Do I Have to Get My Period?
Yes — but there are options for stopping your period, or making it less frequent.
If you have a female body, you’ll start getting a period when you reach puberty. Getting your first period is a sign that your body is making healthy progress toward adulthood.
But if you get strong symptoms with your period — like cramps, heavy bleeding, or mood changes — there are steps you can take to manage these. Most of the time, the solutions are straightforward.
BEST ANSWEROur answer is in line with current guidelines from professional organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Many articles and clinical guidelines examine menstrual cycles, including how they relate to and affect teen health.
6
12
6
12
Our answer is in line with current guidelines from professional organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Table of contents
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In need of menopause symptom relief?
Get Premarin for over 55% less than the average retail price with GoodRx.
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.
Read more like this
Explore these related articles, suggested for readers like you.
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:
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.
Humans have been getting menstrual periods for as long as there have been humans. That includes your biological mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Anyone else who has ever been pregnant — along with plenty of people who have never been pregnant — have had menstrual periods.
In fact, some people believe that not having a period would feel wrong. When you remember that periods are a natural part of being alive, they can feel like a connection to others.
Getting your period is a complicated process. Many of your body systems are involved. When you get your period every month, that’s a sign your body — and specifically your reproductive system — is working properly.
People with certain medical conditions, like polycystic ovarian syndrome, genetic disorders, or thyroid disease, might not get regular periods.
Pregnancy stops the period cycle. Throughout history, this is how people knew when they were pregnant — because they stopped getting a period.
Of course, if you don’t want to get pregnant, you’ll need to use birth control if you have sex. Taking careful steps to prevent pregnancy is a much better strategy than waiting around to see if you get your period. Most of the time, if your period stops, that means you’re already pregnant.
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!)
No surprise: Monthly vaginal bleeding is annoying. The fact that you can’t always predict exactly when it’s going to start makes it even more of a hassle.
No one wants the embarrassment of blood leaking through their clothes. And your period might start while you’re not at home. Sometimes, you’ll need to change your pad or tampon while you are at school or in a public restroom.
Being prepared will help: Carry period supplies with you in a private pocket or purse, and keep track of when you expect your period to start. Remembering to do these things takes practice.
Sometimes, the aggravation involved in dealing with a monthly period might seem overwhelming. This can be especially true for people with intellectual disabilities or mental health conditions. Plus, travelers, athletes, and anyone trying to live in extreme or unusual situations can find the logistics of periods quite difficult to deal with.
When you have a period, you lose blood from your body. Since iron is one of the ingredients in blood, you’ll need to make up for this loss in the foods you eat. If you don’t, you could become iron deficient.
Iron deficiency can make you look pale and feel tired or weak. You might get lightheaded, or you could possibly even faint. If your iron levels get low enough to affect your hemoglobin level, you could be diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia. Unfortunately, this is a pretty common problem in teenagers who get periods.
Apart from the bleeding itself, the hormones that cause your period can trigger other changes in your body.
Menstrual cramps are uncomfortable, painful stomach aches that can make you want to curl up into a ball on the floor. They often come right before the bleeding starts and can last for several days.
PMS can come with tons of other symptoms, including:
Acne
Diarrhea
Breast tenderness
Headaches
Difficulty concentrating
Most of the time these symptoms start about a week before your period.
Some people also experience mood symptoms with their cycle. Sometimes these symptoms are mild, but other times they can be severe enough to really cause problems in your life. These mood changes might last for a few days or weeks each month and can show up as:
Moodiness
Depression
Anxiety
Anger
Although these things can be caused by your natural hormone changes, it sometimes takes medication to get a handle on them.
If you have female body parts, but you don’t identify as female, managing a monthly period might be especially aggravating. It can be even more challenging if you are already feeling distressed about your body or gender identity.
Some people whose genitals don’t match their gender identity don’t mind getting a period. Others see it is a reminder of something about themselves that they dislike. Everyone has a different perspective, and those perspectives can change over time.
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:
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.
Like all medications, the ones that are used to control your menstrual cycle come with benefits and risks. And since menstrual periods are closely linked to pregnancy, all of these medications impact your ability to get pregnant. The same medications are often used for birth control.
Controlling your hormone cycle
Hormones control your menstrual cycle, so controlling your hormones can be an effective way of managing your periods — and the symptoms that come with them.
Hormonal contraceptive pills, also known as birth control pills, contain medication very similar to the hormones your body makes naturally. When you take a birth control pill every day, the hormones in the pill replace your body’s hormone cycle and put you in the driver’s seat.
