A125 Helping Your Daughter Through Puberty

## Is it Normal?

During puberty, it can be hard to know what’s “normal” and what’s not. In this article we share some of girls’ most common concerns, with expert advice so you can be sure you’re helping your daughter through puberty in the right way – and seeking support when she needs it.

While many of us experience irritability or moodiness during our periods, helping your daughter through puberty means keeping an eye on the extremity of her mood swings.

If she shows ﬁve or more of the following symptoms to a worrying degree, she may have a syndrome called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD):

- Deep sadness or despair, with possible suicidal thoughts
- Crying
- Fatigue
- Lasting irritability and anger issues
- Disinterest in daily activities and relationships
- Low energy
- Lasting feelings of tension or anxiety
- Trouble thinking or focusing
- Food cravings or binge eating
- Panic attacks
- Feeling out of control or overwhelmed

Thankfully, PMMD can be managed with treatment so, if you think your daughter may be suffering from it, speak to your GP to get a diagnosis.

Extreme mood swings

## 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?


A017 - What Does Your First Period Look Like?

Read the full article below 

1 Heavy, painful periods

My Period category icon

A061 Don’t Be Worried about Your First Gynaecological Examination

Don’t Be Worried about Your First Gynaecological Examination

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.

A017 - T04 - How long will my period last?

As much as she might not want it to happen, a certain amount of weight gain is normal. Part of helping your daughter through puberty involves providing reassurance that this is natural, because adult women have more body fat than young girls.

However, if she’s gaining a lot of weight, you’ll need to support her in adopting a healthier lifestyle. Rather than focusing on the scales, encourage her to eat well and stay active to keep herself physically (and mentally) ﬁt.

Weight gain during puberty

How Often Is a Period

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Stages of Puberty in Girls

PE02 - What Does Your First Period Look Like?

First Period, How it looks

4 Spotting between periods

A017 What Does Your First Period Look Like?

A070 First Period Stories

First Period Stories

Period Hub - PH 01 - Confidence at puberty

Confidence at puberty

Every woman at some point in her life experiences crampy menstrual pains. And how to get reduce period pain and cramps? You can start with warm compresses!

A015 How to get rid of period pain and cramps

How to get reduce period pain and cramps

- Up to Zero Feel Zero Leaks
- Moderate / Heavy Flow
- Recommended for the night

Infinity FlexProtect Night Extra(Size 4)

Always Infinity FlexProtect Night Extra (Size 4) sanitary pads

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How to Dispose a Pad?

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First Period Guide

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How to Start Your Period

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Signs of Puberty

A125 - T05 - Weight gain during puberty

Is it Normal?

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How to use a Pad?

Discovering a little blood on your knickers before your period is due can be confusing. But breathe deep. It’s usually no big deal. Click to learn more!

A012 Why Am I Bleeding Before My Period Is Due?

Why Am I Bleeding Before My Period Is Due?

2 Hair sprouting everywhere!

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When to see your GP

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How Often Is a Period?

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A125 - T02 - Hair sprouting everywhere!

Hair sprouting everywhere!

Always Infinity FlexProtect Long (Size 2) sanitary pads

A101 Should I Be Worried About Brown Discharge?

PE01 - What is a Period?

What is a Period?

Can PMS cause fatigue? If you're feeling tired before your period, click here to learn what you can do about this!

A149 Why Are You Tired Before Your Period? Causes and Remedies | Always

Why Are You Tired Before Your Period? Causes and Remedies | Always

A120 How To Talk To Your Daughter About Sex

Find helpful resources about periods categorised into subtopics. Get informed with expert insights, navigate your period journey with confidence.

First Period & Puberty

Period Hub: Explore Period Articles by Category | Always UK

A042 How to Choose the Right Sanitary Pad Size?

Period Hub - PH01 - First Period & Puberty

A010-T01-Calculate your menstrual cycle

Calculate your menstrual cycle

A010- Related Articles 

Period Hub - PH02 - Menstrual Cycle

Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle | Always UK

In order to calculate your menstrual cycle, you’ll need to learn how to track your [cycle](/en-gb/period-tracker/ "Cycle"). Don’t worry. It’s pretty simple. All you need to do is mark down when your period started on a calendar for a few months in order to figure out how to count your period cycle days and to calculate the average length of your menstrual cycle.


