What age do you go through puberty?Puberty describes all the changes a person goes through from being a child (from age 10 upwards) until they are a young adult. Every young person's experience of this is different as everyone grows and develops at different rates. Everyone will have different amounts of body hair and everyone will have different size bits so don't worry about what is normal. You would probably start to notice changes from age 10 upwards, but there is no right or wrong time to start. If you want to speak to someone about puberty then visit your local GP, nurse or young person's clinic — advice is free and confidential even if you are under 16. Alternatively you can call our helpline for free advice on 0800 28 29 30.
Is discharge from the vagina normal? Yes this is perfectly normal — girls start to increase the amount of discharge (fluid) they produce as they go through puberty and the hormones start to work on the glands in the vagina and neck of the womb. Before puberty most girls have very little discharge. After puberty what is normal for one girl will not be normal for another. Some produce a lot of fluid whilst others produce very little. The purpose of the fluid is to keep the vaginal area moist and to protect against damage or infection. Throughout the month you will notice it varies a little in colour, what it feels like, how sticky it is and how much of it there is. It's not normal if the discharge becomes smelly, itchy or a different colour than usual. All these may mean you have an infection especially if you have put yourself at risk by having sex without using a condom. If the discharge seems different from what is normal for you then you should see a doctor or nurse — advice is free and confidential even if you are under 16.
Is my period normal?Every girl's period is different. Some people have a period for three days, others can last a week. Some periods can be very light, whereas others can be very heavy. If your periods are heavy/clotted and painful then you should speak to your doctor.
When should you start your periods?Girls can start their periods from around the age of 10 to 16. As everyone develops at different rates, there is no right or wrong age for a girl to start. If you want to speak to someone about your periods then visit your local GP, nurse or young person's clinic - advice is free and confidential even if you are under 16. Alternatively you can call our helpline for free advice on 0800 28 29 30.
Are my breasts too small?Every woman is different and all bodies develop at different rates so don't worry about what size is normal. Whatever size your breasts are is right for your body.
My period is late/irregular.The best thing to do if you are worried about your period is to visit your doctor or local clinic. Girls' periods can be irregular for many different reasons including stress and diet, but if you have had sex without using contraception and your period is late you should take a pregnancy test as soon as possible — you can get one from your local doctor or clinic.
How do I know if I have breast cancer?You should check your breasts regularly and if you find any lumps or bumps, or a feeling of numbness/tenderness, you need to be checked by your doctor. Click here to find out how to do a breast self examination.
When do I have to have a cervical smear test?A cervical smear is a test where some cells are taken from a girl's cervix to check for changes that could lead to cervical cancer. The test is usually offered to girls from age 25 onwards, every three to five years.
What is the hymen? A piece of tissue within the girl's vagina. Every girl is born with a hymen, but it may not break during sex — it can also break when using tampons, playing sport or during other activities.
Do you put on weight taking the pill?The contraceptive pill works by controlling the hormones in a girl's body and this can change your appetite, which sometimes causes weight change. However, everyone's body is different and this may not happen to you at all. The best thing to do is to visit a doctor or clinic where they will be able to give you loads of information about the pill. Remember you can get free and confidential advice about sex, contraception and abortion even if you are under 16.
Can you get pregnant if you have sex during your period or if it is your first time?Yes. A girl can get pregnant anytime. Always use contraception — remember only condoms can protect you from both STIs and pregnancy.
What should you use when your periods start?To be prepared for your first period, you should have a supply of sanitary towels or tampons in your bag. Sanitary towels line your knickers to soak up the blood as it leaves the vagina, and tampons are inserted inside the vagina to soak up the blood there. There are different kinds of towels and tampons for different blood flows (e.g. light, medium, heavy). Use whatever you find most comfortable — you'll find instructions on how to use them properly on the packets and you'll soon get used to them. You can buy towels and tampons in chemists, supermarkets, even some newsagents and garages.
Most girls have their first period when they're between 9 and 16. It's normal, natural and healthy. Some girls will bleed more than others and bleeding can last anything from 3 to 10 days every month. When your periods start they might not come regularly but eventually they should come around the same time each month.
If you get period pains or very heavy bleeding, stretching exercises or a hot water bottle on your tummy can help. If you notice a change in mood, or in the way your body feels leading up to your period, it is probably something called Pre-menstrual tension (PMT) or Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS).
During a period, you should change your towel or tampon several times a day. People may try to scare you with tales of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), a very rare illness which can be caused by leaving tampons in too long. There have been very, very few cases of TSS in the UK and as long as you change tampons regularly, say every 4—6 hours and wash your hands before inserting your tampon, you should have nothing to worry about.
If you're worried about anything to do with periods or want any more information, it might help to have a chat with an older woman like your mum, your big sister, the school nurse or a teacher. Or, of course, your doctor or local clinic will be happy to help.
