Your child will go through many changes in puberty. One of the most significant milestones is your child's first period. Periods are part of the menstrual cycle. They happen because of changing hormone levels in the ovaries , which affect the uterus. Most of the blood and tissue comes out in the first couple of days, but some people have bleeding for up to seven days. The amount of bleeding varies.

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Get the facts on what happens during the menstrual cycle
Breast development is usually the first sign of puberty, but sometimes pubic hair comes first. Girls usually get their first periods between the ages of 8 and However, some girls start puberty a little earlier or later than others. A clue you can use to figure out when you might get your period is to check your underwear for vaginal discharge. This clear or whitish, mucus-like discharge usually appears about 6 months to a year before the first period does.
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Imagine being forbidden from eating with family members, sleeping at home, looking in the mirror or at the sun, and even touching fruit, flowers or male relatives just because you are considered "contaminated" while menstruating. In many parts of the world, gender inequality is so severe that young women and girls are excluded from their communities because simply because they menstruate. These photos, taken by seven teenage girls in a small rural village in Sindhuli, Nepal, document the restrictions forced onto them when they are on their period. The project is part of a campaign by the international nonprofit, WaterAid , to challenge menstrual taboos and call for improved sanitation for women everywhere. A lack of period products like pads and tampons is further compounded by limited access to water, acceptable sanitation, and hygiene.
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