Periods are an interesting thing to deal with during our teen years. Whether we are rolling our eyes at immature reactions to the menstrual cycle in science lessons, wondering whether we are weird for getting our first period when we are “too young” or “too old” or learning to manage our often irregular cycles, periods can be a lot to handle. We have all asked ourselves “why does this have to happen to me” and, if you are anything like me, you have probably complained that a simple text from Mother Nature would be a lot easier and less messy to handle! We have all been there.

It often seems as though no two periods are alike, not from person to person or even cycle to cycle. Some months it can be more painful, cue the hot water bottle and desire to stay in bed all day, and other times you may feel little more than minor discomfort. While we are young the way we experience our periods changes a lot, so it can be difficult and sometimes rather stressful dealing with an unpredictable flow. Irregular cycles are so common, and there are many harmless reasons, ranging from stress or regular, intense exercise to simply being young and not having a “pattern” yet, why a period may be late or a cycle could be missed.

Of course it is always important to listen to your body and speak to a health professional if you are concerned that something may be wrong, but it is helpful to know that seemingly strange periods are likely nothing to be concerned about for the first few years after you start menstruating. Dealing with the realities of your period; from cravings and mood swings to pain and heavy flows, can be a challenge at first and it really helps to find routines that work for you. Eventually you may be able to sense when your period is going to come, but it’s always a good idea to keep a few pads or tampons in your bag and take a pack when travelling, you never know when it will be useful for you or a friend. 

There are hundreds of tips and tricks for managing pain, mood swings and cravings and different things work for all the different people experiencing periods. It’s a good idea to try a few different things to see what works best with your body and lifestyle, some people love hot water bottles or drinking a hot tea while others find exercises such as yoga are more helpful. Period trackers, especially ones that allow you to track your mood and other symptoms such as cravings, can be a helpful tool in finding patterns from cycle to cycle and understanding your body although they may struggle to accurately predict when your periods will start if they are particularly irregular. Most importantly, be sure to rely on reputable sources of information and speak to a professional if you feel that you need some form of medication to cope with and manage your period. 

Learning about your period and menstrual cycle is a process, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Listen to your body and speak with the people around you to discover what works for you and what your body needs. Don’t forget that you, me and the millions of other people who menstruate around the world, are all in this together.

You've got enough going on when you're a teenager so don't forget that Yoppie's personalised period subscription box can get organic cotton tampons, PMS supplements, and much more, delivered easily and regularly through your letterbox. That's a bit less to worry about while you're getting on with life.

Period Advice To My Fellow Teens

Worried or confused about your first period? It’s OK to feel anxious about this, but rest assured, whatever you’re experiencing is - for the most part - absolutely normal. We’re here to clear up those rumours you’ve heard and shed a little light on what your first few periods might be like. It’s different for every girl, but here’s what you can expect...

Let’s get real: it’s not going to be the magical experience those high school pamphlets say it will, but it’s not going to be like the horror stories you’ve seen on TV or heard from your friends, either. One day it’ll just kind of… be there. You’ll likely start your period when you’re around age 11, but if you’ve started it early (some girls start as early as age 8) or you’re a bit later, don’t worry. It will happen when puberty says so!

You’ll know your period is on the way when you start to notice other signs of puberty, such as hair growing in new places, breasts developing, and discharge from your vagina. Discharge is normal about a year before you start your period, which can act as a good indicator.

When you feel like it’s going to arrive soon, keep some pads, wet wipes and pain relief in your bag in case of emergencies. If you find yourself at school without any period products, remember you can always ask a female teacher to help you. If this sounds like the most embarrassing thing you can imagine - trust us, it’s not! The awkwardness of period accidents has worn off by the time you’re an adult, so your teacher will help you in a discreet but casual way.

Heavy bleeding isn’t exactly enjoyable, so it’s normal to be curious about when your period will become heavier so you can prepare. Your first one will just be some light spotting that lasts a couple of days. In fact, it can take girls’ bodies a few months to settle into a rhythm as their hormones stabilise. You won’t know how light or heavy your period is likely to be until a few months have passed and your body has gotten used to this change.