What is the clitoris?The clitoris is an incredibly sensitive organ at the front of a girl's vulva. Touching and stimulating the clitoris with your hands or fingers can give strong feelings of sexual pleasure and this is how most girls masturbate. Most girls need direct stimulation of the clitoris to have an orgasm during sex.
Is discharge from the vagina normal? Yes this is perfectly normal — girls start to increase the amount of discharge (fluid) they produce as they go through puberty and the hormones start to work on the glands in the vagina and neck of the womb. Before puberty most girls have very little discharge. After puberty what is normal for one girl will not be normal for another. Some produce a lot of fluid whilst others produce very little. The purpose of the fluid is to keep the vaginal area moist and to protect against damage or infection. Throughout the month you will notice it varies a little in colour, what it feels like, how sticky it is and how much of it there is. It's not normal if the discharge becomes smelly, itchy or a different colour than usual. All these may mean you have an infection especially if you have put yourself at risk by having sex without using a condom. If the discharge seems different from what is normal for you then you should see a doctor or nurse — advice is free and confidential even if you are under 16.
Is my period normal?Every girl's period is different. Some people have a period for three days, others can last a week. Some periods can be very light, whereas others can be very heavy. If your periods are heavy/clotted and painful then you should speak to your doctor.
When should you start your periods?Girls can start their periods from around the age of 10 to 16. As everyone develops at different rates, there is no right or wrong age for a girl to start. If you want to speak to someone about your periods then visit your local GP, nurse or young person's clinic - advice is free and confidential even if you are under 16. Alternatively you can call our helpline for free advice on 0800 28 29 30.
Are my breasts too small?Every woman is different and all bodies develop at different rates so don't worry about what size is normal. Whatever size your breasts are is right for your body.
My period is late/irregular.The best thing to do if you are worried about your period is to visit your doctor or local clinic. Girls' periods can be irregular for many different reasons including stress and diet, but if you have had sex without using contraception and your period is late you should take a pregnancy test as soon as possible — you can get one from your local doctor or clinic.
How do I know if I have breast cancer?You should check your breasts regularly and if you find any lumps or bumps, or a feeling of numbness/tenderness, you need to be checked by your doctor. Click here to find out how to do a breast self examination.
When do I have to have a cervical smear test?A cervical smear is a test where some cells are taken from a girl's cervix to check for changes that could lead to cervical cancer. The test is usually offered to girls from age 25 onwards, every three to five years.
What is the hymen? A piece of tissue within the girl's vagina. Every girl is born with a hymen, but it may not break during sex — it can also break when using tampons, playing sport or during other activities.
Do you put on weight taking the pill?The contraceptive pill works by controlling the hormones in a girl's body and this can change your appetite, which sometimes causes weight change. However, everyone's body is different and this may not happen to you at all. The best thing to do is to visit a doctor or clinic where they will be able to give you loads of information about the pill. Remember you can get free and confidential advice about sex, contraception and abortion even if you are under 16.
Can you get pregnant if you have sex during your period or if it is your first time?Yes. A girl can get pregnant anytime. Always use contraception — remember only condoms can protect you from both STIs and pregnancy.
What should you use when your periods start?To be prepared for your first period, you should have a supply of sanitary towels or tampons in your bag. Sanitary towels line your knickers to soak up the blood as it leaves the vagina, and tampons are inserted inside the vagina to soak up the blood there. There are different kinds of towels and tampons for different blood flows (e.g. light, medium, heavy). Use whatever you find most comfortable — you'll find instructions on how to use them properly on the packets and you'll soon get used to them. You can buy towels and tampons in chemists, supermarkets, even some newsagents and garages.
Most girls have their first period when they're between 9 and 16. It's normal, natural and healthy. Some girls will bleed more than others and bleeding can last anything from 3 to 10 days every month. When your periods start they might not come regularly but eventually they should come around the same time each month.
If you get period pains or very heavy bleeding, stretching exercises or a hot water bottle on your tummy can help. If you notice a change in mood, or in the way your body feels leading up to your period, it is probably something called Pre-menstrual tension (PMT) or Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS).
During a period, you should change your towel or tampon several times a day. People may try to scare you with tales of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), a very rare illness which can be caused by leaving tampons in too long. There have been very, very few cases of TSS in the UK and as long as you change tampons regularly, say every 4—6 hours and wash your hands before inserting your tampon, you should have nothing to worry about.
If you're worried about anything to do with periods or want any more information, it might help to have a chat with an older woman like your mum, your big sister, the school nurse or a teacher. Or, of course, your doctor or local clinic will be happy to help.
What is the clitoris?The clitoris is an incredibly sensitive organ at the front of a girl's vulva. Touching and stimulating the clitoris with your hands or fingers can give strong feelings of sexual pleasure and this is how most girls masturbate. Most girls need direct stimulation of the clitoris to have an orgasm during sex.
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