hello

[foilacious.livejournal.com]

Hi, I'm 14, 15 in a couple months and I just got my period about 4 days ago.

My question is:

How can I be almost sure that I will not bleed through or have some blood in my panties next time I get it? I ask because I know it takes a while for your body to get adjusted to the new system, and I'm not sure how long/ if it does skip months or whatever, does it still come around the same day you got it the first time or does it just jump around the days?

bonus question: did anyone start out with tampons?

I wasn't really sure who to ask, Thanks for reading/commenting.

It's much appreciated.

-Sarah

Comments

[ourika.livejournal.com]

Many women's periods are erratic at first (mine were erratic for ten years, actually). If you had any feelings before you started bleeding this time, you may experience the same ones next time (some women break-out right before their period, some get "hormonal itchies," some get cramps, etc.). It can be a good idea to have a pad or two (or tampons if you choose) in your bag for any "just in case" instances that show-up. Plus, they can come in handy if a friend needs something!

I didn't start using tampons until almost a year after I started bleeding, but if you should choose to use tampons, you can use them now. If you're not used to inserting something into the vaginal canal, you may want to start with the "slim fit" or teen-style tampons that some brands sell because they are smaller. Try them when you're having a heavier bleeding day - if there's not as much moisture, it can be uncomfortable or even painful because of friction. Also, after a few periods, you'll be more accustomed to the amount that you tend to bleed, and you'll be better able to decide what s ize tampons you need. You should never wear a higher absorbancy t han you need - it increases the risk of TSS and it is painful to remove a dry tampon!

If you're interested, there's also the menstrual sea sponge. I find it to be the easiest menstrual product to insert, but you do need to remove it and rinse it under moving water every three hours. One site you can buy them from is here:
http://www.pandorapads.com/sponge.htm

My favorite item is the DivaCup because it can be left in for up to twelve hours (or until it's full and starts to leak!). However, it can be a little more confusing to use at the begining . If you 're intersted, it's at http://www.divacup.com - I love it because I find that I am more aware of how mu ch I bleed (and don't bleed) and because I get cramps wh en I'm using tampons but not with the DivaCup.

Good luck with whatever you choose to use!

Indications

[co-techie.livejournal.com]

Other than the usual pre-period backache I get, one of the ways I know the exact moment my period begins, is that I suddenly feel like I'm going to drip a drop of something from the vaginal area. In fact, the first time I had my period, I was in class and didn't know what the feeling was - I just assumed I had to pee real bad and kept holding on to it until class was over. Once I got up to go to the bathroom, my friend told me I had a little "mishap" at the back of my skirt. Nice way to find out, eh? :)

I've never really been "regular" with the timing so I got on the pill to regulate it. I've been on the pill for the last 4 years now .. and it works like magic every 28 days! :)

Anyhoo, I've been able to rely on that first drip-drop feeling and it isn't ever enough to stain through the panty (if it is just one drop, it usually comes off real easy in the wash). I always keep a pad in my bag/purse .. just in case. I've never used a tampon in my life (and I'm 25 - eeps!) so I can't help you on that one :)

Re: Indications

[eras3r.livejournal.com]

The same thing happens to me. Only it's not really blood quite yet, but I do feel like I have to constantly pee. Fortunately, I haven't had the "is there anything on my butt" thing happening since jr. high when I started.

I'm on birth control as well. Mine comes the same WEEK every month, but sometimes the days are off by a day or two.

In regards to the tampon thing, since I'm already replying. I started out on tampons since I was a swimmer when I started my first period. I did switch a lot between pads and tampons, and I found tampons to be easier just because I feel like a duck waddling with a pad between my legs. Fortunately, since time has advanced, so has the miracle of pad development, so I'm more inclined to use a pad these days if need be.

[silvertipwings.livejournal.com]

i started out with tampons, because right from the start i couldn't *stand* the way pads felt. i switched to insteads later, though.

