girls only!

So i got my first period today and i am a little worried and embarissed. How long do they usually last for(a day, a week?) and any embarisssing stories you have to make me feel better about mine. oh, and how to get rid of blating and cramps. THANKS! (sorry about my poor spelling)

How old are you?

It should usually last about a week & it comes once a month [although when you first start, your cycle can be pretty irregular]. It's usually heaviest in the middle days.

Do you have pads & all? I dunno how comfortable you'll be with tampons, you may wanna try them later [or not], but just make sure you have pads. Do you have a female adult you can talk to?

Anyway, congrats! & now you have an excuse to get you out of gym class/allow you to be bitchy for a week every month =] good times.

talk about irregular - i get mine every 3-5 months apart.

They usually come about once a month, and last for week. Some last shorter; some last later. If you want to, get a calender and record when they come; you will be able to establish a pattern.

On a side note; does this mean you can stop gaining weight? xD I hope so- you said you were eating a ton!

I definitly have a really funny story about my monthly visitor.

To begin with, I would like to say congratulations! This should not come with fears/worries you should be happy that now you are officially a woman!

So my story:

It was HALLOWEEN DAY when I got my first period. I just woke up early in the morning to get ready for school, and I had to go to the bathroom. I pulled down my pants and my underwear was stained with this lovely brown-ish red color. I honestly thought I had crapped my pants while I slept. I ran to grab another pair and threw that one away and wrapped it in toliet paper. Then I realized I should tell my mom in case it happens at school or in my costume (I had made my own and didn't want to ruin it lol)

So I ran over to my mom saying "I haven't done this since first grade, but I think I pooped my pants" she was all concerned and I ended up showing her the "evidence" in the trash. hehehehe, she said "No honey, thats your period"

To make the morning even better, my sister who will find ANY excuse to make fun of me heard everything and ran into the bathroom. To this day (3 years later) she still makes fun of me about it! hahaha

So now for some tips:

Cramps- Put a heating pad on your stomach and lay down. Also try stretching out your stomach if that doesn't work. Another thing, I read this in a magazine, is to try some yoga poses and it will help relieve the tension/pain.

Length- normal periods last about a week. but your first one might be more or less and is always a little different than your others. You might not even have regular periods for a couple months. Thats not abnormal.

Bloating- I am sorry but this one there is no cure for unless you take pills. Just wear some comfy clothes and enjoy your newfound womanhood!

Congratulations once more!

for Cramps depends how bad they are but generally heat pack/hot watter bottle on ur stomach helps, sit or lay in the most comforable position and if they are really bad take a panadol/neurofen/something equivilant

They usully last between 4 and 7 days but its different for everyone.

Embarassing Story: I got my first while i was on a scout camp. i didnt notice cos i had dark undies, once i figured out what was going on i had to tell a male leader cos none of my friends had any pads then he had to dig around in the leader box and pull out some pads that were huge and uncomfortable and old. to make it worse some of the boys found out and teased me... it was disastours

and congratulations on being a woman

Regular exercise while you're on your period can help a lot with cramps! I know it seems like its probably the LAST thing you want to do, but it REALLY can help! There isn't much for bloating that you can do, unfortunately! Congratulations!!!!

A few things that help a little with the bloating is drink a lot of water and avoid caffiene during it... at least that helps a little for me

also stretching helps prevent cramps

okay this story is kinda gross but i was doing a photo shoot for this salon near my old house and i was wearing a dress and super tight stockings (which was really rare for me) but i wasn't wearing any underwear and i ended up starting my period that day while shooting.

it was really embarrassing because i was really glammed up and suppose to look really high fashion and i'm bleeding into my tights and no one knows. and so i said i had to use the bathroom and ran to a nearby coffee shop and made a make shift toilet paper pad. how embarrassing!!!

hopefully you don't have too many of those kinda stories.

Good advice and the one thing I will add is avoid anything with aspirin in it while on your period, it thins the blood and made my cramps worse when I took it!

When my period started, I thought I was dying. It hurt. SO. MUCH. I was literally out of it for three or so days.

My mum started off telling me that the first was often worst and not to let it worry me, that I'd probably be in less pain come the next monthly visit. Which then turned out to be false. Every period I would be curled up in agony or whacked out with painkillers and a hot water bottle on my stomach, sipping warm water with a lemon slice in it and usually, on the worst days, unable to keep anything down because the pain actually made me vomit. I was eventually diagnosed with dysmenorrhoea - otherwise known as painful periods (NO DUH).

