Video
Boy 1: Aunty Ruby’s Visiting
Boy 2: Ughhh
Boy 1: When my girlfriend’s angry
Kent Riley: Painters are in.
Boy 1: Arsenal are playing home
Hollie-Jay Bowes: I say ‘lady wee’ because that’s a nice term.
Boy 3: You’ve got loads of these haven’t you – i haven’t got any.
*******
Dr Dawn: Periods can be inconvenient, but it’s your body’s way of telling you you’re blossoming into a young woman.
They are certainly nothing to be embarrassed about.
Every month our body releases an egg into the womb.
If the egg isn’t fertilised by sperm, the egg and the soft lining of the womb sheds – this is your period.
The average age a girl starts her period is 12-and-a-half, but you could start as early as 8 or as late as your late teens.
*******
Girl 1: Everyone does dread it and i was dreading it. It happened in school but my really good friends were there so it was fine. And i’ve completely got used to it now and it’s not a problem at all.
Girl 2: If i told my mum when i started i wouldn’t have been worried or half as worried as i was.
*******
Dr Dawn: At first periods can be quite unpredictable, but they will settle down.
And every girl is different – you may bleed for just 3 days, but your friend’s period may last twice as long!
BOTH are normal.
You’ll get a period about once a month – usually around every 28 days – but anything from 22 to 35 days is regarded as normal.
If you make a note when you start each period, then you can work out your cycle and will know when you are due.
*******
Girl 2: During their periods i think girls worry most about it coming through or people seeing.
*******
Dr Dawn: When you have a period you’ll need to buy sanitary protection.
And there are lots of products available.
Some girls start with towels and stick with them, whilst others move on to tampons.
Neither is better than the other – it’s about finding what’s comfortable for you.
When trying a tampon for the first time, use a small size and try to relax – the more tense you are, the more difficult inserting a tampon can be.
If you do use tampons change them every four to eight hours.
Choose the right absorbency for your flow.
Always use clean hands.
And remember to remove them.
A tampon left in the vagina for too long, can cause bacteria to grow, and lead to Toxic Shock Syndrome and although very rare this can be extremely serious.
There’s lots of nonsense surrounding periods, so let me put the record straight.
********
Girl 1: I estimate that girls would lose about a few good cups of blood during their period.
********
Dr Dawn: It may seem like you are losing a lot of blood but in fact average blood loss is only about 16 teaspoons.
********
Girl 2: When i was on my period i didn’t like going to sports and i never went swimming.
********
Dr Dawn: Periods won’t stop you playing sport or going for a swim. No-one can tell when you have one. And no a tampon cannot disappear inside you.
Your first few periods probably won’t cause you much bother and you may even wonder what all the fuss is about but some girls find their periods get heavier and possibly more painful 6 months to a year after they start.
If you suffer with painful periods try simple painkillers like paracetamol and use a hot water bottle on your lower tummy.
Supplements of vitamin B1 or vitamin E may also help
Just before a period you may feel bloated, your breasts may feel tender and you can feel quite emotional. These are just some of the symptoms known as Premenstrual Syndrome.
*****
Girl 2: On my period my emotions are just a mixture i can’t control any of them. They’re all over their place.
Yeah i’m not a very good girlfriend at the time of my period
Hollie-Jay Bowes: I think i blame my moods on my period. I go ‘oh sorry i’m in a mood i’m on my period’ – it’s not, i’m just in a mood!
Girl 3: Just before my period i do get a bit emotional a bit upset but i think that it changes for each woman.
*****
Dr Dawn: For most of us the symptoms are just an
irritation but if they are making your life a misery, talk to your GP about it. There are lots of treatments available
Am I Normal: Periods
Dr Dawn Harper discusses all matters relating to periods and looks at what is and isn’t normal. Each video looks at different people’s experiences growing up, including the cast of Hollyoaks.
If you’d prefer to watch this video on your mobile, then download our specially produced version for your mobile phone from the Channel 4 Mobile site.
Just text Normal to 84444
Texts and data are charged at your standard network rate.