Most of the time, birth control pills contain just enough medication to put your body’s own hormone-making machinery on hold. But the overall amount of hormones they contain is usually less than what your body would make.
This means that, for people who get symptoms related to hormones in their body, being on birth control pills is sometimes enough to keep those symptoms at bay.
Birth control pills are usually packaged — and taken — in a 28-day pattern that mimics a natural hormone cycle. Although the exact ingredients in each pill might vary throughout the month, the last 7 days will include a very low dose of hormones (or, sometimes, no hormones at all).
When you take birth control pills according to this standard system, you’ll get your period during that last week of each pack.
Birth control pills don’t have to be taken according to this schedule, though. In fact, many people use them to intentionally shift the date of their periods. By rearranging pills, or adding pills from an extra package, they can make small adjustments to which day their period will start.
Extended cycling
Sometimes, healthcare providers will prescribe birth control pills in a way that puts more time between periods. In one version of this plan, packs of pills are combined to give you about 3 months between periods. This means you’ll get just four periods each year. Of course, you’d still need to take a pill every single day to keep their own body hormones from kicking in. But one advantage to taking birth control pills is knowing — and being able to control — exactly when your period will start.
Other options
Although the control that comes with birth control pills is nice, you have to remember to take a pill every day. If you forget, your period could start early. And if you’re taking them for birth control, you could get pregnant if you have sex during that time. Fortunately, there are options available to deliver the same medications to your body slowly over time. This means you don’t have to think about them very often. Two examples are skin patches that you change once a week and ring-shaped vaginal inserts that you change every month. Just like birth control pills, these methods can be used to have regular, monthly periods, or they can be used for extended cycling with fewer periods.
For most people, changing the pattern of your periods (or reducing how many you have) is both safe and effective. You can do it for years, and it doesn’t affect your future chances of getting pregnant.
That said, the medications do come with side effects that can cause problems for some people. For example, people who smoke and use hormonal contraceptives can be at risk for blood clots. Those with liver disease might not be able to take some types of pills. And bone density can be something to keep in mind if you use some methods.
On the other hand, there could be some health advantages to menstrual suppression that we are just now beginning to understand. Some types of cancer — including some types of breast and endometrial cancer — can be sensitive to estrogen. By keeping estrogen levels low, hormonal contraceptives could offer protection against these types of cancers.
Don’t worry — if your periods are being stopped with medication, your period blood is not getting trapped or backed up. You don’t have menstrual blood to lose. Remember, the blood that comes out with your period is actually the lining of your uterus. Normally, hormones cause that lining to thicken. But when your hormone levels are low, your uterus stays in a resting state and doesn’t grow a thick lining at all.
If you just don’t want to get a period at all, there are ways to do that, too. Monthly injections (like Depo-Provera) work for many people. Under-the-skin implants are also available, and they can last up to 3 years. While these are convenient choices, they do have downsides. They can come with side effects, like an increased appetite, and some people who use them still get occasional periods.
Medicated intrauterine devices, or IUDs, are another choice that don’t come with some of these downsides. Medicated IUDs are tiny plastic devices that are inserted into your uterus in a short office procedure. Once you’ve got it in place, an IUD can last up to 5 years, releasing tiny amounts of hormones over time.
All of the options for menstrual suppression covered here are reversible. Taking away periods permanently is a much bigger deal. It involves surgery, and it also takes away any chance that you could ever get pregnant. For most young people, even those who know they don’t want children, it usually makes sense to try a temporary solution first.
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.
Common concerns
There are a number of reasons why your first period might not happen when you expect it to. Sometimes, you’ll need a medical workup to figure out the reason. A number of conditions related to your genetics, hormones, or reproductive organs could be the cause. For example, polycystic ovarian syndrome is a condition that can keep you from getting a menstrual period, and then can lead to other problems.
If you’ve turned 15 and you haven’t started your period yet, it’s worth talking to your healthcare provider.
Some people assume that periods hurt, especially since blood is involved. But period bleeding is not like bleeding from an injury. Some people experience cramps with their periods. But not everyone gets cramps, and for those that do, cramps can often be treated with simple steps like exercising and taking over-the-counter pain medication. Most of the time, your period will start painlessly, without you even realizing it.
Every 4 to 8 hours is typical. On the first few days of your period, when your bleeding is at its heaviest, you’ll want to change your pad or tampon frequently. When the flow lightens up, you can use a thinner pad or smaller tampon, and change it less.
