What is menstruation?

Menstruation is bleeding from the vagina.

It happens once a month.

It’s also known as a period.

Once you start having a period, you can get pregnant.

Most girls start having a period between 10–18 years old.

When you have a period, you can have:

• stomach pains
• constipation and diarrhoea
• skin problems
• changes in your mood.

When you have a period, you can use:

• pads or tampons
• underwear that absorbs the bleeding
• menstrual cups – a small soft cup that is put in your vagina to catch the blood.

Your period might change if you:

• lose or gain a lot of weight
• use some types of contraception – products that help you have safer sex
• go through menopause
• are under alot of stress
• have certain health issues.

If you are worried about changes to your period, you should talk to your doctor.

You will not get your period while you are pregnant.

To learn more about menstruation, you can download the:

• WWDA Easy English Book: Your Period
• Being a Healthy Woman: Having Your Periods fact sheet (PDF).

You can also go to the WWDA Youth: What is Menstruation website.