Your teen is going through puberty and has started or is about to start their first period. Though you may have menstruated or currently still menstruate (or maybe you\u2019ve never menstruated!), it\u2019s important to know that their menstrual cycle may not be the same as yours. And, that\u2019s okay. <\/p>
There\u2019s a lot to learn about periods. BLOOM is here to help with an intro on period facts, a look into the period cycle and common questions. <\/p>
What Is Menstruation?<\/h2>
Menstruation (pronounced-Men-Stray-Shun) also known as a menstrual period, period, menses, or flow, is the release of a mixture of blood, tissue, cells, and mucus from the uterus out through the vagina. A preteen\u2019s or teen\u2019s first period<\/a> is a sign that they are getting close to the end of puberty. <\/p> For everyone who has a uterus, periods are a natural, healthy part of growing up. Periods shouldn\u2019t get in the way of them exercising, having fun, and enjoying life. <\/p> The menstrual cycle is the monthly process a person\u2019s body goes through in preparation for a possible pregnancy. Though individual cycles may vary in length, they generally go through the following:<\/p> What is Ovulation? <\/strong>Ovulation is the release of an egg from an ovary, into the fallopian tube. During ovulation, a person is most fertile, meaning it\u2019s the time they are most likely to get pregnant.\u00a0<\/p> <\/p> Your teen might wonder how many days between their period cycles is normal. Ensure them that there is no one \u201ccorrect\u201d answer to how many days between periods. <\/p> In the first few years, it\u2019s normal for a menstrual cycle (the time from day 1 of one period to day 1 of the next period) to vary from 21-45 days. By about three years after your preteen\u2019s or teen\u2019s first period, they should have a period every 21-34 days, with the average cycle length being 28 days. <\/p> For most people it takes about six years for their menstrual cycle to get into a regular rhythm! So don\u2019t worry if your preteen\u2019s or teen\u2019s cycle is not regular from the start.<\/p> Help your child start tracking their period with these tips.<\/p> How and when you talk to your teen about periods is a personal decision, but an important one as well. Their first period is a sign that their body is changing, and that it is now possible for them to get pregnant. Having conversations<\/a> about what is going on in their body and teaching them that it is all a natural process can help them be more comfortable with the whole menstruation process.<\/p> If your tween or teen is more comfortable learning on their own, or has expressed interest in learning more about what happens during the period process, urge them to check out the menstruation section of the BLOOM Teen Hub<\/a>, where they can learn more about periods, PMS symptoms, how to start tracking their cycle and more. <\/p> PRO TIP ><\/strong> Encourage your teen to explore the BLOOM TEEN HUB<\/a> to learn all about their skin and skin care, written just for them!<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div> Cramps are a common premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptom, and a very common part of many people\u2019s monthly periods. If your teen experiences cramps with their monthly menstrual cycles, encourage them to:<\/p> BLOOM TIP > Check out our period care products<\/a> for a smoother and more comfortable period, and learn more about our top 6 period products for teens<\/a>. <\/p> Going through puberty and getting your first period can be challenging for anyone, and being transgender adds another emotional layer to that. Many, but not all trans and nonbinary youth experience gender dysphoria, where they experience distress because of a mismatch between their anatomy and their gender identity. <\/p> If your preteen or teen doesn\u2019t identify as a girl but still gets a period, this can cause discomfort and anxiety \u2014 especially because many people still equate menstruation with femaleness.<\/p> The most important thing when talking about their periods is to mention that they’re normal. And, no, that does not mean you mean they are a girl or woman. Be gentle, be flexible, and don\u2019t be pushy. Offer your preteen or teen lots of resources and listen to what they have to say. They’ll open up when they’re ready.<\/p> If you are still feeling overwhelmed, don\u2019t worry! BLOOM is here to help. With our library of On-Demand Workshops<\/a> with our trusted educators, to our Ask the Expert Forum & Live Events<\/a> where you can get answers to your burning questions from our qualified professionals, to Supportive Community<\/a>, where you can find strength in a community of other parents and caregivers, to Direct 1-on-1 Parent Coaching Support<\/a>, we\u2019ve got you. Raising tweens or teens is hard enough. BLOOM is here to make it a little easier.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What is a period and when will your teen experience their first menstrual cycle? Learn the answers to all your period questions and more with BLOOM.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":204,"featured_media":22431,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[379,380],"tags":[],"powerkit_post_featured":[],"coauthors":[341,343],"class_list":{"0":"post-21868","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-healthy-body","8":"category-menstruation"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bloomforall.com\/parent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21868","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bloomforall.com\/parent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bloomforall.com\/parent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bloomforall.com\/parent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/204"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bloomforall.com\/parent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21868"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bloomforall.com\/parent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21868\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bloomforall.com\/parent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22431"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bloomforall.com\/parent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21868"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bloomforall.com\/parent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21868"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bloomforall.com\/parent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21868"},{"taxonomy":"powerkit_post_featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bloomforall.com\/parent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/powerkit_post_featured?post=21868"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bloomforall.com\/parent\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=21868"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"teen](\"https:\/\/bloomforall.com\/parent\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/04\/QuestioningGender_Content-1160x387.jpg\")
<\/figure>What Is a Menstrual Cycle?<\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bloomforall.com\/parent\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/03\/Caregiver_Teen_Talking_screen.jpg\")
Ready to elevate your parenting? Become a member of the BLOOM family today! <\/h2>\n\n
Gain access to workshops, coaching, and a network of supportive parents. Don\u2019t navigate this journey alone –<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\n\n
How Many Days Between Periods Is Normal?<\/h2>
How to Talk to My Tween or Teen About Periods<\/h2>
![\"Black](\"https:\/\/bloomforall.com\/parent\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/08\/skincare_teen-1160x406.webp\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/div>How to Help My Teen With Cramps and PMS<\/h2>
What About Transgender Teens and Menstruation<\/h2>
More Period Questions?<\/h2>