6 Early or Late developer

A077 How to Improve Self-Confidence?

How to Improve Self-Confidence?

How to Calculate Your Menstrual Cycle

PUE A09 - When Does Puberty End for Girls

When Does Puberty End for Girls

A123 6 Tips on How To Raise a Confident Daughter

6 Tips on How To Raise a Confident Daughter

FPG05 - Comfortable Pads for Periods

Comfortable Pads for Periods

Always_EN_UK/Articles/Doctors-images/Nihara_Krause_NEW.png

Dr Nihara Krause

Period Hub - PH01 - ADP - First Period And Puberty - Related Articles 

When you’re pregnant, every little change in your body takes on greater significance, and you can read each of them as a sign of what is happening with your baby. That is great, as long as you don’t over-interpret, or assume everything is an indication that things are going wrong! The same thing applies to your discharge.

A127 - Vaginal discharge during pregnancy: What's normal?

Vaginal discharge during pregnancy: What's normal?

FPGA - Download PDF- Not sure where to start?

Not sure where to start?

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.

A017 - T05 - What to do when I get my first period?

Emotional Changes During Puberty

Period Hub - Back to Period Hub page

A117 How To Explain Periods And Puberty To Your Daughter

A010 How to Calculate Your Menstrual Cycle

A010-T03-Calculating your average menstrual cycle length

Calculating your average menstrual cycle length

There’s no need for your daughter to go to the doctor when she gets her ﬁrst period. However, you should book an appointment if she:

- Has severe [menstrual cramps](/en-gb/period-hub/symptoms-explained/why-are-you-tired-before-period/ "Menstrual cramps") or any other extreme [pelvic pains](/en-gb/period-hub/symptoms-explained/symptoms-before-your-period/ "Pelvic pains")
- Experiences bleeding that is unusually heavy or lasts more than seven days
- Has vaginal itching, redness, sores, swelling, an unusual odour or discharge
- Is thinking of becoming sexually active and needs to discuss contraception and safe sex habits
- Might be pregnant
- Notices a change in the regularity of her periods after more than a year
- Experiences frequent urination or a burning sensation when she urinates
- Has any injury to her pelvic area
- Has had non-consensual sex or may have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease.


 1 Heavy, painful periods

A017 - T02 - How much will I bleed during my first period?

How much will I bleed during my first period?

PH00 - A012 Why Am I Bleeding Before My Period Is Due?

Bleeding between periods

Menstrual Cycle

A010-T02-How to count the days in your menstrual cycle 

How to count the days in your menstrual cycle 

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A073 Emotional Changes During Puberty

A125 - T06 - Early or Late developer

Early or Late developer

PUP04 -  6 Tips on How To Raise a Confident Daughter

Confidence

With Always Infinity FlexProtect Night Extra (Size 4) period pads with wings, you may even forget you are wearing a pad so you can enjoy a good-night sleep.

Always Infinity FlexProtect Night Extra (Size 4) period pads with wings

A017 - T03 - How much blood will I shed?

How much blood will I shed?

Period Tracker

Track your period

A125 - T04 - Spotting between periods

Spotting between periods

Dr Tariq Miskry

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Our most read Articles

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Healthy & unhealthy behaviours in teenage relationships

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.

How to know when your next period is due

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A017 - T01 - What will my first period look like

What will my first period look like

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Would you like to know what exactly a yeast infection is, and how to recognise it by your discharge? We’re here to give you the details.

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Your-Guide-to-Breast-Development 

Parents looking for tips?

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Materials for Teachers

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Helping Your Daughter Through Puberty

Is it Normal?

01 Heavy, painful periods

02 Hair sprouting everywhere!

03 Extreme mood swings

04 Spotting between periods

05 Weight gain during puberty

06 Early or Late developer

07 Problems making friends