When should my periods start?
The first period for many girls happens between the ages of 12 to 14 years, but it can be earlier (from as early as 8 years old) or later (up to 16 years).  So there is no "normal" age and it just depends on the individual.

My periods are irregular - is that normal?
During the teenage years girls can experience irregular periods.  Most women settle into a regular monthly cycle but a few experience irregular periods for a long while and even throughout their lives.

If you have irregular periods you should talk to your doctor about it and get a proper diagnosis about why they are irregular.

I haven't had sex so why is my period late?
Most women experience late or even missed periods at some time or another.  When this happens people often jump to the conclusion that they are pregnant but there can be several reasons for late or missed periods.  One of the most common causes for this can be stress ....... exam stress, stress about parents breaking up, worrying about an illness or even worrying about being pregnant can all cause an upset to the monthly cycle.

Change can also affect periods .... for example: A change in diet,  sudden weight loss or gain, increased exercise, sudden changes in the weather.

Having a couple of late periods is not really cause for concern (unless there is a chance of pregnancy) and even missing the odd one altogether isn't necessarily a problem.

However any change in your body should be monitored and if you miss more than a couple of periods you should see your Doctor about it.

It is important to know when your period is due so that any problems can be spotted and for this reason it is helpful to keep a "period diary" showing when it starts, the type of bleeding and when it ends.

Will taking the contraceptive pill make my periods lighter?
Some women experience very heavy periods with lots of bleeding which can be quite disruptive to daily routine.  In this case a Doctor may prescribe the contraceptive pill to make periods lighter.

How will the contraceptive pill effect my periods?
As we have said in the above question one of the effects of the contraceptive pill is to make periods lighter. The pill can also control when periods start and stop it tends to result in more regular periods.  Some of the physical effects of periods like stomach cramps may also be reduced by taking the pill.

Can you still have sex during a period?
Whether you continue to have sex during a period is a matter of personal preference.  Some people are not comfortable with having sex during a period but for others it is not a problem.  It is perfectly safe to continue having sex during your period and it does not pose any health problems - just remember to use contraception properly because it is possible to fall pregnant if you have unprotected sex during your period.

Is it true that you can't fall pregnant during your period?
Many people think that you can't fall pregnant if you have sex during your period.  This is in fact false and it is possible to fall pregnant during your period.

Can you still have periods but be pregnant?
If you are continuing to have your normal periods you can't be pregnant.  However some women experience bleeding during pregnancy and this is mistakenly thought to be a period.  This type of bleeding is not usually like a normal period.

Is it normal to have a 30 day menstrual cycle?
Whilst the average length of a menstrual cycle is 28 days it is possible for a woman to have a cycle of anything from 21 to 35 days.