Did you know the term vagina is often mistakenly used in place of the proper term, vulva? Vulvas come in an endless diversity of shapes, sizes, and colors. Like snowflakes and flowers, no two are exactly the same. Before diving into what menstruation is all about, start your journey by exploring your internal and external anatomy to familiarize yourself with all of the terms used throughout this section.
This diagram shows the inner workings of the internal anatomy and reproductive system for people with a uterus.
Vagina: The vagina is the muscular, elastic canal that you can touch and feel. Also known as the birth canal, the top of the canal joins the cervix (the lower part of the uterus) and ends with your vaginal opening- the place where you bleed during your period and put internal period products.
Uterus (womb): The uterus is a hollow, pear-shaped organ that is the home to a developing fetus during pregnancy. The uterus is divided into two parts: the cervix, which is the lower part that opens into the vagina, and the main body of the uterus, called the corpus. When pregnant, the corpus expands to hold a developing baby.
Cervix: The lower part of the uterus that connects the uterus and vagina. A channel through the cervix allows sperm to enter and menstrual blood to exit. The cervix is located at the bottom of the uterus and is a protective gateway that connects your uterus and vagina. It allows sperm to enter, menstrual blood to exit, and is where your cervical discharge comes from.
Ovaries: The ovaries are small, oval-shaped glands located on either side of the uterus. The ovaries secrete hormones, protect the eggs, and release eggs for possible fertilization.
Fallopian tubes: These are narrow tubes that are attached to the upper part of the uterus and serve as passageways for the ova (egg cells) to travel from the ovaries to the uterus and are where fertilization by a sperm cell can happen.
Did you know the term vagina is often mistakenly used in place of the proper term, vulva? Vulvas come in an endless diversity of shapes, sizes, and colors. Like snowflakes and flowers, no two are exactly the same. The vulva is the external genitalia. The main parts of the vulva consists of:
Mons pubis: the place where pubic hair grows which helps prevent bacteria from entering the body
Clitoris: a sensitive area for arousal and stimulation, located at the top of where the two labia minora meet that is covered by a clitoral hood (prepuce)
Labia Majora: the larger outer lips that protect the vulva
Labia Minora: the inner lips that protect the clitoris and vaginal opening
Urethral Opening: the small hole where pee comes out of
Vaginal Opening: the large middle hole where period blood exits, where period products are inserted, and also the birthing canal
Bartholin’s glands: these glands are located on either side of the vaginal opening and produce a fluid (mucus) secretion
Anus: the place where gas and bowel movements (poop) exit
Take the Know Thyself Tour
To get to know your body better, we encourage you to follow along and take the Know Thyself Tour. To do this, you will need: freshly washed hands, a mirror, a comfortable and private place to sit and relax, an open mind and open heart.
Starting at the top, find your mons pubis (the place where pubic hair grows).
Now work your way down to the top of where the two inner lips meet and identify the clitoris which is covered by a clitoral hood. The clitoris is a sensitive area for arousal and stimulation.
Next, identify the labia majora (outer lips) and labia minora (inner lips),
Last, locate the 3 holes:
At the very top is the small hole, known as your urethra, the place you pee out of (urinate).
In the middle, is the large hole which is your vaginal opening – the place you bleed from, where you place period products, and your birthing canal.
Lastly, at the bottom is the anus – the hole at the very back where poop (have bowel movements) out of.
The best way to keep your vagina and vulva clean is to wash the Labia Majora (outer lips) and the outer portions of the Labia Minora (inner lips) with water alone or a mild cleanser as needed when you’re in the bathtub or shower. Never put soaps or other cleaners in between the labia minora or up inside your vagina, also known as douching! This can mess with the balance of healthy bacteria inside. Your vagina cleans itself automatically, so just let it do its thing!
5 Ways to achieve a Healthy Vulva
Washing the vulva is simple and can be done well with just a hand, some warm water and using a mild and fragrance-free soap (only on the outer folds). A washcloth can also be used. The reason to clean between the inner and outer lips (labia) is to remove smegma, which is a normal substance the body makes but can lead to unpleasant odor if not rinsed away regularly. Also, most natural scents come from sweat glands, which lie in the folds between the vulva, inner thighs and buttocks. Focus on cleaning these areas when you bathe or after you perform an activity that makes you sweat. Dr. Staci T, our Tik Tok Doc, explains washing your vulva in this video.