If you’re imagining blood coming out like a tap turning on, you can relax. Even when your normal periods arrive a few months later, it’s never a sudden heavy flow like this. Sometimes it can feel like a lot of blood that’s coming out, but in fact, it’s usually only about 3-5 tablespoons of blood - not much at all.

It’s normal to worry about leaking through your clothes, too, but know that this is very rare as long as you use the right period products and change them regularly. Plus, there are ways to cover up stains so no one will suspect: carry a change of pants in your bag, tie a sweatshirt around your waist, wear dark-coloured trousers while you have your period, that sort of thing. All great ways to cover up mishaps.

Some girls have heavier bleeding than others, and it’s usually normal, but if you feel like it’s more than it should be, or it’s affecting your daily life, speak to someone you trust who can take you to a doctor to find a solution.

Once your body has settled into a period routine, it will likely last 2-7 days each month. The average menstrual cycle is around 28 days, but it’s different for everyone. Irregular cycles can be as short as 21 days and as long as 45 days - it’s all up to your body’s own rhythm.

It can actually take up to 6 years for your periods to become completely regular as your body learns how to release the right hormones at the right time. These fluctuating hormones are why many teenage girls experience PMS symptoms that make them feel irritable or anxious. Remember, you can discuss this with your doctor if you feel so angry or depressed that it affects your life long-term.

It’s advisable to keep track of your periods to notice patterns in your cycle and predict when you will need to be prepared. It’s easy to do; simply mark in your diary or phone the day your period starts and ends. Nobody else needs to know that’s what you are tracking if you don't want them to, just pop in a symbol or a code word instead!

Got questions about your first few periods? Ask us over on Instagram @itsyoppie and we’ll always do our best to find you the answers you’re looking for. Don't forget that our personalised period subscription box can get organic cotton tampons, PMS supplements, and much more, delivered easily and regularly through your letterbox. That's a bit less to worry about while you're getting on with life!

Fact checked by Doctor Brooke Vandermolen.

Teen Periods Demystified: What You Need To Know About The Early Days Of Your Cycle

Periods can be awkward to discuss, sometimes even more so when it comes to talking about them with family. But it really shouldn't be! Whether you have a teenage daughter, or you’ve just started your period and want to talk to your mum about it, we've got your go-to guide to help ease your mind when it comes time to chat all things periods! 

It’s very normal to feel embarrassed speaking to your mum about your first period. If you imagine a formal sit-down where you have to announce this transition into womanhood… don’t! Remember: she has been through the exact same thing! It can be as casual as a passing mention, and if you don’t like the idea of telling her that yours has started, you can ask questions about her period under the guise of ‘research’ for when your own comes. Don’t be afraid to let her know if you’re feeling uncomfortable talking about it so she knows to treat the subject sensitively.

No doubt you will have a lot of questions, and it’s always a good idea to speak to your mum because she may have had very similar experiences to yours. If your mum had heavy periods or issues with PMS when she was younger, you might have them too. Talking to her will help you answer questions and understand what might come up in future. Some things you might want to ask:

Did you have heavy or light periods as a teenager?

What PMS symptoms (if any) did you experience?

How do you use (and discard) period products?

Does getting my period mean I need to go on birth control pills?

Why do I feel embarrassed to buy period products?

Anything you may have on your mind, your mum can help you find the answers you need!

What your school nurse probably won’t teach you

Whether you have sex education classes at school or a class with the school nurse, there are certain things that are often not covered in lessons. Most sex ed classes focus on answering the ‘what’ and ‘how’ questions; how to use a tampon, what is PMS, how long will your period last, and so on. They tell you best practices for managing your period, but they tend to leave out the emotional side of things, or, the ‘why’ questions; why do I feel embarrassed by all this, why does this only happen to girls, why do I feel depressed just before getting my period, etc. Getting your first period can bring up a lot of emotions that your school curriculum won’t cover. Speaking to your mum or a trusted adult can help you navigate these feelings.

