A061 Don’t Be Worried about Your First Gynaecological Examination

## Don’t Be Worried about Your First Gynaecological Examination

## What does your first period look like?

Getting your first period is full of excitement and anticipation.

But what does your first period look like? It’s a question on a lot of girls’ minds.

Most girls get their period somewhere between the ages of 10 and 13. Don’t worry if you get yours earlier or later than your friends. Everyone is on their own schedule, and there’s no “good” or “bad” age to get your period. But when it does come, it’s pretty exciting!

You go to the loo – and TA-DA!! There it is. Period blood. But it may not be that straightforward.

[Your first period](/en-gb/period-hub/first-period-and-puberty/what-is-a-period/ "Your first period") (and the next few after that) may just look like brown spotting in your knickers. It’s not the red blood you may have been expecting. So what actually DOES your first period look like?


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Read the full article below 

My Period category icon

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Your period will last between 3 to 7 days. Once your menstrual cycle is more predictable, your period will come regularly, about every 28 days. You may want to mark down on a [calendar](/en-gb/period-tracker/ "Calendar") when you get your first period.

This way, you’ll have some idea when your next one will come. Your period will likely be [irregular](/en-gb/period-hub/first-period-and-puberty/home-remedies-for-irregular-periods-in-teenagers/ "Irregular") at first. It’s totally natural. It can take a while for your body to settle into a regular cycle.

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### What Happens During a Pelvic Exam
“I love being able to do a girl’s first pelvic, so I can help her to realise that it’s not a big deal,” says gynaecologist Holmes. “First, I show her the speculum we use on teenagers — it’s about the size of a super tampon.”

When it’s time for your first internal pelvic exam, you’ll lie on your back, your bottom near to the end of the examination table. You might need to put your feet into two metal stirrups so that your legs are bent and spread apart. You might be asked to wear a paper robe and you will have a sheet covering you for privacy. There are two parts of the exam:

### Vagina and cervix exam
The gynaecologist will insert a closed speculum — a metal or plastic gadget that looks kind of like tongs — into your vagina. Then the doctor opens the speculum to hold the vaginal walls apart, in order to get a good look inside to make sure that the walls, discharge and cervix look healthy. 

If you are over 25 you will be invited by letter for cervical screening (a smear test) to check the health of your cervix. During the screening appointment, a small sample of cells will be taken from your cervix which is checked for certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause changes to the cells of your cervix. The smear test will usually be carried out at the GP surgery.

### Bi-manual exam
After removing the speculum, the gynaecologist will slide one or two gloved and lubricated fingers into your vagina. With the other hand, the doctor presses on your abdomen from the outside. In this way, the doctor can check that your fallopian tubes, uterus and ovaries are in the right position, and that there are no swellings or growths. The doctor is also checking for pain. When you book your exam, ask the doctor what you should do if you’re having your period. Some doctors may ask you to reschedule if your period is heavy.

### 3 Ways to Relax During a Gynaecological Exam
A pelvic exam may be uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t be painful. The key is to relax. Dr Holmes offers these tips if you have the jitters during an exam:

- Do deep, slow breathing.
- Let your legs relax and open as far as they will go.
- Don’t squeeze your bottom cheeks together. “If you squeeze your bottom, it squeezes around the speculum,” she says.

### Confidentiality and Talking Honestly
Remember, anything you discuss with your gynaecologist about your body, sex or any other private matter is totally confidential. If your mum comes with you to your visit, the gynaecologist will probably ask her to leave the room while you talk about some of these things. It’s important to be honest because many things can affect your female health — and your health as a whole!

Were you scared about your first gynae [exam](/en-gb/period-hub/symptoms-explained/how-to-check-your-breasts/ "Exam")?

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When you get your first period be sure to [tell your mum](/en-gb/period-hub/first-period-and-puberty/how-to-explain-periods-and-puberty-to-your-daughter/ "Tell your mum") or a trusted adult. (No one will know you have your period unless you tell them!). It can be good to tell them, so they can help support you and provide you with what you need (period products, tips…).
<br/><br/>
Next, you’ll want to put on a [sanitary towel](/en-gb/feminine-products/sanitary-towels/ "Sanitary towel") in order to absorb period blood and protect your knickers and clothing from it.

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Now, figuring out when your next period will come is easy as pie. Starting on the first day of your last period, just count out the average number of days between your periods (aka your average cycle length that you calculated) and that gives you the projected start date of your next period.

Voila! Now you know how to calculate your [cycle](/en-gb/period-tracker/ "Cycle"). Calculating your period isn’t an exact science but knowing how to calculate your menstrual cycle will give you a good approximation of when your period will come. 

Your period may not come regularly. In fact, when you first start menstruating, it’s totally normal for your period to be irregular. It may take up to a year or two for your body to get into a regular pattern so keep on tracking. 

Did all this make you a little cross-eyed? Don’t worry. You can use the [period calendar](/en-gb/period-tracker/) on this website. Knowing how to calculate your menstrual cycle is a big help for being prepared and confident around your period.

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