Avoid scented products: Shaving creams, scented soaps, vaginal hygiene sprays, and scented pads or pantiliners can irritate the vulva. Marketing of products like these that can make teens feel self-conscious about their natural body scents is problematic.
Change underwear daily or soon after any activity that makes you sweat a lot. Wearing underwear made of cotton keeps your vulva dry and helps it breathe. Keeping sweaty underwear, swimsuits, tights, leggings, tight pants or jeans on can be uncomfortable and lead to irritation or infections. At night, consider not wearing underwear and/or wear pajama bottoms that are loose-fitting and allow your vulva to breathe.
Pubes with a purpose As hair begins to grow on the mons pubis and the vulva, some people feel pressure from peers, partners, or the media to shave or wax it. It’s important to remember that hair grows here for a reason – to protect the vulva. Shaving or waxing if off just because someone else thinks that’s a good idea is actually a bad idea. There is nothing wrong with letting your hair grow naturally. If you do want to groom your vulva, trimming the hair is safest. Waxing or shaving can cause small cuts or ingrown hairs that can lead to irritation or minor skin infections. We at Bloom empower you to groom your vulva how you want to – not how your friends, a partner, or media suggest.
Wipe front to back after bowel movements so that feces is moving away from the urethra and vagina. This will prevent any harmful bacteria from entering and causing an infection.
What is menstruation?
Menstruation (pronounced-Men-Stray-Shun) also known as a menstrual period, period, menses, or flow is a release of blood from the uterus, out through the vagina, that happens approximately every 28 days as part of your monthly cycle. Every month your body prepares for a potential pregnancy. If no pregnancy occurs, the uterus lining is not needed and is shed out of your vagina as your period.
Your first period, (menarche), is a sign that you are getting close to the end of puberty. For everyone who has a uterus, periods are a natural, healthy part of growing up. You can expect to get periods from puberty until menopause (when you’re around 45-55 years old). Periods can temporarily stop during pregnancy, breastfeeding, some illnesses, or if you use hormonal medication such as some types of birth control. Your period shouldn’t get in the way of you exercising, having fun, and enjoying life.
Why do periods happen?
A period happens because of hormonal changes in the body. Hormones are chemical messengers that help regulate many bodily processes, including your appetite, sleep, and growth. Your brain releases hormones to tell your ovaries to start working. Your ovaries release the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which cause the lining of the uterus (or womb) to get thicker.
The thickened lining is ready for a fertilized egg to attach to it and start developing. About once a month, an egg is released from one of the ovaries– this is called ovulation. If the egg is not fertilized by sperm, the lining breaks down and passes out through the vagina — this is your period. Then the same process happens all over again.
It usually takes the first half of your cycle for the lining of the uterus to build up due to estrogen, while during the second half of your cycle, this lining is stabilized by progesterone, then broken down and released as your period at the end of your cycle. This is why most people with a uterus get their period about once a month. The whole cycle from one period to the next is called the menstrual cycle.
Ovulation (pronounced: Ov-Yoo-LAY-Shun) is the release of an egg from your ovary, into your fallopian tube. This is the time of your cycle when you are most fertile, meaning the time when you are most likely to get pregnant if having penis-in-vagina sex. Ovulation typically happens about 2 weeks before the start of your period.
Around the time of ovulation, you may experience cramps and tender breasts, and your cervical mucus may become clearer, thinner, and slippery like egg whites. Cervical mucus is a part of the discharge that comes out of your vagina. You might notice it on your underwear when you use the bathroom.
Not everyone gets ovulation cramps, or gets them every cycle. These cramps typically last a minute or two, but some people may have cramps for as long as 1-2 days.
