Lots of girls expect their blood to be bright red during their periods. But it's completely normal for menstrual blood to be brownish. It's also perfectly normal for some girls to have their first period for just 2 or 3 days.
For some, the first period is light, with a small amount of blood. It may begin gradually, starting with some spotting or brown discharge before becoming red. For others, periods begin suddenly, with bright red blood appearing straight away. In either case, this is normal.
Your first period should last anywhere from 2 to 7 days. It may be very light, with just a few spots of brownish blood. Or it may start and end more brownish, but be brighter red on heavier flow days.
Your first few periods may be very light. You may only see a few spots of reddish brown blood. Anywhere from 2 to 7 days is normal.
Girls and women often have brown discharge just before, during, or right after their period. Brown blood is often a smudge or spotting. If the discharge has a bad odor, you have itching, lasts longer than a day or so, you should make an appointment with your health care provider.
Lots of girls expect their blood to be bright red during their periods. But it's completely normal for menstrual blood to be brownish. It's also perfectly normal for some girls to have their first period for just 2 or 3 days.
Brown discharge is simply old blood. If it is watered down by your normal vaginal discharge or even by semen, it may look light brown.
A girl's first period is usually very light, with sometimes only spotting or very little blood. The typical menstrual cycle is 28 days long, but periods are often irregular during the first few years of menstruation.
The first period often is very heavy and painful. Ovulation, or the process of making an egg, helps make a “normal” period. Unfortunately, many girls do not ovulate in the beginning, resulting in heavy bleeding. Some girls also may have a bleeding problem that shows up when they start having periods.
Your first menstrual period is called menarche. It usually happens around age 12. But it may start earlier or later. Your period is a part of your menstrual cycle. This cycle is a series of changes your body goes through to prepare for a possible pregnancy.
Although men will not bleed, nor will they experience all of the same symptoms as women, these hormonal shifts can have some pretty notable side effects, especially with mood and irritability. Some call it the “man period” others call it Irritable Male Syndrome, either way, it can be quite similar to a woman's PMS.
Brown discharge before a period is usually harmless, and there are many possible reasons for it. Sometimes, it can indicate pregnancy or perimenopause. Less commonly, it could be a sign of an underlying health condition. Brown discharge before a period is typically a vaginal discharge that contains blood.
Leading up to your first period, you may notice these symptoms: Cramping (pain or achiness in your belly, back or legs). Bloating (your belly feels full or swollen). Tender or sore breasts (chest).
Hormone imbalances between estrogen and progesterone can cause heavy menstrual bleeding. The three most common in adolescents are: Dysfunction of the ovaries — when a teen's body doesn't ovulate (release an egg) during the menstrual cycle, this creates a hormone imbalance and can cause heavy menstrual bleeding.
Let people in the family know, and celebrate in small ways that make her happy. You can gift her a period kit, take her on a fun trip to the sanitary pad aisle of a store and familiarise her with the products, watch a movie, throw her a small party or even something as simple as a hug will do.
Pubic hair – Once her pubic hair starts growing, you can expect her period to develop in one to two years. It may begin soft and thin but it will become courser and thicker towards the end of puberty.
If you notice brown period blood at the start or end of your period, it's because the blood is older and took longer to leave your uterus. The uterine lining darkens the longer it takes to leave the body.
This is normal and happens because of hormone changes during puberty.
In most cases, brown blood during your period is normal. The color and consistency of blood can change throughout your menstrual cycle. It may be thin and watery one day, and thick and clumpy the next. It may be bright red or brown, heavy or light.
Light flow that starts a period may turn brown if it is exposed to oxygen during this journey. This can mix with vaginal discharge and appear as light brown discharge for 1-2 days before full period flow begins.
A normal discharge usually begins in girls when they start breast development and puberty. It is due to increased estrogen (hormone) levels. The discharge is clear or whitish, thin and small in amount.
It is important to tell your dad that you started your period because you might need his help in getting you supplies or medical attention. Telling him might feel scary, uncomfortable, or intimidating, but especially if your only available parent is your dad, telling him is necessary.
“Period” is rooted in the Greek words “peri” and “hodos” (periodos) meaning “around” and “way/path.” This eventually turned into the Latin “periodus” meaning “recurring cycle.” Use of the English term “period” to describe menstruation began in the early 1800s (1).