About Junko Expertise I can answer most questions pertaining to teen health, thought I cannot give medical advice. I can explain medical terminology, describe medical conditions and hopefully help people understand what is going on with their bodies. If I don`t know an answer to a question, being a medical student, I can easily find out the answer since I have many resources I can refer to.
Question I'm 13 years old, do u no when I will have my period and can u tell me what I have to do once I get it?
Answer Hi Veronica,
All I can say is that girls usually get their first period between the ages of 8 and 16. On average, girls in the U.S. start getting their periods at age 12. You may be able to get a better idea of when you'll start menstruating (getting your period) by asking the other women in your family when they first got their period.
During the first year after you get your first period, your period may not be regular - you may not get it every month. Your discharge may also look more brown than red at first. This is normal - you shouldn't worry about this.
You have the choice of using a pad or a tampon when you get your period. You might want to start off using a pad since tampons are a little bit more difficult to use. Tampons need to be inserted into the vagina and should not be left in for prolonged periods of time - you should change tampons at least every 4-8 hours. Also, there are different sizes of tampons (as there are different sizes of pads), and you should choose an appropriate sized tampon for the type of flow (heavy or light) you are having. Do not use a big (super absorbant) tampon for light flow.
It's fairly difficult to describe how to put a tampon in over e-mail, so I won't try it here. You should ask a family member or friend for help if you don't know where it goes.
