Becoming a Woman - Your first period?

Yes, we have had this topic before. I was 11, first in my form which made me a bit of a star. I don’t remember the start, but I do remember going to a remote cottage in Wales with a school friend and her mother in the following Easter holidays. I had to give the “corpses”, as she called them, to my friend’s mother to burn - there was no other way of disposing of them. I was embarrassed by this, and eventually hid the corpses in my suitcases and took them home. Luckily there was only light bleeding..

My granddaughter is nine, and her school friend, aged just ten, has already started her periods. Apparently this is quite common.

I must have been 12. I, too, hated the sanitary belts and the towels were so thick and awful! It was a great relief to move on to tampons.

It was an even greater relief to be without periods while pregnant and breastfeeding. I hated having periods full stop!

I can't remember when they finally stopped, but I was absolutely delighted.

I was really quite late then at 15 starting my period, I always remember the great joy of Dr whites and the sanitary belt!! ?

Started at 13 and I had a naturally early menopause at 34 thank goodness. My GP offered me HRT to restart my periods. No thanks.

Yes Sallywally8 started a thread on 24FEB 2022......

I was 12 when I started and 48 when I finished. During the final year or so my periods were every other month and absolutely flooding. My GP gave me some very strong hormones. I warned her they would cause migraines and she said not to worry! So, I had the worst migraine ever. I was then put on a milder tablet which did the trick and stopped the bleeding. I remember having to go home from work once or twice when I knew it wasn’t safe to stand up!

I was 13. I remember it vividly. I'd had not been told anything and thought I was injured. Mum tore up an old sheet and I rode my bike to school as usual.
I was in the school choir and fainted mid-hymn, so got sent home in a taxi, only realising later that the back of my dress had a blood stain
showing. I was mortified.

Aarrgh! Those sanitary belts! I had really heavy periods right from the start - a lot of flooding and leaking. My Mum made me wear some plastic pants which were horribly uncomfortable.

I had intermittent flooding all my life - embarrassing times when I would have to run out of a shop as it poured down my legs all of a sudden.

I could never risk wearing white trousers or skirt for about half of the month in case my period came early.

First at 11, last at 51, I had no HRT and was fine, very lucky I think. Remember the old sanitary towels and the belt, got introduced by a friend to tampons age 14, thank goodness.

I was 11 when I started. It was a Tuesday and we had French and Double Art at school. Not sure why I remember those details, but I do! My mum's reaction was "Well, you know you can get pregnant now, don't you?" That was my parental sex education. Good job I knew about the birds and bees anyway, wasn't it?

lemsip

what again? this was an op just a few weeks ago!

Yes Lemsip , again ☹️☹️☹️
BTW did starting your periods automatically mark the transition to womanhood anyway?
Some girls start as young as 8.
IMO there’s more to it than that.

Starting periods plays a major part in becoming a Woman. It means your body is capable of growing a baby.

I read that weight can kick things off. Girls get to a certain weight and it can kick-start puberty.
I was a very skinny child so am wondering if that played a part in the fact I was a late starter

what again? this was an op just a few weeks ago!

Does it really matter if we have the same subject twice ?

Yep- it gets monotonous.

snowberryZ

Starting periods plays a major part in becoming a Woman. It means your body is capable of growing a baby.

Really - who’d a thunk it?

I think I was about 12. Can’t remember. They have caused me no end of problems over the years for various reasons. I was on the pill for the last few years which stopped me from having periods, but stopped taking it as I had an injury and couldn’t drive to the clinic so couldn’t get them. Must sort that out and get some more. I’m 53 and still getting them.

I started my periods at school aged 13. The month was April.
I had my last period aged 53, the month was April.
So exactly 40 years from start to finish.

15 to 52 sailed through menopause no problem

Just 14 was given ripped sheets until I got Dr Whites and belt. I sent my brother to the chemist with a note. I was told off because it wasn't for boys to know!

I started a week after my 12th birthday and finished when I was 50 years old. I'm not sure weight had anything to do with when my periods started; I was skinny and about 7 stone when I started. I never had heavy periods, they only ever lasted 2 days, I counted myself as very lucky.

Two days!!! Mine lasted 10 - right from day one! I am green with envy. It was all a total blight on my life. They got even longer as I got older -

A bit late to discuss periods on GN! All done and finished with!

Well there are some who 'enjoy' talking about periods.....

MawtheMerrier

Yep- it gets monotonous.

Maybe its best not to read it?