Periods are when blood and the tissue lining the uterus leave the body through the vagina. They are different for everyone. Periods are coordinated by hormones produced by the ovaries and chemicals produced by the uterus.

Many things can affect a period or menstrual cycle, including:

• Time since periods first began
• Activity
• Stress
• Diet.

Periods can start when a child or young person is eight or nine years old but usually begin around 12 years old. If your young person hasn’t had a period by the time they’re 15 years old, it might be time to talk to their doctor.

Read more about periods

Period pain (dysmenorrhea)

• Pain is common leading up to a period and for the first few days after it starts.
• The medical term for period pain is ‘dysmenorrhoea.’
• Periods cause pain for a few reasons. Cramps are usually due to the uterus muscles tightening to help it shed its lining.
• It is important to support your young person if they have painful periods.
• If period pain is stopping your young person from doing everyday activities, such as playing sport or going to school, they should speak to their doctor.

Read more about period pain

Heavy periods

• A period may be ‘heavy’ if it causes a person to lose so much blood that it impacts their daily life – for example, they cancel plans during their period.
• Losing large amounts of blood during a period can cause iron levels to drop.
• Different types of medicine can make periods lighter, including non-hormonal medicines (such as anti-inflammatories and tranexamic acid – a medicine that reduces bleeding) and hormonal medicines (such as the oral contraceptive pill).
• If your young person has heavy periods, they should speak to their doctor about treatments.
• Sometimes, parents have also experienced heavy periods, but they were accepted as ‘normal.’
• Heavy periods can run in families.
• Just because you were not able or were not offered any help for your heavy periods, does not mean your young person has to put up with their heavy periods.
• Some of the problems you may have experienced can be avoided these days.

Read more about heavy periods

Skipping periods and the pill

• The oral contraceptive pill (the pill) is a daily tablet that contains hormones similar to what the body makes.
• There are two main types of contraceptive pills: the combined pill and the progestogen-only pill.
• Young people take the pill for many reasons, such as preventing pregnancy, making their periods lighter and reducing period pain.
• The pill is safe for young people. It will not affect their future fertility.
• People can use the pill to skip (purposely miss) their period.
• Remember that pregnant women don’t bleed for nine months and breastfeeding women can have no period for two to three years.

Read more about skipping periods

Disclaimer

This information is intended to support, not replace, advice from your doctor or healthcare professionals. It is general information only and may not apply to your individual circumstances. You should always check with your healthcare provider before making decisions about your care or starting, stopping or changing any treatment.

The authors of this consumer health information have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up-to-date and easy to understand. The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts. Medical knowledge can change over time and the information contained in the handouts is updated regularly. Therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout. The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout.

Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne Kids and Teens Pelvic Pain Clinical Network multidisciplinary team, supported by RCH services.

The Kids and Teens Pelvic Pain Clinical Network is supported by the Victorian Government.