All your period questions, answered

There are very few things in life which come every month or so, and your periods are one of them. For some women they may appear every twenty eight days like clockwork, while for others they can be irregular. Yet, for something which happens to around half the population, they are still shrouded in silence, stigma and an awful lot of misinformation. Every single month your body is preparing to get pregnant, whether or not you are even thinking about it, and these big hormonal shifts can affect all parts of your body, not just your ovaries and uterus (womb). Knowledge is empowering and having an understanding of what is happening in the menstrual cycle, and having an understanding of your own personal cycle is vital. It will help you manage your own symptoms and body and also help you understand when you might need to get help. Here, we answer the most common questions about your period and share some period tips.

What is a period?

“Period” is one of many names for menstruation, which is the phase of your menstrual cycle during which you bleed from the vagina for a few days. (Menstrual comes from the Latin menses, which means month.) The word period to describe menses only came into fashion from around the 1800s but there are a huge number of euphemisms and slang terms for your period in all languages, from surfing the red wave, to Aunt Flo is in town, to the literally translated strawberry week in German. Yet these slang terms add to period shame and stigma as they reinforce the idea that your period is something to whisper about, that it shouldn’t be referred to and should be managed in secret, all of which are not true, so let’s use the words so we speak clearly and understand each other! Menstruation is the first part of the, on average month long, menstrual cycle, where the lining of the womb is shed. Your hormones are the boss of your menstrual cycle, dictating all the different processes that happen in your body. Some of these hormones are produced in the brain and others in the ovaries. Doctors and scientists refer to the first day of your last menstrual period as the first day of your menstrual cycle.

Whether your period lasts for 2 days or a week, the levels follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the brain begin to gradually rise. This stimulates the production of follicles in the ovaries which produce oestrogen and in time (generally) one follicle dominates. This is known as the follicular phase and tends to last approximately 2 weeks, though it can be longer or shorter. Oestrogen has many jobs in the body, but in the womb it acts to make the lining thick to get ready for pregnancy.

As the levels of oestrogen rise the brain responds by slowing down the production of FSH. These hormonal changes triggers a surge of a further hormone in the brain known as luteinizing hormone (LH) which leads to ovulation and an egg is produced from the follicle.

From the point of ovulation to your next period is 10-16 days, meaning that the length of your menstrual cycle is set by how long the first, or follicular phase is. The second half of the cycle, after ovulation, is known as the luteal phase. In this time levels of the hormone progesterone increase, produced from the follicle where the egg was released from, this ruptured follicle is now called by a different name, the corpus luteum. Progesterone works to prepare that now thickened uterine (womb) lining to get ready for implantation if you become pregnant.

An egg only survives for twenty four hours in the body, unlike sperm which can survive in the female body for up to five days. If there is no fertilized egg eventually the corpus luteum begins to break down about ten or so days after ovulation. Then the levels of progesterone begin to fall and the lining of the uterus becomes unstable meaning that your period starts, where the unused uterine lining is shed.

And round we go, with day one of your period starting day one of your next menstrual cycle. Month in, month out for about forty years or so!

When will I get my first period?

It’s hard to predict when you’ll get your first period because everyone is different. In most cases, your periods will start approximately two years after your breasts start to develop. So your period can start anywhere from about age 9, and on average starts at approximately twelve years old. . You can prep for this change by reading up on what to expect when you get your first period. (Attention parents, we’ve got you covered, too – have a look at our guide to talking to your kids about puberty.)

What are the first period symptoms?

Your body’s going to start prepping for your period way before it actually comes. Firstly, your breasts will start to grow, and you might notice hair growing under your arms and on your pubic area. You may also notice discharge as much as a year or so before you get your first period; a clear or white fluid in your underwear. But you can’t predict exactly when that first period is going to appear so it is useful to be prepared!

Period tip: Periods aren’t always bright red, in fact they can be pink, brown, rust, or even look almost black. You might notice that the first period is lighter than others, it takes your body a good few months if not years to figure out this new development, so most things about your period the timing, the flow aren’t set in stone.

How long does a period last?

Your period usually lasts between two and seven days and is usually heavier on the first few days before lightening up towards the end. Don’t worry if your period blood changes colour during your period, perhaps starting off pinky coloured, which might be some blood mixed with discharge, then a brighter red and then tailing off to brown. Brown period blood is simply older blood which has become oxidized and is nothing to worry about. In time you will get used to what is normal for you, (Have a look at our full guide to all the different phases of your menstrual cycle here.)