I was put on the pill and my symptoms significantly reduced. Sadly, I think I've lost them altogether thanks to my anorexia - while my bleeding was practically non-existent after going on the pill I still got physical symptoms otherwise, and now I don't really get any at all. :\ Though, while I mention it, dysmenorrhoea isn't overly common (I think it's in a percentage of about 10%?) so don't let that one bother you too much, but if you start to get days on end of extreme pain, talk to a doctor. D:

For getting rid of bloating, I suggest fennel tea and, if you can manage one, a slow gentle walk outside. Cramps - warm water and lemon, or warm drinks in general, always made me feel a bit better, and a hot water bottle (as has been said) is very helpful. I found the most comfortable way to lie when dealing with cramps was on my stomach on a bed, with the water bottle wrapped in a sheet (to avoid getting burnt) between my stomach and the mattress.

Congrats on your first visit from Aunt Flo! XD

They usually last for 3-7 days (mine lasts 3 now that I've lost weight).  To get rid of bloating and cramps, take 2 ibuprofin (advil) tablets if you are over 12 and avoid gassy/salty foods for a while (pretzels, bread, chips, grapes).  Also, to prevebt cramping, take ibuprofin before you think your period is about to start.

Here's an embarrasing period story for ya. :]  In 7th grade, about 3 months after my 1st period, I was in a school play.  I was Sister Margarita in "The Sound of Music" so I was weazring a big ol black dess.  I was really embarassed about my womanly  functions, so I never asked my mom for anything bigger than a panty liner.  So I stuffed my undies with toilet paper and thought I was good.  Unfortunatly, I was wayy off.  Backstage, we were playing cards on the floor, and we were getting silly and rolling around and making trouble.  Well, eventually, someone yelled out "OMG! SOMEONE'S BLEEDING!!"  I turned ariound to see a big wad of bloody toilet paper on the floor next to me.  Every girl over the age of 12 knew what it really was.  I was beyond mortified.

Original Post by fycul66:

So i got my first period today and i am a little worried and embarissed. How long do they usually last for(a day, a week?) and any embarisssing stories you have to make me feel better about mine. oh, and how to get rid of blating and cramps. THANKS! (sorry about my poor spelling)

 I won't say "congrats" because let's be honest, periods, SUCK. They are just something that we have to put up with, and seem to come at the most inconvenient of times; vacations, sports games, plays, graduation, sleepovers - you name it. I remember right after I got my first one, I was already calculating how many years until menopause LOL.

Mine last for 5 days - always has, though as others say, how long yours will last is up to your body, and you'll find out once your body gets into a rhythm. That might take a few months. When I started mine, I had two really close together, and then it skipped 3 months....no periods. I thought they were gone, and the whole thing had been a fluke. But then they came back and became regular, and I've had them ever since, like clockwork, give or take some delays due to stressing out/change in diet.

I've never had bad cramps, so I got lucky there. A little uncomfortable the first and second days, but nothing to keep me from doing my daily activities. I believe my consistent exercise has been the cause for that. Blaoting? Well I've had a period for ten years now, and bloating has just now started to creep up on me. I found that drinking LOTS of WATER helps tremendously. Your body will flush out excess water if it knows it will be getting it on a regular basis. Not enough water intake, and your body will store even more, causing you to bloat. Also, avoid salty foods like the plague. I know that sounds hard, especially during PMS, but you don't want to exacerbate the problem ;). Also, exercise....SWEAT. Sweating helps to get rid of extra bodily fluids as well.

Embarrassing stories? Oh yeah, we all have 'em. Let's see. In sixth grade Japanese class, I had white pants on (can you believe it!) and my period had started. Back then, I wasn't so good at tracking, or was really even sure how to, so my periods always seemed to surprise me while in school. Anywayz, I had to stand up in front of the class (half the class was seated facing behind me) and recite some sentences for the teacher. I knew I had blood on my jeans and that at least half the class could see it....you see because in Japanese, it's proper to bow, which means, BENDING over. Clear view, wouldn't ya know....

There was another time that I was at a friend's sleepover....lots of girls around, and we were all playing video games and took terms, and moved down the couch as we got closer to our turn. So my period has just came that day (surprise, surprise) and I only had one pad, and was too embarrassed to ask anyone in the girl's house for one, so I sat there and bled on her furniture Luckily it seemed, that no one was really paying attention (too engrossed in the game) and no one figured out it was I, because literally, everyone ended up sitting in the stain.

