Do I Have to Get My Period?

What is a period?

A menstrual period is vaginal bleeding that happens each month as part of your menstrual cycle. Your menstrual cycle is the natural pattern of hormones rising and falling in your body.

Most people start getting their period around age 12 (menarche) and stop around age 50 (menopause).

Like the moon, the adult female body goes through a cycle of changes each month. This cycle is communicated to all the parts of your body using hormones. Since hormones can affect nearly all of your body systems, you might notice a variety of changes that come and go. The symptoms may seem unrelated. But if they happen every month, they probably aren’t.

Understanding your menstrual cycle

Here’s what happens in your body with each cycle.

1. Your menstrual cycle starts in your brain: Deep in your brain is an area called the hypothalamic–pituitary axis, which keeps its own calendar. Each month, it starts a new cycle by sending chemical signals into your bloodstream.

2. When your ovaries get the signal, they make hormones: Your ovaries are two small organs (about the size of grapes) that sit low inside your abdomen, one on each side below your belly button. When your ovaries get the signal from your brain, they start to make estrogen.

3. Estrogen is a hormone that affects different parts of your body: Your ovaries make estrogen for about 2 weeks. This estrogen not only affects your uterus (your womb), but also your brain, skin, heart, bones, and other body systems.

4. Ovulation can cause some belly pain: Halfway through your cycle, the ovaries stop making estrogen. When this happens, your estrogen level quickly drops, and one of your ovaries releases an egg. (This egg-releasing process is called ovulation.) Sometimes it’s the left ovary. Sometimes it’s the right one. You probably won’t know which one it is, although some people can tell because they experience a twinge of pain on that side.

5. Most eggs are wasted: The eggs that come out of the ovaries are special cells. They don’t look like chicken eggs (for one thing, they are microscopic). Someday, if you choose to get pregnant, one of these egg cells could combine with a sperm cell from your partner to make an embryo. But most of the time, the eggs are not fertilized — meaning they won’t develop into a baby — and they get washed out in your period blood.

6. Progesterone causes symptoms in the second half of your cycle: After ovulation, your ovaries switch to making a hormone called progesterone. Progesterone affects your body in many ways. It can make your breasts sore. It can cause acne on your face, chest, and back. And for some people, it can trigger depression. Progesterone also thickens the lining of your uterus — in case it needs to grow an embryo.

7. Your period happens when the cycle starts over: If there is no embryo to grow, the thick lining inside your uterus falls apart. It comes out through your vagina and looks like blood. You might feel cramps in your belly or lower back when this happens. After a few days, your hormone levels go back to baseline, and your cycle begins again.

When will I start getting my period?

For people who get periods, they usually begin between the ages of 10 and 16. In the U.S., most start around age 12-and-a-half.

Many things affect when your first period will happen. Your ethnicity makes a difference.

• Hispanic and Black people tend to be on the younger side.

• White and Asian people are, on average, slightly older.

Your body weight, your health, and how much exercise you get also play a role.

If you want to know when your period will start, ask your biological mom when she got hers. Most people go through menarche at about the same age their mother did.

It’s also helpful to know that most people get their first period about 2 to 3 years after they notice their breasts starting to grow.

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What is a normal period for a teenager?

Each period usually lasts about a week. The bleeding often starts out heavy and gets lighter after a few days.

It’s common for other symptoms — like acne, headaches, and mood changes — to begin a week or two before you start bleeding. These symptoms are called PMS, or premenstrual syndrome.

About half of menstruating people get some sort of physical or mental health symptoms along with their period.

One menstrual cycle — that is, the time between starting to bleed one month and starting to bleed the next month — is usually about 28 days. But a number of things can influence the exact length of each menstrual cycle, like:

• Stress

• Exercise

• Nutrition

• Illness

• Medications

How do I handle getting a period?

Getting your period doesn’t need to be overwhelming. There are plenty of solutions available to you.

Don’t let bleeding slow you down

The last thing you want is blood leaking into your underwear. Here are some tools to help you avoid disaster.

• Go basic: Period pads and panty liners are absorbent pads that stick to the inside of your underwear. Both disposable pads and reusable fabric pads (that you can rinse out in the sink) are available.

• Keep it small: Tampons are narrow, disposable sponges that fit inside your vagina. Some tampons have plastic or cardboard applicators to help you put them in. Tampons are especially useful for people who want to swim or stay active during their periods.

• Save the planet: Absorbent menstrual underwear is sold by a number of companies. They look like regular underwear, but they include an absorbent layer that you can rinse out in the sink before putting them in the laundry.

• For the period-savvy: Menstrual cups are soft cups that fit inside your vagina to catch your period blood. Although disposable ones are available, reusable menstrual cups are the most common.

Manage menstrual cramps

Unfortunately, cramps are common, and they can be a pain (literally). If you get cramps with your period, here’s what to do:

• Place a heating pad over your belly or lower back.

• Get some light exercise, stretch, or go for a walk.

• Take a nap.

• Drink plenty of water — and avoid caffeine.

• Eat small meals of low-fat, iron-rich foods, with plenty of fruits and vegetables.

• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve).

The complete answer

If you have female body parts and are in good health, you’ll get your first period during puberty. Then, if nothing happens to stop your cycles, you’ll continue to get your period every month until you reach menopause.

If you get a period every month from menarche to menopause, you could have over 450 periods in your lifetime.

That said, if having a regular period causes you problems (physically, emotionally, or both) — and those problems get in the way of you living your best life — you don’t have to have a period every month.

The benefits of having a period

Most people don’t enjoy getting their period, but it isn’t all bad. Here are some of the benefits.

The disadvantages of having a period

Getting a period is normal, but that doesn’t make it a walk in the park. For some people, periods can be a major problem. Sometimes, the reasons are physical. Other times, they’re emotional. And sometimes, getting a period can just be a major inconvenience. (For example, imagine how challenging it must be to get your period if you’re an astronaut!)

