\nJust before or during a period, some girls might have cramps, bloating, tiredness, or a headache. Sometimes girls won’t have any pains.\nThings that might help:\n• Mild exercise\n• Heat packs or hot towel\n• Painkillers or anti-cramping medication\n• Talking to a doctor