First period: a guide for teens and families

Your first period may look like a few reddish-brown spots in your underwear. It doesn’t have to start with a lot of blood.

The first part is for teenagers. The second part is for parents and carers.

If you’re a teenager

When it might start

Periods usually start around age 12. The NHS gives a wide range, from 8 to 17. Don’t use that range as a reason to wait. See a GP if yours haven’t started by 15, or by 13 if you have no other signs of puberty.

Breast growth, underarm hair and pubic hair can come before your first period. The NHS says periods usually begin about two years after breasts start growing. ACOG’s puberty guide says about two to three years. These changes can’t tell you the exact start date.

If a change leaves you unsure, ask someone you trust to help you find out more.

What to use when bleeding starts

A pad sits inside your underwear and soaks up blood. Period underwear has the soaking layer built in. Tampons soak up blood inside the vagina. Menstrual cups sit inside it and collect blood.

You can start with a pad if that feels easiest, and try something else later. You don’t have to use a product that goes inside your vagina.

Read the instructions for the product you choose. ACOG advises changing tampons every four to eight hours, or sooner if your flow needs it. Don’t leave one in for more than eight hours. If any instructions are unclear, ask a trusted adult to help.

Keep products and spare underwear in your bag before your period starts. At school, ask a teacher or school nurse if you need supplies.

The next period may not arrive on schedule

Early periods can be irregular. You may miss a period or have two in one calendar month. Count a cycle from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. It doesn’t matter which month the dates fall in.

If you’d like to start a cycle record, mark the days you bleed on a calendar. Add anything you want to remember, such as “needed a change of clothes”.

Your record doesn’t need to be perfect before you ask for help. ACOG advises a check if periods are more than 90 days apart, even once. If that happens, tell a trusted adult and book a GP appointment.

Period pain and when to tell an adult

For cramps before or during a period, a warm bath or a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel may help. Gentle walking can help too, if you feel up to it. The NHS also lists paracetamol or ibuprofen. Follow the pack leaflet for your age. Ask a pharmacist if you’re not sure what is right for you.

Tell a trusted adult if pain keeps you from school, sleep or your usual activities. Ask them to help you get support. You can read more about period pain and getting help.

Tell someone soon if you keep bleeding through your clothes, or need to change a pad or tampon every one to two hours. These are some of the NHS signs of heavy periods. If heavy bleeding comes with dizziness or a racing heartbeat, ACOG advises getting medical help straight away.

If period pain is severe and painkillers haven’t helped, get urgent medical advice. If lower tummy pain comes with feeling faint, trouble breathing or heavy bleeding, get emergency help. You’ll find where to go below. If no adult is around, contact the service yourself.

If you’re a parent or carer

Talking before and after the first period

Start talking before the first period, and keep talking after it. The NHS recommends ongoing conversations about periods. Buying products together can be a good way to start. Ask what your child already knows. Use clear words such as “vagina”.

You could say, “You can ask me about this any time. If I don’t know the answer, we can find it.” Let them choose to talk now or come back to it later. They may prefer to write a question down, or to ask another trusted adult.

Explain what happens in plain words: a period is blood and tissue leaving the womb through the vagina. Ask before you tell relatives or anyone else about their first period.

Have supplies ready without taking over

Put together a small kit with your child: the products they’ve chosen and spare underwear, plus a bag for stained clothes. Agree where the kit will live and how they can ask for more.

If they want to see how a product works, open a packet together. Help them read the instructions, including how to change or clean the product. Ask who they could go to at school, and how they would get a change of clothes. Offer to help with a record, but ask what they want to keep private.

If they tell you about a leak or pain, start with what they need right now. That might be supplies, somewhere to change, or help getting care.

When to arrange a GP appointment

Book an appointment if there is no first period by 15, or by 13 without other signs of puberty. ACOG also advises a check if three years have passed since breast development began and there is still no period.

Once periods start, get advice if there is a gap of more than 90 days, or if bleeding lasts more than seven days. Do the same if pain gets in the way of usual activities. Bring whatever dates you have.

The NHS advises a GP appointment if heavy bleeding affects daily life. You can read more about the signs in recognising heavy periods.

When help needs to be urgent

If period pain is severe or worse than usual and painkillers haven’t helped, get an urgent GP appointment or contact NHS 111 in the UK. Elsewhere, contact your local urgent medical service.

For lower tummy pain with feeling faint, trouble breathing or heavy vaginal bleeding, get emergency care. Pain that is getting worse, or that hurts when you move or touch the area, also needs emergency care. In the UK, call 999 or go to A&E. Elsewhere, call your local emergency number or go to the emergency department. Don’t wait to finish a period record first.