Menstruation (cont.)
When does a girl usually get her first period?
In the United States, the average age is 12. This does not mean that all
girls start at the same age. A girl can start her period anytime between the
ages of eight and 15. Usually, the first period starts about two years after
breasts first start to grow. If a girl has not had her first period by age 15,
or if it has been more than two to three years since breast growth started, she
should see a doctor.
How long does a woman have periods?
Women usually have periods until menopause. Menopause occurs between the ages
of 45 and 55, usually around age 50. Menopause means that a woman is no longer
ovulating (producing eggs) and can no longer get pregnant. Like menstruation,
menopause can vary from woman to woman and these changes may take several years
to occur. The time when your body begins its move into menopause is called the
menopausal transition. This can last anywhere from two to eight years. Some
women have early menopause because of surgery or other treatment, illness, or
other reasons. If a woman doesn't have a period for 90 days, she should see her
doctor to check for pregnancy, early menopause, or other medical problems that
can cause periods to stop or become irregular.
When should I see a doctor about my period?
- You should see your doctor if:
- you have not started menstruating by the age of 15, or by three years after
breast growth began, or if breasts haven't started to grow by age 13
- your period suddenly stops for more than 90 days
- your periods become very irregular after having had regular, monthly cycles
- your period occurs more often than every 21 days or less often than every 45
days
- you are bleeding for more than seven days
- you are bleeding more heavily than usual or using more than one pad or tampon
every one to two hours
- you bleed between periods
- you have severe pain during your period
- you suddenly get a fever and feel sick after using tampons
Next: How often should I change my pad/tampon? »
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