Good luck!

Congrats on the period. Now you get to joyfully wait for menopause with the rest of us =P.

Honestly, the best thing I have found for cramps is to excercise. I know it sounds awful but it really does help. Otherwise, pop some tylenol if you feel too miserable.

Oh, awful period stories. I definitley have one:

The very first time I got one was on a plane while moving out of the country. So, when we get to our apartment, I got to the bathroom and think that Ive crapped my pants. When I told my mom she came in and told me what it actually was. Lets just say it made a crappy day a whole hell of a lot crappier. But, don't worry. After the first couple of times periods stop being too much of a bother and just an inconvenience we all learn to live with.

congrats and sorry all at the same time i got mine a year and a half ago and im still irregular, 2months to 2 weeks and everything in between!!!!!ugh!  i also have severe cramps!!!  2 make matters worse i PMS badly and sometimes its before, or like my last one, after my period (which is already irregular) so i have a pretty rough time with it.  but the good news is that means  i can give great advice!!! lol!  first, if u feel any dampness and u havent had ur period in a while then GO 2 THE BATHROOM!!!!  i made that mistake before!  if u feel cramps  u should also go 2 the bathroom and put a pantiliner in, thry're just thin pads used for spotting  and if ur tampon cant hold u ( heavy flow sucks!!!)  u dont even feel them.  for cramps i use a small travel size container of Motrin pills (white bottle with orange wrap around it) but they take a while 2 kick in.  but they're so small i can take it 2 school and pop 1 in with no water!  its great!  my favorite way 2 get rid of them though, is 2 take a HOT bath, soothes the muscles wonderfully! u can also exercise, but thats not really my favorite option, lol!!  about the whole PMS, just try 2 make sure u only get emotional around the people that will forgive u (family).  usually, after i've put my parents through hell and back, i say sorry 2 them at the end of the day. thankfully my mom understands and forgives me pretty quickly. with the whole tampon thing, u should probably make sure that u have a female adult ( or friend who wears one) help u by telling wat 2 do. first time i was so confused i read the box 15 times, and i still couldnt do it! u should also make sure ur flow is heavy enough cuz it will hurt if u try 2 pull it out dry. the first time u get it in all the way though, it'll feel weird but after that its a peice of cake!!  u'll want 2 use one though cuz the beach, pool, and water parks are a bitch without it! lol!! good luck!!!

Normally, its for one week every month, but everyones is different.Skipping a few is normal too. Most get cramps and bloating during the 2 and 3 day which is when its heaviest( when alot is coming out at once). To help with cramps I would say dont exercise too intense and drink a lot of water.Try to rest. You can try asprin if your parent thinks you need it. Pads are easier to use but you can feel them more.You cant feel tampons and you can wear them in the pool but they you may not feel comfortable putting them in. My advice would be to go to the bathroom often and change your pad/tampon often. Wearing clean ones will make you feel more comfortable. Talk to a girl adult abotu it and ask them questions.

My story is that when I first got my period I was at camp and all my camp counsloers were boys. So I went into the bathroom and stayed there in there for 2 hours until my mom picked me up.

well mine last for about 5-6 days, on average ur period should last 7 days. ANd it comes in intervals of 28 days to a month. For when i started with my period i used the specialty pads cause the whole idea of putting a cotton tube up my body was kinda weird. But i do recommend using a tampon after a while just because it reduces the leakage you would get from a pad. Umm i guess the most embarassing story would just having a stain on the back of my PJ's after i woke up lol And i find Midol, teen version, works really well with the cramps and bloating:) Good luck!!

Since everyone has already covered the basics I won't explain when your periods will be due. Don't feel ashamed of becoming a woman! You should be really proud! :) Congrats to you!

I have a really embarrasing story about the day I started...I wasn't even in high school, or middle school, still in first school - 10 years old! I didn't know a single thing about periods, so when I saw all the blood m first reaction was to ask for a plaster! (I know-how shameful!!) Anyway, I got a teacher and asked for a plaster, she wanted to see the 'cut' so I explained that the 'cut' was down below and she laughed her head off (I do now too!) After that day I've always tried to help 'new women' (as I like to call them) during their time of the month. Remeber - DON'T BE EMMBARASSED! :)