When and how to bring up periods with your daughter

The average age most girls get their first period is 12, but it could happen earlier or later, so it’s a good idea to be prepared from an early age. Some clues that it might start soon are when your daughter starts to get breasts, or she experiences vaginal discharge, which tends to start around 6 months before her first period. Your daughter may not feel comfortable discussing these changes either, but if she does bring them up, you can usually bet that periods will be soon to follow.

If she seems keen to discuss the subject of periods at length, that’s great. However for most young girls, the general feeling is that they want the information with none of the cringeworthy chats! The key is simply to let her know you are there if she wants to talk, and make sure she has access to the information, whether it’s from a book, a blog post, a podcast episode or something else. 

If neither of you want to have ‘the talk’, then breaking this down into a series of short, casual conversations rather than one serious discussion is usually more helpful. A good way to do this is to drop in some of your own period stories. Once the discussion is open, be sure to use direct, positive language (no calling it “my monthly curse”, for example!), and answer all of her questions honestly.

Arguably one of the most important things to include in your discussion about periods is the fact that getting her first period means she can now become pregnant if she has sex. In fact, she can become pregnant before her first period, as soon as her hormones become active, so having an understanding of the female body in advance is useful.

Of course, just because she technically can have sex and get pregnant, doesn’t mean she has to until she feels ready. This is part of a larger discussion, but the main thing is to let her know that with this change in her body comes the ability to have a baby.

Talk of periods tends to circulate in schools, and your daughter may receive some inaccurate information about how to manage her upcoming bodily changes. Silly rumours and sometimes general language about periods can make them sound shameful, unclean or even scary. Whether it’s learning that you might die if you lose a tampon inside you, or that you might leak through your clothes in school, or even hearing it talked about as “time of the month”, it can all be pretty confusing and worrying when you are just getting yours for the first time.

Always be available to dispel any period myths that your daughter may have heard, and never make her feel silly or paranoid for asking. When it comes to periods, there really are no silly questions!

Want to know more about how to talk to your mum or daughter about periods? Let us know what’s on your mind over on Instagram @itsyoppie. Everything's complicated enough when you're growing up, so don't forget that our personalised period subscription box can get organic cotton tampons, PMS supplements, and much more, delivered easily and regularly through your letterbox. That's a bit less to worry about while you're getting on with life!

A Mum And Daughter Guide To Talking About Periods

Despite half of the world’s population experiencing a period at some point in their lives, there are still so many unfounded myths around this topic. From the weird (no perming your hair until after your first period) to the downright ridiculous (don’t go camping because bears can smell your blood!), there are some real doozies out there. Here, we’re focusing on the more commonly encountered myths, plus a few puberty related rumours, too. Let’s debunk some menstruation misconceptions!

Myth #1: Using Tampons Means You’re Not A Virgin Anymore

If the mean girls of your school told you that using a tampon to absorb period blood means you’re no longer a virgin, they’re wrong. Plain and simple. Losing your virginity is when you decide to have sexual intercourse with another person, not when you put something in your vagina. This myth likely comes from the fact that many cultures associate losing one’s virginity with the (painless) tearing of the hymen - a thin membrane found in the vagina. 

This isn’t true either, since the hymen can remain intact even after sex, or can be torn by something as simple as exercise. The hymen is stretchy, and inserting a tampon doesn’t necessarily mean it will break. So, if you’re worried that using a tampon will mean you’ve officially “done it”, you can relax.

Myth #2: You Can’t Go Swimming Or Take a Bath On Your Period

We’re calling cowpat on this one! If anyone has ever told you you cannot go swimming or have a bath while on your period, ignore them. There are several layers to this myth. One is that, when submerged in water, the vagina tends to naturally stop bleeding which is bad for your health. The bleeding doesn’t stop internally, but you may notice pressure from the water temporarily stops blood from exiting the vagina. Secondly, for the length of time you are likely to swim for or be immersed in a bath for, this isn’t bad for your health.

Having a warm bath during your period can actually help ease any tummy pain you may experience, but it’s worth noting that when you’re in a pool, blood can still come out, so it’s advisable to use a tampon to avoid embarrassing leaks. Also, while we’re on the topic of periods in water, you can still go swimming in the ocean. Sharks can’t smell your period blood (*eye roll*) and won’t snack on you, we promise.

