knowledge.txt

A period is a release of blood from a girl's uterus, out through her vagina. 
It is a sign that she is getting close to the end of puberty. 
It also means that she can get pregnant if she has sex.
There is a lot to learn about periods. Here are answers to some common questions.
When Do Periods Usually Start?
Most girls get their first period when they're around 12. 
But sometimes it comes a few years earlier or later. 
Every girl's body has its own schedule.
There isn't one right age for a girl to get her period. 
But signs to watch for include:
breasts starting to develop (periods usually start about 2 years after this), hair growing under a girl's arms and in her private parts, seeing or feeling vaginal discharge fluid (sort of like mucus), which usually begins about 6 months to a year before a girl gets her first period
What Causes a Period?
A period happens because of changes in hormones in the body. 
Hormones are chemical messengers. 
The ovaries release the female hormones estrogen and progesterone , which cause the lining of the uterus (or womb) to build up. 
The built-up lining is ready for a fertilized egg (an egg that has joined with a sperm) to attach to and develop into a baby. 
If there is no fertilized egg, the lining breaks down and bleeds. 
Then the same process happens all over again.


While timelines can vary, most girls get their first period within 2 – 3 years after the development of breast buds.
The average age for girls to get their first period in the United States is around age 12.
It's important to emphasize that periods are a normal part of growing up. 
Young girls should know that it's okay to talk about periods and ask questions about them. 
Some young people may have anxiety about how to handle their first period, given that it can happen unexpectedly. 
Providing supplies (pads, tampons, and pantiliners) for your child's locker or backpack and reviewing resources at school, including the school nurse, can help alleviate this worry.

While some girls will have bright red blood with their first period, other girls may only have spotting with red-brown discharge―both are normal! 
While some people will have periods once a month, periods may be irregular in the first few years as the body adapts to rapid physiological changes.  
Also, normal cycles of periods can be as short as 21 days or as long as 35… so even people with regular cycles might not have a period every single month!

Abdominal cramping or pain with periods is also common. 
For most people, ibuprofen or naproxen used as needed are the best medicines to help with period cramps. 
If menstrual cramps are severe or causing your child to miss school, talk to your pediatrician about other options.

Puberty is the time when kids grow into young adults through physical and emotional changes. 
This doesn’t happen all at once, but slowly over time.
It's good to know about the changes that come along with puberty so you know what to expect.

For most females, the first physical change of puberty is breast development. 
It starts with small, firm, tender lumps (called buds) under one or both nipples. 
The breasts will get larger over the next year or two. Dark, coarse, curly hair will appear on the labia (the folds of skin surrounding the vagina).
Later, more hair will grow in the pubic area and under the arms.
Their body shape begins to change as their hips widen and they gain weight and body fat. 
Expect the first period (menstruation) about 2 years after breast buds appear, usually between the ages of 9 and 16.
Most females have a growth spurt about 1–2 years before their period starts.
After they get their period, most females grow about 1–2 more inches before growth stops.

What Emotional Changes Happen During Puberty?
Just as those hormones change the way your body looks on the outside, they also change how you feel on the inside.
While your body is adjusting to all the new hormones, so is your mind.
During puberty, you might feel confused or have strong emotions that you've never had before.
You may feel anxious about how your changing body looks. You might feel get upset or lose your temper more than usual.
It's easy to feel embarrassed or anxious when talking about these topics, but you need the right information. 
If you aren’t comfortable talking to your parents, you might talk to your doctor, a school nurse, a teacher, or a school counselor.

What Else Should I Know?
Even though everyone goes through puberty, we all go through it a little differently.
Some of your friends might have gotten curves, but you haven't yet. 
Maybe your best friend's voice has changed, and you think you still sound like a kid.
But eventually everyone catches up, and the differences will even out.
Keep in mind that there is no right or wrong way to look. 
We are all unique, on the inside and the outside.