Period Symptoms Your Daughter Might Experience

36 Comments
By the Dot Girl™ Moms

Although just about every woman experiences menstruation, not every woman has the same experience. Some women are able to breeze through their monthly periods without any discomfort, while other women experience various physical problems that make menstruation uncomfortable.

Even mothers and daughters may not have the same experience, which is why it’s important for mothers to be aware of symptoms that may occur during menstrual periods in case their daughters come to them needing help with discomfort.

The most common symptom experienced during the monthly cycle is Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). PMS is a group of symptoms that may have some impact in the week or so before menstruation begins. Common signs of PMS are:

  • Abdominal bloating
  • Breast tenderness or swelling
  • Stress or anxiety
  • Trouble falling asleep
  • Joint or muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Acne or worsening of existing skin disorders
  • Mood swings

While popular belief is that most women experience some signs of PMS, it really is only a small percentage of women who have actual symptoms.

Cramps are another period symptom. During menstruation the uterus contracts or tightens to slough off the endometrium, the mucous membrane that lines the uterus. For some women this can feel uncomfortable, even painful.

If PMS symptoms or cramps are interfering with your daughter’s daily activities, consult with your family physician for advice on improving the situation.

Your daughter may also experience irregular cycles. Most girls will take two to three years to settle into a ‘regular’ monthly cycle defined as every 28 days, although this can vary anywhere from 21 to 45 days. In the early years, menstruation may only last a few days one month, may be longer the next month, and may vary from light to heavy periods. It is also not uncommon to skip a month or two.

Help your daughter keep track of her periods with a calendar and notes on the type of flow experienced. Talk to your family physician if you have concerns about your daughter’s pattern.

Helping your daughter to understand and alleviate any symptoms she may have with her period will encourage her to take care of her own health and have control over her monthly experience.

About the Dot Girl™ Moms

Two sisters, Terri and Kathy, founded Dot Girl™ First Period Products. Who better than two women who are also daughters and mothers to honestly address an uncomfortable topic?

Their motivation to create The Dot Girl's First Period Kit™ grew from their own awkward teenage experiences. Despite the fact that their mother was a wonderful nurturer to four daughters, she was never comfortable talking to them about their bodies. They found that this is more often the rule than the exception for both moms and dads. And the reality today is that parents often find themselves in the awkward position of having avoided the subject at all costs, to the detriment of their daughters.

Terri and Kathy's goal is to provide parents with the tools they need to explain the basics of menstruation to their daughters. And for the girls, they hope to lessen their anxiety about their first period and instead turn it into a positive experience. For more information, please visit www.dotgirlproducts.com.

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What others are saying.

yvette, 3/19/2009 11:53:29 PM
my daughter feels comfortable talking to me about her periods.
I am thankful.

michelle, 3/20/2009 8:06:08 AM
this is a helpful article. i think most moms assume their daughters will have the same experience as themselves.

maru, 3/20/2009 11:28:51 AM
Does anyone know what to do when your daughter do not want to talk with you about sex and menstruation? My daughter is 14 years old and just got her period a week ago and I've been trying to have a conversation with her since she actually was 11-12 years old about sex and menstruation, but she seems no to pay attention and avoid me when I want to talk to her about it. She says she already knows!

linda, 3/20/2009 2:58:22 PM
At 13 my granddaughter has the worst LEG cramps (thighs) with her period. Any information from anyone on some remedy for this?
Thanks!

Mary, 3/20/2009 11:15:29 PM
My daughter is in 7th grade and just turned 13 a month ago. I believe she has started her period and have tried to talk to her about it. I had the talk with her before and explained everything to her. She seems so shy though and wont tell me if or when she needs things. She has no problems talking to me about it, as long as we are not talking about if she has started. I am at a loss. How can get her to tell me when she runs low or out and needs them?

Tracy, 3/21/2009 9:46:40 AM
My daughter and I have always had great communication when it comes to her body. My thoughts were if we can talk about her elbow, we can talk about all of her body parts. Parts are parts. Now that she is 13, she has been asking questions wehn we are in the van. I think it makes it a little easier when she cant see my face. I figure as long as she is still asking the questions, it doesnt matter how!! She has also IM'd me. It is a great way to communicate. We are in the same house, but different rooms. Communication takes all forms.