Myth #3: You Can’t Get Pregnant While On Your Period

If there’s one thing we desperately want you to take away from this blog post, it’s that you CAN get pregnant if you have sex on your period. Seriously, ladies, this myth has been spread around high schools for years, and even nowadays the misconception is offered up like factual advice from teens around the world. A girl can become pregnant any time she is having sex without birth control - and remember, sometimes even with birth control as it’s not 100% reliable!

Even while you’re bleeding and at your least fertile, there is always a small chance the sperm and egg will meet and create a baby. Plus, don’t forget that sperm can live inside the vaginal canal for up to 5 days, so if you are sexually active, please never rely on your period as a suitable form of birth control - it’s not.

Myth #4: Your Breasts Won’t Grow After You Begin Your Period

Nope, wrong. If you’ve just had your first period and your breasts haven’t yet developed (or they have, but barely) then try not to worry because this isn’t the end of the line. Your breasts can still grow bigger in size after you have had your first period. In fact, your boobs will change in size throughout your life; they develop in your teens, change shape throughout adulthood, and tend to get bigger when you have a baby. Don’t believe that the breasts you have now are what you’ll be stuck with forever because it’s just a myth. 

Myth #5: Your Periods Will Sync Up With Your Friends

This one’s tricky, because in a lot of cases you might indeed find yourself having a period around the same time as your friends. Period synchrony has been studied for years; the belief is that when women live in close quarters or spend a lot of time together, the hormones and pheromones released will cause periods to “sync up” so they experience their bleeding and PMS symptoms simultaneously.

It’s nice to think we might be experiencing our cramps in solidarity for our fellow sisters, but it’s largely believed that there are too many modifying factors for any research to be taken as the truth. The bottom line? Any synchrony is just a happy accident.

Sadly there are many parts of the world that still see menstruation as ‘dirty’ and ‘impure’, and even limit what activities women can take part in while they are on their period. The fact is, period blood is no different from the blood you might see from a nosebleed, or what comes out of a cut anywhere on your skin. The myth that period blood is somehow more unclean than any other blood is damaging in some cultures, and the sooner we start being more open about periods and less secretive about their existence, the sooner we can encourage more equality around the world.

Have you heard a myth about periods and puberty that we haven't listed here? Tell us over on Instagram @itsyoppie so we can debunk it together! Everything's complicated enough when you're growing up, so don't forget that our personalised period subscription box can get organic cotton tampons, PMS supplements, and much more, delivered easily and regularly through your letterbox. That's a bit less to worry about while you're getting on with life!

6 Period and Puberty Myths Debunked

Every woman’s life is made up of many periods of change, and the big ones are often fuelled by hormones. They are the building blocks that make up our life, from early teenage years to old age. We’re taking a look at those big moments, and how hormones contribute to each and every one of them. 

Ah puberty, where it all begins! Hormones are the catalyst for puberty, which changes everything; your body and your brain. As you reach your teenage years, your body begins to release hormones that cause skin changes, unusual hair growth (like on your legs, genitals and armpits), and your body shape to change. Hello hips and boobs! And of course, your period starts, but we’ll get to that next. 

Hormones are there to regulate your emotions and bodily functions, and while it’s all totally normal, there are times when it can get distressing. Like when it affects your mental health, for example, and when your body starts doing things you’re not used to. 

Try not to worry about these changes too much, and instead think of them as the first of many hormonally-driven milestones in your life. You may not feel great about it while it’s happening, but maturing from a girl into a woman is an exciting time. 

Puberty’s a big subject, so we have a whole blog on it right here.

Love them or hate them (but most likely hate them!), periods can start as young as age 8, or as old as age 17. Everyone is different, but what remains the same is that every girl’s period is a product of hormones. Hormones decide what age your period starts, whether it is light or heavy, and other characteristics. 

