WHAT'S NORMAL?
(Appropriate for ages 10+)
What is normal for a period?
You will get your period once a month, but it is normal to skip a month or have it twice in a month during the first year after getting your period for the first time. (If you have your period twice in one month it will most likely be at the very beginning of the month and at the end of the month). It can take about a year for your period to become regular. It is normal to have heavier days while on your period. These are days in which you may notice that you are bleeding quicker and in larger amounts than other days. Color changes are also very normal as you go through the days of your period. During the start of your period, your period blood can be a bright red color and closer to the end of your cycle your period blood may look more brown than red. While you have your period there are several symptoms that you may have. Here is a list of possible symptoms. This does not mean that you will for sure have every symptom on this list, these are simply things that you can note as being part of a normal period. Not everyone will feel the same symptoms and not everyone will feel these symptoms to the same extent.
Normal Period Symptoms:
- Moodiness
- Trouble sleeping
- Food cravings
- Cramps in your lower abdomen
- Cramps or aching in your back
- Bloating
- Sore breasts
- Acne
What is not normal for a period?
One thing that should be noted is that you are not constantly bleeding all the time throughout your period. You will bleed for a short period of time at a time. Along with normal symptoms, here is a list of symptoms that you might want to watch out for, as they can suggest that there may be an issue and that you may want to speak with your doctors
Irregular Period Symptoms:
- You have not started your period by the age of 16
- You period stops suddenly
- You are bleeding for longer than usual
- Your period is heavier than usual
- You feel severe pain during your period
- You bleed in between periods