Video
Dr Pixie:
This site was inundated, not surprisingly, with questions about periods. A lot of you asked, ‘well, when is it normal to start periods?’ It’s normal to start your periods any time between the age of eight and sixteen, and the average age is twelve.
Lots of you wondered about blood loss during periods—what’s normal? The average blood loss is between five and twelve teaspoons full. So it may seem like a lot, but it actually isn’t.
A lot of you seemed to be concerned about what you can and cannot do when you’re having a period. Can you go swimming, can you have sex? It’s absolutely fine to have sex when you’re having a period, there is no medical reason why you can’t. As regards swimming, in fact a lot of doctors recommend swimming as a way to alleviate period pain, so it’s totally okay to swim when you’re having a period.
Lots of you have questions about what can you do when you’re having a painful period? Very simply, you can go to the pharmacy and buy drugs like paracetamol or ibuprofen over the counter, which work very very well. If you’re having really problem periods, your GP may prescribe a contraceptive pill or other medication that would help the blood loss and the pain.
Doctor Responses: Periods
Doctor Pixie answers your most frequently asked questions about periods such as: When do girls get their periods? How much blood is lost during a period? Can you have sex while on your period?
With thanks to the Baker Street Medical Centre
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hey i had my daghter a yeer ago and bled for 4 weeks then 3 wks later got a period and went back on the pill for the first 2 months after startin my periods again i bled evry 2 weeks but the pill regulated my bleeding and i only bled on my break week but for the past 3 months i have been geting a period evry 2 weeks again is this normal should my period be as close together as this a yeer after the birth of my child :S
I would like to know how to get rid of that horriblle fishy smell whn i am on my period with out forking out on money?? Thankyou xxx
I am 28 yrs and I have come of the pill 3 months ago and my 1st period was normal then my 2nd period was a week late, my 3rd period is 2 weeks late and still hasnt come yet i have done pregnacy test and they are negative. what is going on.
hi , Me Devi , my period last in 1 and half days and very less/least bleeding last six year and on , so is this normal or see to doctor . Thanking
I am 14 and have not yet started my period, i have alot of pubic hair, alot of armpit hair and quite small breasts. i have had discharge for years now and i have had vagina tingling for the past few months i also have had my growth spurt about a year ago. Can you tell me roughly when i am going to start. thanks.
Exactly the same happened to me. I am now 14 and have started my period only a few months ago. I had my growth spurt and 6months later my vagina started tingling and itching and whilst this was happening I started my period. Good Luck!
i just started my period last month but this is my third in two months..i felt pads weren't working so i used tampons..is this too early?? also they are really gunky sometimes does anyone else get that??
Yes i feel my tampons get gunky, i dont know what to do...i think they might be blood clots but i am too embaressed to consult the doctor. Are you? xx
im 25 and breastfeeding. After the birth of my third baby it took 5 weeks for the bleeding to stop 2 weeks later i bled and again 2 weeks later i have started bleeding again. Is this normal? After my second baby i didnt have a period until i started to wean him and cut down on his breast feeds
im 25 and breastfeeding. After the birth of my third baby it took 5 weeks for the bleeding to stop 2 weeks later i bled and again 2 weeks later i have started bleeding again. Is this normal? After my second baby i didnt have a period until i started to wean him and cut down on his breast feeds
I'm 17 and I'm having really weird periods, last September I had the contraceptive injection, and since then my periods have never gone back to normal even though it has run out, my periods are heavier, last longer and I get brown discharge in between and it carries on for a few days, I don't know what happening and it's worrying me. Can anyone help?!
Hi, i'm 17 and asian and my periods are irregular i gt get them after a couple of months so i can never predict when ill have my next period, what should i do?
