First Time Period - What Does It Feel Like? How Can One Be Prepared for Their First Time Period?

While you wait for your first time period, you may have an end number of questions like what precisely will happen. What does it feel like? How do you prepare yourself? How do you make use of a tampon? Andseveral more queries during the first time period.

So, let’s get started.

Getting the first period is a significant milestone in the life of every young girl. It signals the onset of a long phase of life (approximately 40 years), when you may be fertile. Here, we have provided a detailed answer to the most probable questions you may have in mind regarding your first-period and first-period symptoms.

(1) When Should I Expect Your First Time Period?

Most girls experience their first time period between the ages of ten and fourteen, with the average age being around 12 years old. It is quite difficult to precisely tell the date of onset of your first period. It usually occurs around two years after the initial signs of puberty, such as the development of breasts, and around a year after the growth of pubic hair. You will surely notice a whitish or yellowish discharge from the vagina in the few months that lead up to your period.

Several factors are known to influence the age of my first time period, such as:

• Nutrition
• Physical Activity and Exercise
• Genetic Factors
• Ethnicity
• Weight
• Geography (northern climate vs. southern climate)
• Stress and Illness

(2) What Will Be My First Time Period Signs Like?

You may eventually find that your first period comes and goes with little or hardly any first-period symptoms. Alternatively, when it comes to first-period signs, you may experience a tad bit of discomfort. The list of common first-period symptoms includes:

• Cramps in the lower abdomen
• Tenderness of the breasts/li>
• Lower back pain
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Dizziness

Most of these first-time period signs do not last for a long duration. These can be successfully treated with ibuprofen or several other OTC (over-the-counter) pain-relief medications. Even a hot water bottle or heating pad placed on the lower back or abdomen can also help in easing the pain in these areas of the body.

(3) How Long Will My First Time Period Last?

Your first period could last anywhere between two to seven days. It could be very light, with merely a few spots of blood, which may appear brownish. Alternatively, it may commence and end with brownish blood, with the brighter red occurring on those days when the flow is heavier.

Now, let us commence with the second section of this write-up, which throws more light on how to prepare for the first period.

What Do I Need to Do to Prepare for My First Time Period?

You need not be overwhelmed when it comes to preparing for your first time period. That being said, you will need feminine hygiene products and OTC pain relievers, such as naproxen or ibuprofen, on hand. If unfortunately, you happen to get your period with absolutely no access to menstrual products, toilet paper can be used for emergency purposes. If you get your first-period signs while you are at school, your school teacher or nurse will have a sanitary pad or pantiliner on hand.

Several menstrual products are available and you can use them effectively when you get your period. Thus, when it comes to how to prepare for the first period, you need not lose your sleep over it.

Let Us Explore The Wide Range of Menstrual Products for Your First Time Period

• Disposable Sanitary Pads

These absorbent disposable pads come with an adhesive backing that successfully sticks to the inside of your underwear. They are available in different lengths as well as absorbencies. Some of them are well equipped with adhesive “wings” that efficiently wrap around the sides of your underwear. These disposable pads need to be changed every four to six hours and should be discarded after a single use.

• Pantiliners

Pantiliners are thinner, smaller, disposable absorbent pads that can be used on their own even on days of light flow. In addition, they can be used jointly with a tampon, if there is a discharge or leak.

• Reusable Pads

These pads are generally made of cotton, bamboo, or several other natural absorbent fibers. They are frequently available at your nearest health stores. They can be washed with detergent and reused successfully. Some of these have velcro tabs to help in securing them around your underwear.

• Tampons

Tampons are small, cylindrical plugs made of disposable absorbent material (such as cotton or rayon). They are inserted into the vagina to absorb the flow of your menses. Tampons come with a string attached so that they can be efficiently pulled out. These are available in a wide range of absorbencies and sizes and may be available with or without an applicator. However, tampons must be changed every four to six hours. Along with that, the used ones should be discarded hygienically.

• Menstrual Cups

This is cup-shaped and made of flexible rubber or silicone apparatus that is carefully inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual flow. The cup comes available with a stem at the bottom for easy removal. Menstrual cups need to be emptied every eight to twelve hours. Some of these cups are disposable, whereas others can be washed and reused.

Among all of these menstrual products, you can choose whichever seems to be the best suitable for your first time period.

How to Use a Sanitary Pad for Your First Time Period?

Disposable sanitary pads are equipped with an adhesive backing. All you need to do is just peel off the paper that covers the sticky side and join the pad to the inside of your underwear. Sanitary pads must be disposed of in the garbage and not flushed down the toilet. These are some handy first-period tips.

How to Choose the Right Sanitary Pad or Tampon?

Young women seem to prefer smaller and more slender pads along with tampons especially when they first begin menstruating. You may find it extremely helpful to use a diverse range of products over the course of your periods, with highly absorbent tampons or sanitary pads being used on days when the menstrual flow is heavier. Every woman has her own set of preferences. So, whatever works best for your body is fine enough.

How to Help Your Daughter to Be Ready for Her First Time Period?

• Be Clear and Straightforward with the concept of the first period

While the first period age can be anywhere between eight and thirteen, it could happen either earlier or later. An excellent way to bring up the topic of periods is to simply ask your child if they have noticed any changes or alterations in their body that they would want to discuss. This paves the way for the child to invite her parents into that much-needed safe space to facilitate a conversation.

• Commence with the Basics of period

You must explain that some amount of fluid will trickle out of the vagina over three to seven days and that she will have to make use of a sanitary pad or tampon to collect the fluid so that it does not stain her clothes.

• Don’t be ashamed - It's just period for the first time

Menstruation is completely natural after a certain age. So, you don’t need to be insecure or ashamed about your first period. You should not keep yourself locked in your room just because of your period. You should lead your regular lifestyle without any shame.

Ujaas is a menstrual health and menstrual hygiene initiative by Aditya Birla Education Trust that aims to have a sustainable impact on the menstrual health landscape of India. They are working to gradually reduce the period poverty and empowerment of young girls and women. These will help them to follow effective management practices when it comes to both menstrual health and hygiene.

Thus, as can be seen, with the right knowledge and products, getting through your first period may be easy on both your body as well as your mind.