Frequently asked questions

Puberty is a physical change that happens to girls between the ages of 10-14 years old. It is the time in your life where you make the physical change from being a child to an adult.

Everybody is different, but periods start any time from the age of 10 and about 50% of girls will have started their period by the age of 12. Every girl is different and you might start your period earlier than other girls or be the last one of your friends to start. It’s not a competition though and your body will start when it’s ready to.

It may seem like you bleed a lot during your period, but most girls normally lose between 4 and 12 teaspoons of blood during an average period. Change your pad at least every 4 hours, but at the start of your period, you may bleed more heavily and need to change it every 2-3 hours.

A warm bath and a hot water bottle are great for easing period pain, while staying active and eating healthily can help with that bloated feeling many girls get. You can also ask your pharmacist to suggest painkillers if your period pain is affecting your schoolwork or ability to enjoy spending time with your friends.

Because your body is going through a big change you might feel a little uncomfortable and shyer about it. You might also feel more moody. This is completely normal; all girls go through this. Each young woman grows and changes at her own pace. Remember you are beautiful and everything will happen in due time.

If you’re worried about any smell, changing your pad often and keeping up good hygiene especially when you have your period will help with this. You should check to see if your pad needs to be changed every few hours and don’t wait until it is soaked with blood.

We know it can be uncomfortable, but you can’t let those cramps cramp your lifestyle. Here is a list of tips that can help.   

-Heat application like a warm bath or placing a hot water bottle across the abdomen   

-MOVE don’t curl or cramp up! Exercise helps to strengthen the muscles in the pelvic region which can help to prevent or minimize cramps. 

-Medication as a last resort e.g. mild pain relievers and anti-inflammatory can be used

This is mainly caused by hormonal changes during your cycle which impacts the sebaceous, or - less of a  tongue twister - the oil glands. But look,  it’s not fully understood why some people get it worse than others. It could be genetic, or because of an unhealthy lifestyle. The usual suspects are an unbalanced diet, smoking and of course, stress doesn’t help.

Just as every one of us is different, so are our periods. This is mainly genetic,  but other factors can affect the menstrual flow and cycle for example stress and also some medical conditions (like endometriosis). We would definitely encourage you to chat to your doctor or clinic nurse if you experience the following irregularities:

-Bleeding between periods 

-Excessively prolonged heavy flow, that  saturates the pad in 1 or 2hrs 

-Excessive blood clots 

-If menstruation doesn’t start by the age of  17 

-Periods which are consistently irregular after more than 2 years of menstruation 

-Absence of period for several months after menses is established

Discharge, yay! We're glad we’re chatting about this. It’s a natural mucous liquid produced by your body that passes through the vagina. Every woman experiences vaginal discharge of some kind. It really isn’t a big deal.

PMS is usually related to emotional changes or upheaval caused by hormonal changes around your period. Many girls and women struggle with this and it can be hard, not only on them but also on family and friends around them, especially if they don’t understand what’s going on. Common feelings are sensitivity, teariness, irritability, tiredness, and bad moods. What often goes hand in hand with these emotional changes are some physical discomforts too: 

-Breasts may swell slightly and become tender 

​-Abdomen may feel bloated 

-Weight gain because of fluid retention in the uterus 

-Lower back pain 

-Feelings of mild fatigue 

-Pimples and acne conditions may flare up because the oil glands become more active during this time 

-Increased perspiration due to the sweat glands being more active during menstruation

Start by speaking to somebody you trust and feel comfortable talking to. If that’s an older female figure, remember they have gone through this too and will have some great advice to give. I would suggest telling them you want to talk about something personal and then find a nice comfortable spot to chat.

A tampon is 100% safe to use by girls who are virgins and girls who have had sex. Using a tampon does not cause a girl to lose her virginity. Only having sex can do that.