The first period can be a bit different for everyone, but it will always involve some kind of bleeding from your vagina. This bleeding may be a small amount of brown or bloody liquid containing slippery mucus, or it may be more like fresh blood. Sometimes, if the blood sits for a while in the vagina, it will appear clotted (lumpy). This is normal.

During your first period, you may feel cramps in your stomach area or lower back, or you may not have any cramping or pain at all for your first few cycles. Painful periods are usually related to the release of an egg a few weeks earlier (see the previous FAQ), and this might not happen for the first few cycles after you start your period.

You may notice some changes before your period comes. You (or your friends!) may notice that you have been moody or grumpy for the week before your period starts. During this time, your breasts may also feel tender or your stomach area may feel bloated. All of these changes are normal, and are caused by special chemicals in your body called hormones. These symptoms will normally go away once your period starts.