How often will you get your period?

In most cases, your period doesn’t show up exactly 28 days later. In fact, for the first few months, your period will be really unpredictable and irregular. Although the average cycle length is indeed 28 days (hence its ‘monthly’ timing), your cycle could actually last anywhere from 21 to 35 days. That’s a huge window, and again, it might not stick to the same timeline every month. Try using a period tracker like the Tampax Period Tracker, which can help you to figure out a pattern in your cycle and help you plan better for your period.

If you notice that your cycle changes from your normal, then it is worth discussing with your doctor, for example if you previously had a 5 week cycle and then it becomes very irregular. Also always see your doctor if you get bleeding in between your periods or after sex.

How to deal with period cramps

Period cramps are just like cramps anywhere else: a muscle contracts too hard or too fast, constricting the blood flow and causing pain. Except when your uterus is contracting, it can feel extra painful – which is why it’s not uncommon for cramps to put you out of action for a while.

While this info won’t exactly make your cramps go away, there are some period tips in it for you: heating pads can definitely help, as can a warm bath and an over-the-counter painkiller. And even though you may not feel like it, exercise can work wonders. If you’re dealing with other unpleasant period side effects (like our old pal bloating), then have a look at this guide full of tips on how to feel better during your period.

How heavy is a period?

While it looks like a lot of blood over a few days, actually the amount of blood lost in a period is 20-80mls, that’s somewhere between 1 and 5 or so tablespoons worth. A heavy period is defined as losing over 80mls of blood but don’t worry no one is going to make you measure how much you are losing!

Signs that your periods may be heavy include needing to use two types of period products together such as a tampon and a pad to stop flooding, flooding or leaking onto clothes or bedding, needing to change your pad or tampon very often, every 1-2 hrs or passing clots bigger than about an inch or 2.5cm, which is about the size of a ten pence piece. You may also notice other symptoms such as feeling short of breath or tired all the time if you become anaemic due to heavy periods.

If you have these symptoms or are missing school or work due to your heavy periods please see your doctor.

How to deal with period cramps

Period cramps, also called menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea, are painful sensations felt in the lower abdomen before or during a menstrual period. They happen because the uterus contracts to shed its lining, as the womb contracts it constricts the blood supply to the muscle leading to pain. These contractions are triggered by hormone-like chemicals called prostaglandins. Higher levels of prostaglandins generally lead to stronger contractions and more intense pain.

Period pains can feel dull, aching, throbbing or sharp and tend to come and go in intensity, like contractions! You might feel them in your pelvis, lower tummy, lower back and can even spread down your thights.

While this info won’t exactly make your cramps go away, there are some period tips in it for you: heating pads or hot water bottles can help, as can a warm bath and an over-the-counter painkiller. And even though you may not feel like it, exercise can work wonders, even a walk!.

There is no definition for what is normal in terms of period pains, but if you aren’t coping despite some over the counter painkillers, or again, if your period is so painful that you are missing school or work please see your doctor as there is lots that can be done to help.

If you’re dealing with other unpleasant period side effects (like our old pal bloating), then have a look at this guide full of tips on how to feel better during your period.

Why your period is late

Your period could be late for a whole host of reasons. Anything from stress, illness, weight loss or weight gain, over exercising, to hormonal conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or thyroid conditions. And we can’t forget that there’s always the possibility of pregnancy – but a missed period doesn’t automatically mean you’re pregnant, though if you are sexually active please do a pregnancy test.

It can take a while for your periods to settle down into your normal cycle, but if you’ve been getting your period for a while and it stays irregular, or if it changes from being regular to irregular and you’re definitely not pregnant, then please see your doctor.

How to stop or bring on your period

Despite there being a million and one remedies to either stop or bring on your period early, for example because you are going on holiday, the only way to do this is hormonal medication from your doctor. Beyond these, or being pregnant or after the menopause there is no safe DIY way to stopping your period. Certain forms of hormonal medications can delay or stop periods entirely. Beyond these, or being pregnant or after the menopause there is no safe DIY way to stopping your period

This is generalised advice and isn't personalised nor to replace the advice of your doctor and other health care professionals.