Periods

How can SASH support you?

SASH can provide you with information and advice on periods and related reproductive health conditions so you are fully informed on your sexual health. We can also provide our chaperone service to reproductive health related appointments.

What is a period?

A period is when a woman or person with a uterus bleeds from their vagina for a few days, and is part of the menstrual cycle.

• When does someone get their period?
• When do they occur?
• How long does a period last?
• Is there a lot of blood?
• How is the bleeding managed?
• What is PMS?
• What are period cramps?
• When do periods stop?

When does someone get their period?

Periods start at a similar time to puberty, from the ages of 10 to 12, however can be earlier or later and is different for each person. Once someone has had their first period, they'll continue to get them until they reach menopause or another factor (such as taking testosterone or another medication) pauses or stops them from having them.

When do they occur?

Periods usually occur every 4 weeks (28 days) however is different for each person.
For some, their periods can be irregular, ranging from every 23 days to 35 days, and even skipping a cycle if impacted by other factors such as hormones and stress levels.

How long does a period last?

Your period will usually last between 2 to 7 days, and is the heaviest in the first few days, where the blood will be red, compared to brown or pink in the last few days.

Is there a lot of blood?

During a period, a person will lose about 20 to 90ml of blood, which is about 1 to 5 tablespoons of blood, however some people may bleed more than this.

How is the bleeding managed?

There are period products available for when someone is on their period. We recommend testing different ones out to find the one that suits you the best and makes you the most comfortable.
Common disposable products that can be bought in most supermarkets and pharmacies include:

• Period pads: a thick lining with a sticky strip that attaches to the inside of your underwear to soak up period blood, which has to be changed every few hours.
• Tampons: a small tube of cotton that is inserted into the vagina and soaks up period blood, which must be changed every few hours.

There are also other period products that have become more popular in recent years, due to their reusability, making them less wasteful, cost effective, and environmentally friendly:

• Period underwear: where you can bleed into the underwear without leaking due to its absorbent fabric, then wash as you would other underwear to be used again.
• Mensural cups: a silicone cup designed to sit inside the vagina that collects the blood, which is then removed, the blood poured into a sink or toilet, and then washed thoroughly before being used again.

What is PMS?

Usually a few days to a week or so before your period, your body's hormone levels change. This can cause the person to experience emotional, mental and physical changes, which is known as PMS (premenstrual syndrome) or PMT (premenstrual tension). Not all people who have periods get PMS or PMT, and for those who do, the changes tend to disappear during the first few days of the period starting.
Those changes can vary for each person, but typically include common changes such as:

• Increase or decrease in appetite
• Feeling irritable or low
• Feeling bloated
• Breast tenderness
• Mood swings
• Spotty skin
• Low sex drive (loss of libido)

What are period cramps?

A common side effect of having your period includes experiencing sudden, short bursts of pain in your lower abdomen, usually referred to as 'period cramps'. This pain is uncomfortable and can typically be managed by:

• Hugging a hot water bottle near the affected area
• Having a shower or bath to relax the body
• Taking the recommended dose of paracetamol or Ibuprofen

However if this pain is hard to manage and starts to affect you in your day to day life, such as at school or at work, it could be indications of a different reproductive health condition, such as endometriosis or adenomyosis.

When do periods stop?

A person's period can stop or pause for a number of reasons:

• Hormone changes
• Stress level changes
• Birth control contraception such as the Implant or the Coil
• Becoming pregnant
• Miscarriage of an early pregnancy
• Menopause

For more information, advice, guidance, and also access to our chaperone service to contraception related healthcare appointments, refer yourself for support from SASH.