A girl knows she's on her period when she experiences vaginal bleeding. This bleeding is part of the menstrual cycle, a natural process in which the body prepares for a potential pregnancy. If pregnancy doesn't occur, the uterine lining sheds, resulting in menstrual flow.
Recognizing Period Symptoms
While vaginal bleeding is the primary indicator, several other signs can signal an approaching or ongoing period. These can vary from person to person, but common indicators include:
- Vaginal Bleeding: The most obvious sign is the flow of blood from the vagina. The amount and duration can vary between individuals and cycles.
- Premenstrual Symptoms (PMS): Many girls experience PMS, a collection of physical and emotional changes in the days leading up to their period. Common PMS symptoms, as noted by Natural Cycles https://www.naturalcycles.com/cyclematters/signs-your-period-is-coming, include:
- Tender Breasts: Breast tenderness or swelling.
- Mood Swings: Irritability, sadness, or anxiety.
- Fatigue: Feeling unusually tired or sluggish.
- Cramps: Painful menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) in the lower abdomen. WikiHow notes that observing a girl clutching her stomach or using a heating pad may indicate cramps https://www.wikihow.com/Tell-when-Your-Girlfriend-Is-on-Her-Period.
It's important to remember that not all girls experience all of these symptoms, and the intensity of symptoms can vary widely. Some women have irregular periods, making it harder to predict https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMen/comments/ptnupg/if_youre_in_a_relationship_how_can_you_tell_if_you/. The age at which a girl's mother started her period may also provide some indication of when she might begin https://www.womenshealth.gov/menstrual-cycle/your-menstrual-cycle.
When to Seek Medical Advice
If a girl has concerns about her menstrual cycle, such as unusually heavy bleeding, severe pain, or irregular cycles, she should consult a doctor https://www.womenshealth.gov/menstrual-cycle/your-menstrual-cycle.