It all begins when levels of the hormones estrogen, progesterone and testosterone start to fluctuate, triggering the lining of the womb to break down and exit through the vagina, hence the bleeding, which lasts for a few days.

The same hormones can cause mood swings, cramps, skin changes and more. But believe it or not hormones can be used in some types of contraception to have the opposite effect, changing the way your body works to lessen the negative effects.

Once your period starts, you usually have the ability to get pregnant, but of course this can only happen if your hormones are doing what they’re supposed to do during ovulation. We have a whole blog on ovulation if you want to know more. 

Hormones trigger an egg to be released by your ovaries, and if this is fertilised by a man’s sperm, it has the chance of turning into a baby. It’s not always so simple of course, but essentially this is what needs to happen, followed by the right conditions for the fertilised egg to develop. What creates those perfect conditions? You guessed it… hormones! 

Preventing unplanned pregnancies also has a lot to do with hormones, as we can control the menstrual cycle to manipulate it into doing what we want. Hormonal birth control usually contains synthetic hormones which are very similar to the naturally occurring hormones in your body. This tricks your body into either stopping the egg releasing, making it more difficult for sperm to make their way around, or making the lining of the womb thinner to prevent the fertilised egg implanting. Either way, the goal is to stop you from conceiving.

Hormones can sometimes be the cause of negative moments in life too, and are related to a lot of other health conditions. Unfortunately, research shows that hormones could be to blame for recurrent miscarriages if a woman has a hypersensitivity to estrogen and progesterone. 

For a pregnancy to begin and be brought to term, a number of endocrinological events must take place - the endocrine system being the collection of glands that produce hormones. Research suggests that a small percentage of women may experience endocrine alterations that have the potential to lead to miscarriage, with an estimated 8-12% of cases of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) caused by endocrine issues. And of course after miscarriage, hormone levels can affect the subsequent menstrual cycle. 

Always speak to your GP if you have concerns about pregnancy complications or want to know more about how your hormones can affect pregnancy.

Hormone depletion later in life is the primary cause of menopause. Many physical changes happen from perimenopause onwards, and all of these begin with fluctuations in hormone levels, particularly variations in the level of estrogen.

At the peak of your reproductive years, the amount of estrogen circulating in your body rises and falls predictably throughout your menstrual cycle. You are actually born with all the eggs you will ever have already in your ovaries, and these decline over time, until you reach menopause and they start to run out. During this time, the ovaries become less responsive to the hormones involved in reproduction, and the body goes through a series of changes. For more on the symptoms of menopause, check out this blog. 

Want to know more about how hormones affect your life, or share your experiences? Head on over to our private Facebook group or drop us a note on Insta @itsyoppie. Don't forget that our personalised period subscription box can get organic tampons, PMS supplements, and much more, delivered easily and regularly through your letterbox. Phew! That's that taken care of at least.

Your Hormones at Every Age and Stage

Puberty: an important part of life. Everybody goes through it, and though it’s totally normal, nobody talks about how freaky it can be at the time. Especially how daunting it can be as a young girl. Hair growing in weird places? More sweating? Periods?! It can make you want to hide in your room and not come out until it’s over, but trust us, it’s nothing to worry about. So let’s shatter the stigma and talk puberty!

There’s no handy calendar to help you figure out when puberty will begin for you. As a rough estimate though, the average age for girls to hit puberty is 11, but it can start at any time between ages 8 and 13. Hormones in the body signal puberty to start, which shows itself in a number of ways, so while your best friend may start to look taller or get her period, this doesn’t mean you are developing any slower than she is. It’s all natural!

How is puberty different for boys and girls?

You’ll likely notice the boys around you start to change too. For boys, hormones tell the body it’s time to start producing testosterone and sperm, which happens in the testicles. Once this happens, boys experience bodily changes just like girls do, except they get excess hair on their face (beards) and usually start to grow a little taller.

For girls, hormones tell the ovaries that it’s time to start making another hormone called estrogen. This tells the body, put simply, that it can now become pregnant with a baby, which is when the period starts. Remember, just because your body seems like it’s ready to have a baby, this does not mean you are emotionally ready, so don’t feel pressured into thinking that once you have started puberty it means you should be having sex. You can make that choice whenever you feel most comfortable.

