FAQs for Teens: Your First Period

These FAQs answer many questions young teens may have about periods, including “What is puberty?” “How often will I get my period?” “How do I choose a tampon?” and “What if I am having heavy bleeding?” Answers are brief and easy to understand and can reassure teens that what they’re going through is normal.

“When puberty begins, your brain signals your body to produce hormones. Some of these hormones prepare your body each month for a possible pregnancy. This is called the menstrual cycle. Hormones cause the lining of the uterus to become thicker with extra blood and tissue. One of your ovaries then releases an egg. This is called ovulation. The egg moves down one of the two fallopian tubes toward the uterus.”