Your first period is a sign that your body is changing, and that it’s now possible for you to get pregnant. For a pregnancy to happen, a sperm cell needs to fertilize an egg in the fallopian tube (for example, during penis-in-vagina sex). If the egg is not fertilized during the ovulation stage, then the uterus lining sheds and flows out of the vagina as a period.
You can only get pregnant if a sperm cell (from a penis) fertilizes the egg. This can happen even if you haven’t had your first period yet, because ovulation and the growth of the uterine lining both happen in the weeks before your first period.
When a person does get pregnant, the fertilized egg implants in the thickened uterine lining, and that lining stays inside. Then, the cycle of ovulation and menstruation is paused. This means that when someone is pregnant, their periods will stop for the duration of the pregnancy.
Just because you are physically able to get pregnant, it doesn’t mean you’re ready to have a baby. If you want to talk about this more, reach out to your parent, caregiver, or another trusted adult.
It’s easy to track your period using the BLOOM Period Tracker, but you can also use a regular calendar. To calculate the average length of your cycle, mark the first day of your period, “Day 1” on your calendar each month. Then count the number of days from Day 1 of one period, to Day 1 of your next period. This number is the length of one menstrual cycle. Do this for a total of 6 menstrual cycles (around 6 months) then add up the number of days in each cycle and divide by 6 to get an average of how long your cycle is. Now you have a better idea of when to expect your period moving forward.
For example: 28 days (Cycle 1) + 29 days (Cycle 2) + 29 days (Cycle 3) + 30 days (Cycle 4) + 29 days (Cycle 5) + 29 days (Cycle 6) = 174 days
174 days/ 6 months = average cycle length of 29 days
Next time you get your period, mark Day 1 on the calendar, and then count forward the number of days of your average menstrual cycle. You can mark that day on the calendar as the expected start of your next period. But don’t worry if your period doesn’t arrive on time, it’s normal for it to take several years for your cycle to settle into a regular rhythm. Still with us? If we lost you there, no worries, it’s super easy to track your cycle on your phone or computer with BLOOM Period Tracker!
3 Reasons to Track your Period!
After a few cycles, you’ll likely see a pattern. Then you can know which symptoms to expect, and be ready for them. PMS coming up? Keep some medicine in your purse or bag. Period due? Stock up on period products so you aren’t caught without one when you need it most!
It is important to keep a journal about your period flow, color, and any symptoms you may be experiencing. If you’ve been having periods for a while, you know what your normal flow is. Keep track of how light or heavy your bleeding is, and any changes in color and texture. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, you have the details on hand to share with your doctor.
When you’re tracking, you can note any unusual vaginal secretions that occur during the month. You may notice a thicker or stickier discharge in the middle of your cycle — this is normal and means you’re ovulating.
How often does a period (menstrual cycle) happen?
Usually, it takes a few years from your first period until your cycle becomes regular. This is because your hormone levels take some time to come into balance. In the first few years, it’s normal for your menstrual cycle (the time from day 1 of one period to day 1 of the next period) to vary from 21-45 days. About three years after your first period, you should have a period every 21-34 days, with the average cycle length being 28 days. For most people, it takes about six years for their menstrual cycle to get into a regular rhythm! So don’t worry if yours is a bit all over the place at the beginning.
How long do periods last?
The length of a period, (duration), can vary from one person to another, and from one menstrual cycle to another, but the typical length is between 3-7 days of bleeding. Your first few periods might be quite short, with only a little bit of bleeding.
What are the signs that I am about to get my period?
There are some signs that you may feel and notice as your period is approaching. Tracking your period may give you the best option to prepare for when you’re about to get your period. Your body may also experience some of the following PMS symptoms:
Still have questions or concerns?
Sometimes you might feel like you have so many questions about your developing body and all the changes it is going through. BLOOM’s mission is to provide you with the information you are seeking, especially the awkward and uncomfortable stuff. Always remember to seek out a trusted adult in your life who can also help you in these uncertain moments. This person could be: a parent, caregiver, older sibling, friend, friend’s parent, teacher, family member, doctor, or anyone you trust, because remember, most likely they’ve been through it too. To answer any additional questions or concerns you may have, visit BLOOM’s Menstruation Page or continue to explore below.