Puberty often starts a ‘growth spurt’, and most girls experience this at a younger age than boys do. Girls usually grow most between the time breast buds start to develop, and about 6 months before they get their first period. You can usually expect to grow a further 1-2 inches after getting your period. Again, don’t worry if your friends are shorter or taller than you, as this could still change in adulthood.

One of the first bodily changes to happen for girls during puberty is breasts start to develop. They start as ‘breast buds’, which are small hard lumps under the nipple. These can be very tender to begin with, but don’t worry, they won’t always be sore!

Sometimes one breast will develop before the other, but this usually evens out over time. If it doesn’t, don’t worry. Most women have a slight difference in the size of each breast, and it’s totally normal.

With puberty comes hair growth, which is nothing to freak out about. At some point pubic hair starts to grow around the genitals, and some girls notice more hair on their legs and arms around this time too. Your pubic hair tends to become more coarse and curly over time.

You may also start to grow hair under your arms, and in less common places like your upper lip. While your first reaction might be to get rid of it, just know that it’s all very normal, and everybody is going through something similar. Embrace the hair and don't feel pressured to make any rushed decisions with the razor!

All the hormones flying around in your body means you may start to experience some clear or white vaginal discharge, which often begins 6-12 months before your first period. Periods start at different times for everyone, but typically the first period arrives around 2 years after you begin to develop breasts. 

Your period (or menstrual cycle) is when blood comes out of the vagina, which sounds a little gross and scary, but it’s really not at all. All that’s happening is your ovaries are releasing an egg down the fallopian tube to the uterus. Before the egg exits the ovary, your hormones tell the uterus it’s time to build up its inner lining with extra blood and tissue, in case the incoming egg is fertilised by a sperm cell and needs something to hang on to, to grow a baby. With no sperm, the egg will simply pass through unfertilised, so the uterus no longer needs the extra blood and tissue, and breaks it down to leave the body through the vagina… voila! A beautiful period! 

This lasts anywhere from 2 to 7 days, but in the beginning you might experience light, short periods. It’s usually pain-free in the early years, but your period can become slightly more uncomfortable over time, due to cramping and PMS related symptoms. This is generally normal, but if it becomes particularly painful, speak to your doctor about what you can do to minimise this. Remember, there’s no such thing as a silly question or query when it comes to your period and menstrual health. 

Puberty brings on a lot of bodily changes, and as well as those mentioned above, you may also experience an increase in sweating, acne on the face and body, weight gain, and hip widening. It’s normal to want to fight these things and seek clearer skin and a slimmer body, but remember that these are unrealistic societal standards that women do not need to live up to. Everything you’re experiencing is totally normal, and if you talk to your friends about it, you will likely find they are going through the same changes you are. Try to view them as a sign of you growing into a woman, rather than something negative happening to you as a girl.

With so much change, and so many hormones whizzing around the body on a daily basis, some girls (and boys) feel uncomfortable with their changing bodies, and their mood becomes sad, anxious and even depressed. You might feel self-conscious, overly tired, easily irritated or inexplicably sad, but this emotional rollercoaster is actually pretty normal. Understanding mood swings before you experience puberty is important, so you can be prepared and keep things in perspective; this feeling won’t last forever.

That said, you shouldn’t have to feel depressed, so if you feel overly sad for a long time it’s important to chat to your doctor, a health professional or your family about how you feel, and how they may be able to help.

Got more questions? Don’t be afraid to reach out in our private Facebook group or drop us a note on Insta @itsyoppie. Don't forget that our personalised period subscription box can get organic tampons (and more) delivered easily and regularly through your letterbox. Easy, simple, and kinder to your body.

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Period Advice To My Fellow Teens

Teen Periods Demystified: What You Need To Know About The Early Days Of Your Cycle

A Mum And Daughter Guide To Talking About Periods

6 Period and Puberty Myths Debunked

Your Hormones at Every Age and Stage

Puberty: What Is Happening To My Body and Mind?!