Ronda, 3/21/2009 10:09:36 AM
Maru,
Last year I started a new job working with teen parents. I was not comfortable talking about sex until I learned from the teen parents that most of them got their info (misguided) from friends and the media. I learned from the teens to talk openly about sex. I learned from their experiences how critical it is to talk about correct information. We read articles and books about our bodies and learn together. I now do this with my 10 year old. I make it so that we learn together. It has made both of us more comfortable talking about how the female body changes. I share my experiences but I listen to my daughter as well. I hope this helps.

sue, 3/21/2009 10:55:43 AM
I have asked my daughter to mark her cycle on a calendar because I am worried that if she skips one or two that maybe something is physically wrong with her. She's had her period for ouver a year but I don't think it's regular at all. Shouldn't I give her a list of symptoms to look out for that are signs that something is wrong? She certainly doesn't like me asking every month if she's OK. How can I empower her to know what is normal?

KAREN, 3/21/2009 2:03:43 PM
The best relief for cramping of any kind is ibuprofen. It is safe to give to children and teens, You need to dose them according to their weight, not their age. Also helpful can be a heating pad applied to the area. This symptom is not uncommon and some women even experience a lot of leg pain and cramping during labor!

shonda terry, 3/22/2009 8:15:45 AM
i donot get one

Paula, 3/23/2009 8:05:42 PM
RE: LINDA, I too also experienced for many of my younger years with severe thigh cramps mostly on my right leg. Later to find out I had an ovarian cyst and endometriosis. At 20 I had liprosocpic surgery to remove it. Im not saying this is her case. Just a situation I was familiar with. Ask the doc about perscription strength Aleve, Good luck and I hope things are better for her soon.

Carol, 3/25/2009 10:10:34 AM
I'm a grandmother raising a granddaughter so this is like starting all over again & I'm really not any better prepared than I was when her mother started at age 9 1/2. In fact I feel more anxious & worried I'll say the wrong things. The school nurse had a class for her age which has helped but I'm still unsure on which type of pad to get for her to use. We haven't really gone on a regular flow or anything like that. I need help.

Terri, 3/26/2009 1:17:04 PM
Carol, Its great of you to be so concerned about guiding your granddaughter through this experience. Don't worry too much about the right thing to say. Let her take the lead and when she has questions use that as a starting point. Remember, you'll get the info across in many small talks rather than one big one. As for pads, start with something basic and let her try it when she's not on her period. Also, there are a lot of resources on the internet about raising girls. Good Luck!

amanda, 3/27/2009 7:44:26 AM
my daughter just started her period a month ago. she is 10yrs old. i was in shock that she started so young . my daugther and i talk about it .she knew what to do because she in a group at school called "glad to be girls". this group talks about being a girl. which was geart.

Angie, 3/28/2009 7:33:19 PM
My daughter is 11yrs old and we talked openingly about both sex and her period. Although this scares me because shes growing up so fast. But i'm very honest when she has questions. She wants to know how old i was when i started and how did it feel. She is alittle immature for her age but a girl in her 5ht grade class is 11 and very well developed for her age and started her period last year 2008. So of couse she has alot of question. I'm glad we can talk about it all.

tara, 3/31/2009 1:17:18 PM
My oldest daughter lives with her grandmother and she started last month age 12.grandmother wont let me talk direcly to my daughter about this and I feel I need to....she is my daughter after all!does anyone have any suggestions on how to get grandmother to let me be there for my daughter through this?

alyssa, 4/6/2009 9:05:53 PM
I love this article because it shows the girls the symptoms of our periods. And how to talk to your mom about it.The parents should be thankful to have this article.

Kathy, 4/9/2009 6:08:27 PM
Tara, Perhaps you could write a letter to your daughter. It won't take the place of speaking to her directly, but it would be a way of communicating and she will know that you there for her.