Tampons are safe as long as you use them properly. That means remembering to change them every 4 to 8 hours.
In the past, tampons were connected to a dangerous medical condition called toxic shock syndrome. This happened because germs were able to grow inside the tampons, and that made some people extremely sick.
These days, tampons are made of better materials, and the risk of getting toxic shock syndrome is quite small. You’ll still want to make sure your tampon doesn’t stay in for too long, though. Keep track of when you put it in, and don’t leave it there for longer than about 8 hours.
You can use a tampon when you sleep, but make sure you change it first thing in the morning. And if you ever think you have a tampon in place but you can’t get it out (or you can’t find it), that’s worth a visit to your healthcare provider.
Yes, and getting some exercise can help with cramps, too.
Depending on your sport, you might choose to use a tampon instead of a bulky pad. Since a tampon is much smaller and fits completely inside your body, you won’t have to worry as much about it moving around or leaking.
If you’re a competitive athlete who is just getting a period for the first time, the thought of dealing with your period while you compete in your sport might seem overwhelming. Remember that you aren’t alone. Nearly all female athletes have to find a way to juggle their periods and their sports, including many professional athletes. Talk to a parent, coach, or another trusted adult if you aren’t sure how to handle it.
As it turns out, the hormone estrogen plays a role in closing the growth plates of your bones. Your growth plates are sections of bones that grow longer to increase your height. Once they close, your height can’t change. When your ovaries start making estrogen, those growth plates will close faster.
Believe it or not, the exact connection between periods and height isn’t completely understood yet. One thing that seems certain, though, is that the speed of your growth will slow down once you start getting periods — although most people will keep growing slowly for a few years after that.
Organic tampons and pads provide another option these days. Being “organic” means they are made from cotton (or other ingredients) that are grown without the use of chemicals, including the use of synthetic pesticides.
This might make organic period products better for our environment, but it doesn’t necessarily make them safer for your body. For example, there is no connection between organic ingredients and health risks like toxic shock syndrome.
Another, related question has to do with the plastics, adhesives, and volatile organic compounds that are used to make many period products. Both organic and standard period products can contain these ingredients, and researchers are still studying whether or not they could have a health impact over time. Choosing washable, reusable fabric pads can help you avoid this issue.
More information and resources
GirlsHealth.gov is part of the Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Days for Girls is a nonprofit organization that provides period supplies to girls who don’t have access to them in their communities.
Why trust our experts?
References
Best study we found
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2019). Your first period.
Abdelrahman, A., et al. (2020). 7 best period panties to use instead of pads and tampons. Good Housekeeping Institute.
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2021). Concerns girls have about puberty.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2015). Menstruation in girls and adolescents: Using the menstrual cycle as a vital sign.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2017). Care for transgender adolescents.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2019). Your first period.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2021). FAQs for teens: Your first period.
Barnhart, K. T., et al. (2009). Return to fertility following discontinuation of oral contraceptives. Fertility and Sterility.
Bell, J. (2017). Gender dysphoria and your cycle. Clue.
Biro, F. M., et al. (2018). Age of menarche in a longitudinal US cohort. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology.
Children’s Hospital Colorado. (2021). Menstrual suppression.
Days for Girls. (2021). A solution you can count on.
Direkvand-Moghadam, A., et al. (2014) Epidemiology of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)-A systematic review and meta-analysis study. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research.
GirlsHealth.gov. (2021). Getting your period.
Limony, Y., et al. (2015). Age of onset of a normally timed pubertal growth spurt affects the final height of children. Pediatric Research.
Lin, N., et al. (2020). Volatile organic compounds in feminine hygiene products sold in the US market: A survey of products and health risks. Environment International.
Lynn, A. (2018). We need to talk about what happens when you get your period in space. Science Alert.
Nappi, R. E., et al. (2018). Real-world experience of women using extended-cycle vs monthly-cycle combined oral contraception in the United States: The national health and wellness survey. BMC Women's Health.
Pearce, E., et al. (2020). Exercise for premenstrual syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BJGP Open.
Polis, C. B., et al. (2018). There might be blood: A scoping review on women's responses to contraceptive-induced menstrual bleeding changes. Reproductive Health.
Seymour, E. (2019). 10 Best menstrual cups to buy in 2021. Good Housekeeping Institute.
Strandjord, S., et al. Monthly periods — are they necessary? Pediatric Annals.
The Trevor Project. (2021). Resources.
