This article was co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD and by How.com.vn staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Dr. Marusinec is a board certified Pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, where she is on the Clinical Practice Council. She received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Medicine in 1995 and completed her residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Pediatrics in 1998. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association and the Society for Pediatric Urgent Care.
There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 743,043 times.
Wondering when you can expect your first period? It's normal to be nervous about it, but don't worry—you've got this! Most people get their first period sometime between the ages of 12 and 14.[1] We're here to help you learn the signs you can look out for that will tell you that your first period is just around the corner.
Things You Should Know
- Look for your first period to come about 2-3 years after you start puberty.
- Talk to your birth parent about when they started their period. It's likely you'll start yours around the same time.
- Expect your period in 2-3 weeks if you have vaginal discharge that looks and feels like egg whites.
- If you feel emotional and irritable or like you're starting to get sick, it's possible that your first period is just a few days away.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
- If you're trans or nonbinary, starting or having your period can be an especially confusing and alienating time. Since so much of the information about periods addresses women, you might feel as though you're on the outside looking in.[17] Make sure you have a support system around you of people who understand and empathize with what you're going through.Thanks
- Ask the parent who gave birth to you when they started their period—that can give you some general idea of when you can expect to start yours.[18]Thanks
- It's normal to be worried or nervous about starting your period. Talking to someone you trust who's older and has already been through it can really help!Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.girlshealth.gov/body/period/index.html
- ↑ https://www.glowm.com/section-view/heading/Physiology%20of%20Puberty/item/285#
- ↑ https://www.girlshealth.gov/body/period/index.html
- ↑ https://www.glowm.com/section-view/heading/Physiology%20of%20Puberty/item/285#
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods/starting-periods/
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21957-cervical-mucus
- ↑ https://www.glowm.com/section-view/heading/Physiology%20of%20Puberty/item/285#
- ↑ https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/teens/puberty/whats-periods
- ↑ https://www.yourperiod.ca/normal-periods/your-first-period/
- ↑ https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/teens/puberty/whats-periods
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/Services/Pediatric-and-Adolescent-Medicine/Adolescent-and-Young-Adult-Specialty-Clinic/Puberty/Puberty-For-Girls
- ↑ https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/teens/puberty/whats-periods
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/Services/Pediatric-and-Adolescent-Medicine/Adolescent-and-Young-Adult-Specialty-Clinic/Puberty/Puberty-For-Girls
- ↑ https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/teens/puberty/whats-periods
- ↑ https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/teens/puberty/whats-periods
- ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/puberty/Pages/Physical-Development-Girls-What-to-Expect.aspx
- ↑ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/soin.12355
- ↑ https://www.chla.org/blog/rn-remedies/discussing-menstruation-your-daughter-whats-period
About This Article
Reader Success Stories
- "This helped me because I am 11 and experiencing some vagainal discharge. I was just wondering about if this was a symptom and if so how much longer until I get my period. This was by far the best website I have been on so far."..." more
Did this article help you?
⚠️ Disclaimer:
Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.
- - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
- - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
- - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
- - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.