Laura, 4/11/2009 3:18:26 AM
My daughter, 11, just got her period a few days ago for the first time and I am having symptoms even though I am not due for another 14 days. This includes swollen, sore breasts and spotting. I have heard about women having their cycles together, but what about symptoms? I am on the pill and my body doesn't know what to do.

marisol, 4/28/2009 8:47:11 PM
My daughter can be really immature when it comes to talking about periods. She has started a year ago or so i think because she did not tell me till like 2 or 3 weeks after. She has been taught about periods frum 4-6th grade and i think she knows more than me! =D

Naomi, 4/30/2009 6:35:11 PM
I can understand why Sue is worried but she might be upsetting her daughter. I think everyone knows that periods can be iregular in the begining but you can also miss one in great while and still be fine. I read about one woman who hade an iregular period at first then completly perfect (she could even set her wach by it.) Then when she was about 30 or so they were iregular again and she was healthy and eveything! A docter i know said if you miss 2 in a row see a docter.

claris , 5/5/2009 2:43:21 AM
my period has not come yet and there is a milkly thing on my underwear for almost one year is there any problem with it ?

Kati, 5/12/2009 9:48:40 PM
claris, i had clear discharge on my underwear for about 1.5 years before i had my first period, so it is completely normal, however if it turns to a dark yellow or greenish color then i would call your family physician

Jo, 6/24/2009 3:23:44 AM
I am 14 yrs old, and rather well devloped for my age (34B, and i got the hips) but i still have no period. at 5'5" i weigh 102 pounds, and i should weigh 130 or so. help!

Bryana, 7/8/2009 6:35:44 PM
RE: Jo,

I'm not expert(just 14 yr. old), but I think that you should either consult a close friend, a close friend's mom, your doctor, or a female family member.

Sorry if this doesn't help, but if I were in your shoes, that's what I'd do.

JoJo, 7/21/2009 9:01:21 AM
i have had brown sticky stains in my underwear.i do not know what it is!HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chatty, 7/30/2009 11:49:13 AM
I read this with my mom yesterday. And I was wondering, is it normal to get really sick right before your period?

jocelyn, 8/4/2009 7:28:43 PM
I just got my period a weeks into the summer.my second one hasn't showed yet.How long does it take for the second one to show?Thanks!

Lexi, 8/20/2009 11:27:34 AM
hey Jocelyn

The days until your period comes may vary but it shouldnt take less than 20 days till your next period but then again.

natalie., 8/29/2009 9:25:58 AM
i started my period in july 14th. and in august i got it on the 19th,,,.. so i know its regular but it only last a day!!! and it is blood and brown stuff.. so i know its my period exactly 36days apart.but my question is, is it normal for my period to only last one day.

Anna, 9/2/2009 11:15:34 PM
My daughter, who is 14 years old, has told me she gets the most awful diarrhea during her period. What should I do? Should I take her to the doctor?

ariel, 9/7/2009 12:10:07 AM
me and my mom don't really communicate i communicate with my friends better than any of my family and this article and this websites has helped me through alot of questions i've had but can never come out and ask anyone like the fact i had my period in june and didn't have it again till september it was weird and different for me and i didn't have anyone to turn to cause i've never been open to my mom just my friends and it was a weird conversation to talk to my friends about so this website has helped me alot i just wish i could be more open to my mom if any one can help please do i need a way to fix mine and my moms relationship

Jalia, 9/8/2009 9:11:44 PM
I font now if I have started myvpetiod but it lasted for only a day and I don't now watcis wrong should I go c a doctor





Please help thanks I really need it

MaryXtc., 9/16/2009 9:09:54 PM
Dood, I don't know when I'll start my period. I'm scared I'll start in gym, Or any other period at school. How do I prepare for the big moment?

Kalyani, 9/26/2009 10:16:45 AM
How early does puberty begin?My daughter who is 10 had a few blood spots on her panty a week ago. She will turn 11 in 2 months. I am worried that she is too young to have periods. She is very petite as well. I always thought that petite girls reach puberty later than others.

Naz, 10/14/2009 2:04:09 PM
Hi all,my daughter is 11yrs old and in grade6.She is so small but got her period for the 1st time today.I bought her this new teen pads and explained how to use it.I also told her to mark the date and watch her flow.I hope did the right thing or is the more...

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