Why do periods happen

You may need to experiment a bit to find which works best for you. Some girls use only one method and others switch between different methods. Although it may look like a lot of blood, a girl usually only loses a few tablespoons of blood for the whole period. Most girls need to change their pad, tampon, or menstrual cup about 3—6 times a day. Women also won't have a period while they are pregnant. PMS premenstrual syndrome is when a girl has emotional and physical symptoms right before her period starts or during the early part of her period.

A girl with PMS might:. Lots of girls have cramps with their period, especially in the first few days. If the cramps are very uncomfortable, a warm heating pad on the belly and medicines can help. Periods are a natural, healthy part of a girl's life.

They shouldn't get in the way of exercising, having fun, and enjoying life. If you have questions about periods, ask your doctor, a parent, health teacher, school nurse, or older sister. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. There is a lot to learn about periods. Here are some common questions that kids have.

There are some signs that a girl's period may start soon. These include: She's worn a bra for a few years. She has hair under her arms and in her private parts.

She has some clear, stringy liquid called discharge coming from her vagina. Your period is a natural occurrence. If you experience inconsistencies such as a change in your menstrual regularity, frequency, duration, or volume, talk with your doctor or gynecologist. Many women believe they experience period syncing with other women they live with or are close to. But is there scientific proof that this can happen….

The process of your uterus shedding its lining every month is called menstruation. Some discomfort during your period is common, but intense or…. A menstrual period is vaginal bleeding that occurs at the end of the monthly menstrual cycle. This is when the female body prepares itself for…. Having a headache during your period is pretty common, and is due to the hormonal fluctuations that occur at that time of your cycle.

It may trigger a…. Like women, men have hormonal shifts and changes. But do cis men have periods? How late is too late for a period to come? We'll break down how to know if it's late or just not coming this month and some common reasons why. For most menstruating people, period cravings are just a part of life.

This estrogen helps grow and prepare the lining of your uterus the endometrium for a potential pregnancy 1. After your ovary releases an egg ovulation , it produces the hormone progesterone. If an egg is fertilized, it then travels to the uterus over the next several days, implants in the uterine wall, and starts growing a hormone-producing placenta. This drop in hormones prepares your endometrium to shed, and triggers the production of hormone-like prostaglandins , which cause your uterus to contract, causing your period 3, 4.

And the cycle starts again. In addition to the bleeding that happens during a period, some people also experience light, mid-cycle ovulation spotting. Periods fluctuate for a while after they first start. You may still notice changes from time to time, though — the heaviness and length of your period depends on your hormones, which can fluctuate. Hormones can change temporarily because of things like stress , over-exercising, diet, or taking an emergency contraception pill the morning after pill.

Periods can also fluctuate because of certain health conditions, like uterine polyps , fibroids , or PCOS —conditions that should be addressed with your healthcare provider. Certain bleeding conditions and medications can also affect menstrual bleeding 6. An average period sheds about 2 to 3 tablespoons 35 to 40 milliliters of blood and tissue. People who are in the upper 5—6 tablespoons are considered to have heavy menstrual bleeding. The typical 5—80ml amount would use between 3—16 regular-absorbency tampons or pads per cycle.

You can also measure your period flow by using a menstrual cup.