First Period Guide to Help Your Teen Daughter

Posted by Harleen Kaur on January 27th, 2023

The very first period can be surprising and sometimes scary too. While to some this could be exciting as it is kind of a rite of passage into adulthood, most teen girls feel anxious and lost due to lack of period education. So, if you are a teen girl’s parent then you need to guide her through this difficult but significant stage of life.

Signs and Symptoms of First Period
Age
While some girls may start menstruating at the young age of 8, others may not even begin it until they are 15.

Early Signs
About a couple of years before the first period, breast development and growth of pubic hair may begin. And about a year before the first period, most girls go through a noticeable growth spurt.

First Period
The first period is often very light with very little blood and sometimes just spotting.
Menstruation, which is normally a 28-day-long cycle, can be irregular in the beginning. Your daughter may skip her period or experience it several times a month, or its frequency may be lower than expected.

Emotions
The first period of any girl can bring in a lot of emotions. Some may be excited to be stepping into the world of womanhood and some may see it just as a bother, cutting their carefree childhood short. All of these emotions are valid and make it necessary for you to give her period education with heart-to-heart communication.

Talking with Your Teen Daughter
Many women still find it hard to talk about issues such as ‘how to use sanitary pads’ with their daughters. Don’t be like that. Your teen daughter needs your guidance and support. Be open with her and address her doubts and concerns with honesty.

What is a period?
Periods or menstruation begins after around two years since puberty starts. When someone is on their period it means that bloody fluid will release from their uterus and flow out of their vagina. This lasts for 3 to 7 days. It is called a menstrual cycle as it continues to occur every month and does so until menopause which happens around the age of 50 years.

Why does a girl get periods?
Periods indicate that your uterus, where a baby can grow, is preparing for the possibility of pregnancy. It does so by forming a thick lining of blood vessels on the inside to comfortably nest and nourish the baby. But in the absence of pregnancy, this lining sheds off and drains out the vagina in the form of period blood.

Does that mean I can get pregnant?
Yes, you can get pregnant once your period starts and even just before your first period, as the responsible hormones may already be active.

When will I get my first period?
There is no definite way to tell when you will start getting your periods but it usually happens between the age of 8 to 15 years and after about 2 years of the beginning of your puberty.

How will it be when I get it?
Periods cause bloody fluid to come out of your vagina which can be thinner or thicker than blood or in the form of clots. The colour can also be different from fresh blood, being deep red or maroon and even brown or black!

Will it hurt?
It doesn’t hurt when blood comes out but you can get muscle cramps though, in your back muscles, abdomen and sometimes thighs too. This is part of PMS or Premenstrual Syndrome which occurs due to menstrual cycle hormones. It may also cause mood swings, bloating, certain food cravings, headaches and breast tenderness. It usually begins a few days before your period starts and subsides in a day or two.

Which period product should I use?
It is best, to begin with, period pads as you don’t need to worry about how to use sanitary napkins. You can later move onto tampons or menstrual cups which are much more convenient and offer more freedom but are trickier to use.

The thought of blood leaking out of the body every month may sound weird and can freak your daughter out. So it is your responsibility to help her with this first period guide so she understands that it is completely normal and a sign of sound health.