What if you don’t get your period (and it’s not on purpose)?

A period that just doesn’t show up for a few days isn’t always a big deal. But if more time goes by and you still haven’t gotten your period, you’ll want to figure out what’s going on.

If you’re sexually active, missing a period could mean you’re pregnant. A late period is often the first sign of pregnancy, and pregnancy can happen even if you used birth control methods like condoms, birth control pills, or an intrauterine device (IUD). Take a home pregnancy test to find out — and then talk to a healthcare provider about what to do next.

If you know you aren’t pregnant, but you still keep missing your periods, it’s okay to wait a little bit longer. Menstrual cycles can be unpredictable sometimes, especially if you’ve only had them for a few years. But if it’s been more than 3 months and your periods are still missing, it’s time to talk to a healthcare provider.

A variety of things can cause missed periods. Just a few are:

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome

• Eating disorders

• Autoimmune problems

• Medical conditions, like thyroid disease or cancer

• Some medications

Can you skip a period on purpose?

Female bodies are preprogrammed to give you a monthly period. But that doesn’t mean it always has to happen that way.

These days, there are medications you can take if you want to dial back, space out, or eliminate your periods. Missing periods on purpose is called menstrual suppression.

Finding what’s best for you

It’s good to know you have choices. But with all the period options out there, how do you decide what to do? There are a number of key points to keep in mind.

How heavy your period is

Some people bleed more than others. If your bleeding is so heavy that you’re dealing with iron deficiency, a chat with your healthcare provider might be helpful. Otherwise, heavier periods generally call for larger, disposable pads or tampons. Other options, like period underwear or a menstrual cup, could put people with heavy periods at risk for leaks — but these products might be the perfect choice toward the end of your period, or for those with a lighter flow.

What kind of lifestyle you have

Do you play lots of sports? Are you always on the go? Participating in certain activities might sway you toward using a tampon rather than a pad. And if you’re someone who just doesn’t have time for periods, that could be an argument for menstrual suppression.

What types of period products you’re comfortable using

Some people can’t stand the idea of putting in a tampon. Others hate the feeling of having a pad stuck to their underwear. Alternatively, you might be concerned about the environmental impact of using disposable products, or doubtful that you could remember to take medication every day. All of these personal preferences play a role in finding the period solution that works best for you.

Other symptoms you get

If PMS symptoms, like cramps, acne, or migraines, are a big problem for you, using an estrogen-containing medication like birth control pills can help you manage your periods, and dial these other symptoms back a bit as well.

If you are (or want to be) sexually active

Most of the medications used to suppress periods also work as birth control. (Of course, they don’t do anything to protect you against sexually transmitted diseases, so condoms are still recommended.) Once the medications are stopped, your period will restart and you will be able to get pregnant again.

If you’re someone who gets periods, chances are you’ll be managing them for a long time. And as you get older, your body, lifestyle, and preferences will change. You’ll get more adept at managing your periods, and you’ll gain a better understanding of your body. Getting a period might be part of your life, but it doesn’t have to control you.

How we decided 

Many different types of resources were consulted in order to gather the latest knowledge on menstrual periods and menstrual suppression. Here is a summary of the types of information we used.

Clinical guidelines

Professional organizations sometimes put together guides for healthcare providers to use when they work with patients. These guidelines are written by experts who study and summarize the most recent information available. An example used for this piece is a guideline from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists describing why menstrual cycles should be considered a vital sign in adolescents.

Review studies

When a great deal of research has been done on a topic, it can be helpful to know the bottom line. Review studies combine and summarize results from many similar experiments. Two examples used here are a review study examining how exercise helps with PMS symptoms and another one looking at attitudes toward using medication to skip or reduce monthly periods.

Original research studies

Original research studies are scientific papers that describe an experiment, or a set of experiments, that have been done to answer a specific question. In this case, an original research study looking at the age and pace of menarche in the U.S. provided useful information not only about how menarche proceeds over time, but also about the factors that influence it.

Keep in mind

The hormone changes that bring your period can bring on a variety of symptoms. Many people deal with skin changes and an increase in acne. Headaches or migraines are pretty common, too. And some people find that mood symptoms, like depression, can really interfere with the things they want to do.

If this is you, start out by handling these symptoms the same way you would handle them if they happened at any other time. Then, keep a calendar. If your symptoms are related to your menstrual cycle, they will come and go at about the same time each month. By writing down which days you have symptoms, and which days you don’t, you can begin to see the pattern. This will give you the power to predict your problem days.

If just being able to predict your symptoms isn’t enough — that is, if cycle-related issues are still messing up your life — make an appointment to talk to your healthcare provider. Don’t forget to take the calendar with you. With this information in hand, your provider can offer additional advice for handling your particular situation.

When it’s a gender issue

Fortunately, the variety of solutions to period problems is wider now that it used to be, so there’s a better chance you’ll find something that works for you — no matter who you are. Online groups can help you understand your choices in a confidential way.

If you are male, but have female body parts, and having a period is causing you distress, it might also be time to consider having a conversation with your healthcare provider. Menstrual cycles are controlled by the rise and fall of chemical hormones, and they can be modified or stopped medically. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has published guidelines to help medical professionals provide gender-friendly care for all kinds of people who deal with periods.

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Written by:

Kerry R. McGee, MD, FAAP

Kerry McGee, MD, FAAP, has over a decade of experience caring for babies, children, and teenagers as a primary care pediatrician. She has a special interest in adolescent health, particularly in adolescent mental health.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. A pulmonologist and hospitalist, she practiced and taught clinical medicine at hospitals in London for a decade before entering a career in health education and technology.

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