Having a period is a normal and regular event in a female’s life. Even though a girl may feel like it is a nuisance every month, having monthly menstrual cycles keeps females healthy. The menstrual period is the monthly discharge of blood and other secretions from a female’s uterus.

Each female’s pattern of menstruation is different. Some girls have very heavy flows while others may have light spotting only. When a girl gets her first period, she will experience all kinds of new feelings. These can range from being very excited to being very nervous and scared. It is a good idea to be prepared for this event, by keeping a pad or tampon in your purse just in case you are not at home when this happens. You may have your first period and then not a second one for several months. This is not uncommon when you first start to have periods. Knowing about menstruation and its role in reproduction will help you understand why this happens in your body.

The Reproduction Process

The uterus is a muscular organ located in the lower abdomen, called the pelvic area.

The cervix opens into the vagina and this is where the blood is discharged every month. A fallopian tube is extended outward from each side of the uterus. The ovaries are located on the sides of the uterus, near the fallopian tubes. The reason you have a period each month is because the endometrium, (the lining of the uterus) builds up and then sheds. The average cycle is 28 days but often they can range from 23 to 35 days apart.

The ovaries make hormones estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen causes the lining to grow and thicken. On approximately cycle day 14 ovulation occurs and an egg is released from one of the ovaries. This is the time when pregnancy can occur. If a sperm meets an egg in the fallopian tube, the two may come together to be fertilized. This fertilized egg then moves to the uterus where it begins to grow into a fetus. If it is not fertilized it moves to the uterus and is absorbed. Estrogen and progesterone levels then decrease and the lining is shed, (your period.)

Problems of Menstruation

A girl’s period can start from age 8 to approximately age 16. One factor of when your period may start can be related to when your mom and her mom started their periods. Periods normally last 3 to 5 days in length, but some girl’s periods can last 7 to 8 days. For the first few years after your first period, your periods may be very irregular. They may come as often as every two weeks some times or come as far apart as every three to four months.

Girls that exercise excessively may see their periods change. This may result in fewer periods. If you have extremely heavy periods, changing pads or tampons more than every hour you need to notify your doctor. You may become anemic, (low iron level), causing you to be very tired.

During your teen years it is very important to get exercise but if you have irregular bleeding you may need to take additional iron supplements to compensate for this loss.