Getting your first period:

The Big Moment:
Getting Your First Period

There's a first time for everything, and getting your period is no exception. Getting your first period can be really exciting, but it can also be a bit scary. Here's all you need to know to be prepared for the first time it happens.

When will I get my first period?

Your first period may come when you're 9 or when you're 16, or any time in between. Many girls take after their female relatives. For example, if your mother and sister both got their first periods when they were 12, you probably will too. It's hard to know exactly when you'll get your first period, but some things happen in your body to help you know you're getting closer.

What are the signs that my body is ready to have a period?

Hormones are natural chemicals in your body that bring on puberty. You'll notice that you're getting taller and putting on some weight. Your hips will look rounder and your breasts will develop, too. Hair will start growing under your arms and in your pubic area. You'll start having stronger odor under your arms. Your body will look less like a little girl's body and more like a young woman's body. These are all clues that hormones are working. Soon, you'll get your first period.

Should I be worried about my period coming?

Many girls are scared about their first period, because it's something so new and different in their lives. Hopefully, before it happens, you'll get a chance to talk about this with your mother, or a helpful older female relative, teacher, or friend. Or you might have already read some helpful books or articles.

Your first period doesn't have to be scary at all. It's a good idea to know where to get sanitary pads before you actually need them. You can buy them at markets or drugstores, or you can ask your mother or another relative at home to get them for you. You can also get pads from coin–operated machines in public restrooms. The school nurse often has pads for emergency use. Some girls keep a pad in a bag in their backpacks or lockers, just in case they get their first period at school.

Practice using a pad before you actually need it. Tampons are another option, but most girls don't use them the first time they get their period. (Check out pads and tampons to get instructions on how to use a tampon when you're ready to.)