How to Know When Your First Period is Coming – Menarche

Awaiting your first period? It can be any time between 8 to 15 years! However, your body demonstrates some signs and symbols to alert you and get prepared to welcome the bliss full womanhood.

Yes, my dear little reader, I will take you through some authenticated information of the medical domain and also share my personal experience. I can sense exactly how you are feeling now. I remember my excitement and fear when I was your age and was anxious to know this prophecy. Let’s start with how to know when your first period is coming?

Table of Contents

My First Period Kit

If you are in the age group of 8 to 15 years and reading this article with an expectation to get the answer to your question then I would suggest getting your period kit ready.

This is because no one can exactly foretell when you are going to get your first phases of the menstrual cycle. It can start at any point in time and you must be prepared with a sanitary pad in the bag to avoid any embarrassment.

Checklist of period kit:

Maxi sanitary pad
Panty
Pantyliners
Toilet tissue paper
Wipes
Medicine for menstrual cramps & pain
Extra dress or bottom wear (1)

Also Read – AN ARTICLE ABOUT TEENAGE HEALTH OF GIRLS

Signs & Symbols

The menstrual cycle is the result of a series of hormonal changes, which comes along with physiological and mental changes. Followings are some pre-menarche signs to mark:

Growth of breast bud – Minimum two years before menarche the breast bud starts growing. Under the nipple small bump of flesh starts evolving.
Nipple gets bigger – Nipple size gets bigger and puff out on both breast at a time or on anyone at first and then on the other within 6 months. Also, you may feel the soreness of breast.
Vaginal discharge – One of the most important signs is vaginal discharge before period. It appears from 6 months to 1 year before menarche due to a rise in female hormone oestrogen as the reproductive system prepares itself. You can find white fluid in your underwear. It may be thick sticky or light with the smell. When this discharge arises remarkably then you are at the onset of your first menstrual cycle.
Pubic hair – Due to the oestrogen hormone pubic hair grows in your genital area and underarm. Also, the hair on the legs grows bigger.
Irritation – At times you may feel irritation or pain in the vagina.
Cravings – Often you may feel cravings.
Body Shape – Your body shape changes. Hips get wider, waist takes a curvy turn, height and weight both grows significantly.
Acne & Pimples – In the teenage acne and pimples is commonly found in many girls. (2)

What is the Menarche?

One of the most frequently asked questions on the internet is what is menarche? The first menstruation or continuous discharge of blood through the vagina is called menarche. The first day of menarche is the first day of your first menstrual cycle. It is also known as the period. (3)

What is Menstruation?

Menstruation is the cyclic and orderly shedding of the uterine wall or endometrium as a hormonal interaction produced by the hypothalamus section of the brain, pituitary gland, and ovaries.

Due to the sloughing of the uterine lining blood comes out of the vagina. It contains the ruptured and unfertilized ovum, cells, and mucus, which often comes as blood clots and chunks. (4)

How Many Days My First Period Will Last?

Each individual is unique, hence, there are a lot of variations. Some girls get just some spots of blood for a day or two and get the regular period after one or two months.

For another set of girls, the first month starts with heavy blood flow for 7 to 10 days. Others may experience light flow for 5 to 7 days. (5)

Shall I Take any Medical Assistance for Heavy Blood Flow?

If you have heavy periods with blood clots you may seek medical assistance. Those who are prone to anaemia may face problems. Therefore, a medical practitioner can help you with relevant medicine.

What is Menstrual Cycle?

Another most important question you must know while researching menarche is what is menstrual cycle? The menstrual cycle is of 25 to 30 days, where 28 days is the ideal span with 4 phases:

Menstruation or Period – The first day of the period to the last day when blood comes out of the vagina.
Follicular Phase – It starts from the first to last day of ovulation, i.e. first to the 20^th The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland releases follicle stimulating hormone, which stimulates the ovary to release the ovum.
Ovulation – It is the process of releasing a matured egg from the ovum which occurs between 12 to 14 days generally. Its life span is around 24 hours. To calculate date of ovulation you may consider the length of your last menstrual cycle.

Divide the total number of days by two.

Suppose, your general cycle length is of

28 days ÷ 2 = 14.

Therefore, the chance of ovulation is on the 12^th, 13^th, and 14^th day.

This span varies on the length of the menstrual cycle. (6)

Luteal Phase – At the time of ovulation the egg comes out of the follicles by rupturing them. Now the ruptured and dissembled follicle remains on the surface of the ovarian cavity. For another 15 days, the follicle gets transformed into the corpus luteum, which releases progesterone and oestrogen. This combination makes the thickened uterine wall lining. Such thickened walls are favourable for the implantation of the fertilized egg.

In case if pregnancy has not occurred or the egg does not get fertilized then corpus lutetium withers away and the next cycle starts from the 28^th to 35^th day of the first day last period.

Common Health Problems Associated with Menstrual Onset

PMS or Premenstrual Syndrome – Due to hormonal changes before the menstrual cycle some common side effects are fluid retention, fatigue, irritability, and headaches.
Dysmenorrhoea – To dislodge the thick lining in the uterus created by corpus lutetium hormonal effects squeeze it harder, which causes cramping pain.
Heavy bleeding/Menorrhagia – Many come across heavy menstrual bleeding, which can cause anaemia down the line.
Amenorrhoea – Sometimes the woman experiences all symptoms of a period, although menstrual flow does not take place. It generally causes in pre-puberty, lactation, and postmenopausal stages.

Menstrual Hygiene

During menstruation or periods, you have to be very conscious about genital hygiene. Otherwise, it may lead to a serious gynaecological problem and infection.

It is my request to all my dear readers to be prudent about this particular point. Hereby, I am sharing some tips on menstrual hygiene : (7)

Change your sanitary pad or tampons at an interval of four hours. Keeping the same pads or tampons for a long time can let bacteria or virus grow on them causing infection.
Clear out your pubic hairs before periods otherwise the hairs hold back the clots and blood coming out through the vagina and enhance the susceptibility of bacterial growth, infection, itching, and a lot.
Keep the urogenital area and underwears clean. Wear cotton underwears. Washing with a vaginal cleanser may be prohibited as it lowers the pH balance and disturbs the vaginal ecosystem.
Sexual intercourse during periods may be avoided in order to prevent transmission of infection. In case it is done, the male partner must wear a condom.

The Bottom Line

Herein I endeavoured to share all necessary information that girls need to know before and during menarche or menstrual cycle through my blog page, The Healthy Women. All you need to understand is the signals and symptoms given by your body and take medical assistance whenever required. Do never hide or shy away, your body needs care and alertness during this time.

Share your questions or experience with us in the section below. If this blog seems helpful to you do share and like us here and on our social media channels. We would love to hear from you!

Disclaimer:

The Healthy Women’s blog posts are based on research from mentioned websites as sources. We suggest consulting a physician before taking any medicine or adopting to any health practice.

Sources:
1. WebMD

Website – https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/daughters-first-period-how-to-prepare#1

2. Clue

Website – https://helloclue.com/articles/life-stages/when-will-i-get-my-first-period

3. MedicineNet

Website – https://www.webmd.com/parenting/features/daughters-first-period-how-to-prepare#1

4. NCBI

Website – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279054/#:~:text=SUMMARY,between%2025%20to%2030%20days.

5. Healthline

Website – https://www.healthline.com/health/first-period#length

6. Better Health

Website – https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/menstrual-cycle