[crassy.livejournal.com]

It will take you a while to figure out your cycle and the signs that your period is coming. For me, I get really depressed about four or five days before. Like the above poster said, just be prepared. Make it a habit of carrying supplies with you at all times. When I was younger, before my period became regular, I would start wearing panty liners on the 25th of 26th day of my cycle. It took a few years for everything to calm down. I was really young when I got my first period (grade 6), so going on the pill was not an option for me. When I reached the age of 15, I went on the pill. My period were very erratic, and with the pill, I could tell exactly when it would come. This may be an option for you in the next year or so. For now, get a calendar and keep track of your cycle. Go back to your first period (if you remember the day), and mark it. Do this for every month after and you should start to notice a pattern. A normal cycle is 25-32 days (or thereabout), the first day of your cycle being the first day you see blood.

Btw, it is awesome to see a young girl so aware of her body and confident enough to ask a bunch of strangers these questions. I applaud you, and hope that your attitude will carry over to the rest of your generation, and those generations after you.

[rosecolouredhue.livejournal.com]

I'm the same age as you but I've had my period for about a year, but mine is SOOO regular. I am on a 30 day cycle. The best way is to track it using a calendar for me, and I also get back pains and a little bit of a break out. I started with pads but now use tampons and pads, and my DivaCup is on the way. The first time I used a tampon I left the top half of the applicator (the one with the tip) in my cunt and didn't know that it was wrong. I walked around like that for half a day and then took it out and swore off tampons for a month or two. Now I'm back on but I'm waiting for my divacup. Good luck, periods are the devil.

[sulingsi.livejournal.com]

i think a good system is to wear a tampon and then also a pantiliner that has wings in order to save your underwear. i like my underwear and i'm always ruining it which pisses me off. it is actually kinda hard to bleed through the underwear though unless you are oblivious or bleeding really heavily and not wearing anything. i actually try to wear a pantiliner every day because you never know when random bleeding is going to happen (at least for me) and i hate ruining underwear so much. it's hard to cover the whole area, even though i am always wearing a pantiliner i often get blood just above it or below it (when i place it high the blood seems to know and go the other way!) and you have to be ready to whip them off right away while the blood is still wet and put them in warm water and scrub them with soap. this has worked well for me to save a lot of underwear, but if you haven't noticed for a while and the blood is dry it is almost impossible to clean off no matter what you do.

also i will put in another plug for the menstrual cup, i mean if you've just gotten your period the menstrual cup thing may be kind of overwhelming but then again so is everything. i have The Keeper (see memories for a link) and i am using it right this minute - i really like it, it holds a lot more blood than a tampon anyway and i'm not creating a lot of garbage or spending lots of cash on disposable stuff. anyway good luck! hope this is a bit helpful.

[sylviamaris.livejournal.com]

I'm not a scientist, so I can't speak with absolute certainty, but I've been told reliably that warm water sets blood into fabric and you should always rinse blood out in cold water. It works for me, anyway.

[bikinikiller.livejournal.com]

i'm seconding that, warm water will only set the stain.

[sulingsi.livejournal.com]

that's what everyone always says but i've had a lot of luck with warm water. maybe i should try cold next time and see if it works even better.

[pyro-girl.livejournal.com]

I wasn't erratic until my 3rd year of having periods.

It usually just depends on your body, s'pose. :)

I haven't used tampons yet, still sticking to the pads. Tampons can cause health risks, though, so if you don't wanan do pads I suggest cups.

[overdrive-xx.livejournal.com]

I'm the same age as you but I started about 2 1/2 years ago... I didn't use tampons until a year 1 1/2 into my period but I still don't religiously. My period is a pain in the ass and it's still not regular. It completely skipped July this year and the flow even changed...
You can use tampons as soon as you want...

[overdrive-xx.livejournal.com]

And if you're really scared about making a mess when it first starts, you can wear pantiliners everyday.
Good luck, I wish I would have known about this community when I would have first started.

[pyro-girl.livejournal.com]

Ditto, the first time I started I really thought I had just had a bowel movement in my panties because there was no blood, only brown dead skin, and I had NOOO idea what was going on.

[myemptythoughts.livejournal.com]

amazing icon.