Sometime after your breasts grow and pubic hair develops, your first period may be on its way. Even before your period ever begins, you may notice a whitish or yellowish discharge from your vagina. That's a totally normal process of cleansing out cells your body doesn't need.

Right before your first period, you may feel achy, bloated, or grumpy. Or you may not feel anything at all. Your first period might be very light, and it may not show up the next month. It takes time for your body to get used to its new cycle.

When you've got your period, it's a sure sign that your body is maturing. You're growing up. It is confusing at times. In many ways, you still feel like a kid, with years to go before you have to be a grown-up. You're on your way! Enjoy this time!

When you have your period, you might feel a gush or a trickle of fluid. Most of the time, you probably won't notice it too much. Cramps in the abdominal area or lower back can start a few days before your period and then stop after the first few days of your period. Lots of girls don't even get cramps. Joy! There's no need to change your routine when you've got your period. It's hard to believe that women used to have to stop everything and stay home during their periods.

First Period Stories

• "I got my first period at a pool party. I was wearing a bathing suit and skimpy white shorts! Luckily, my first period was really light, so no one noticed."
• "I had just gotten off the school bus and was walking across my front lawn, and suddenly, I just knew I had gotten my period. I don't know how or why I knew, but I did. And there it was."
• "When I got my first period, I didn't know what was happening to me. I thought I was sick. Luckily, my mom explained everything after that. I was only 10, and she wasn't expecting me to get it so soon."
• "The light in my bathroom at home had been burned out and I was too lazy to change it. So for a few days, I was changing in the dark and just throwing my clothes in the hamper. One morning, my mom came to collect the laundry, saw my underwear, and asked me why I hadn't told her I had gotten my first period. Since I'd changed in the dark, I had no idea! So my mom knew I had it before I did!"
• "My mom and I both got our first periods two days after our 13th birthdays! Before I got it, I had a nasty case of PMS. I was so moody! When I finally did get my period, I was fine. My family was really relieved."

PMS

PMS stands for premenstrual syndrome. No one really understands why, but some women experience a variety of symptoms several days before their periods begin. Mood swings, headaches, back pain, tenderness in the breasts, fatigue, bloating, body aches, increased (or decreased) appetite, food cravings, slight weight gain, constipation, and swollen hands or feet. Chalk it up to PMS.

Don't let PMS rock your world. Give these tips a try:

• Cut out salty and sugary foods from your diet before and during your period.
• Exercise. There is no truth to the notion that it is best to rest and avoid exercise during your period. Actually, exercise helps some PMS symptoms and can certainly relieve or reduce cramps.
• Eat well. A poor or skimpy diet can worsen the fatigue and headaches of PMS.

Cramps

Some girls and women get cramps before or during their periods. Here's why. To help the uterus shed its excess lining, the muscles in the uterine wall contract. Like any muscle contractions, those uterine contractions can hurt a little or a lot. Regular exercise can help alleviate cramps, but if you do get cramps with your period, here's how to deal:

• Exercise. You can take it easy, but some exercise may help.
• Soaking in a warm bath can help relax the muscles.
• Decaffeinated hot tea can be very soothing.
• Lie down with a heating pad on your stomach.
• Some over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen, when taken as directed, can help cramps…but always ask your parents or your doctor first.

If you can't relieve your cramps, or if they are so bad that you can't go to school, you should talk to your doctor.

PMS Stories

• "When I first started getting my period, I was totally irregular. I mean, I never knew when it was coming, and then -POW - I'd wake up with the worst cramps. Anyway, I finally started to get on a schedule after a few months. I still get cramps the first day, but now I know not to plan any big activities that day. Planning ahead saves me a lot of hassle!"
• "I found a trick to help with the bloating - avoid salt! You can't totally avoid salt because it's in like every food, but if you stay away from super-salty foods before and during your period, you'll see that you won't have much bloating. Try it!"
• "When I feel yucky because of PMS, I like to just veg out with a cup of tea, a good magazine, and my pillow. We all have special things that make us feel better. Do them!"
• "I found that the only thing that helps my cramps is just to go to bed and sleep it off. So that's what I do. When I wake up, the pain is usually gone."