Terms and Conditions at channel4.com/mobile
With thanks to:
Hollyoaks
University of Birmingham Hockey Club
Llanelli Youth Theatre
Tetbury Hospital
Yes
NoComments and Questions
You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments & Questions are reviewed by moderators, but if you see anything on the site that worries you, please report it and one of our moderators will look at it as soon as possible.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
i havent started yet but imve had a bad tummy and a white mark in my gboxers and i dont know what to do can any one help but im scared to star ive had a talk wiv my mum and wore a pantyliner for a night then nothing happened but i love it if you could help me plzzzzz
Hey, I'm 14 going on 15 and my periods are like, hugely irregular. My last one was like, June or July and even before then the previous one was quite a long time in between. I started my period when I was 12, and was pretty regular around then, but all of a sudden i'm not. I hope I'm not menopausal, is this normal?
Hey, I'm 14 going on 15 and my periods are like, hugely irregular. My last one was like, June or July and even before then the previous one was quite a long time in between. I started my period when I was 12, and was pretty regular around then, but all of a sudden i'm not. I hope I'm not menopausal, is this normal?
I'm 13 and i started yesterday, but i idunno how to tell my dad. And i cant tell my mum cos she died when i was 6. So any advice? :L x
You could leave him hints if you don't want to tell him and let him find out himself :) x
U cud give him a hug and then write it on a piece of paper and give it to him to read
hi im nearly 13. i started having discharge about 4 months and have some pubic hair(no underarm hair),some spots, and i had some bad stomach aches,back pains and headaches.are these signs of starting my period??and if they are when will i start? am i going to start soon? by the way my mum was 15 when she started her period. HELP!!!
well i'm 13 and i started yesterday, :D :L anyway, i had really bad back and side pain on the tuesday, but nothing before i actually started, i have pubic hair but no underarm hair. i wanted to start so bad, but i really wish i hadn't now, because my period pains are really bad. :/ I started having discharge like last year. no-one knows when your going to start, i had no idea i was gonna start yesterday but, i did :L hope this helped :) B x
im 15, almost 16 and i havent started my periods yet. im so worried and i really dont want to get a check up... Am i normal?
Of course you are! Some people can start as late as about 17/18! x
dont worry, i started my periods when i was 15, i had the same worries about when i start, but stressing about them delays them or makes them worse for you
Hi My Names Kathryn, I'm 15 and My Period Cycles Aren't Right, I Bleed For 9-10 Days, They're Really Heavy, It Happens Every 2 Weeks And They're Extremley Painful. I Have a Normal Diet, I Walk My Dog Once a Day And Walk Back From School, And Go Out With Friends Now And Then. I've Been Given Tablets To Help It And They Don't Work Anymore, It Stops The Pain for 20mins, Please Reply With Some Good Advise !! x
I had the same problem if you go to the doctors they might offer you the pill. I have been using that for a while and my periods are now regular and lighter x
Hi im thirteen and iv'e just started my period but im freaked to tell my mum, like how should i start, shes not like evil or obviously going to be wierd she'll understand and i dont get why im freaked out because its completely natural. she's even sugested it occasionally too. Please help me!
I have the exact same problem!! I've just started and i'm 14 but I can't get the courage to tell my mum :/
Hiya, When i started i texted my mum to tell her eithen no i was sat next to her. hope this helps!!
when i told my mum, i just looked all upset when she looked at me, when she asked whats up, i told her that i had started my period... dont worry, mothers have been through the exact thing!
I'm 16 and usually have irregular periods, maybe 2 or 3 months, but its been 5 months and I still haven't come on my period. Is this bad?
If you've just started, your period can take a while to retain a regular cycle. If you are worried you can go see your GP as they will reassure you that you have nothing to worry about. :)
hi im 13 i have missed two months is this ok or do i need to go doctors to get checked out im scared
Hiya, i havent been on my period since April ish! I'm the same, but apparently this is very normal for our age :S Im also scared and just keep checking here for people who are the same as me so i no im not alone. I would love to find the answer! I hope this makes you feel better to no someone is in the same situation as you!
hi yeah it has made me feel a bit better knowing im not alone