Why am I bleeding?

Getting your period, also known as menstruation, is natural. It happens approximately every month for 1.8 billion girls and women around the world. Most girls get their period for the first time between the ages of 10 and 15.

During your period, a small amount of blood comes out of the vagina for around three to seven days. The blood is coming from your womb (uterus). When you have your first period, it means your reproductive organ is now active and that you can become a pregnant (when you have sex). It is always better for the health of mothers and babies to wait until a mother is an adult before having children.

A simplified explanation of the monthly cycle and menses:

The monthly cycle is the number of days from day 1 of menstruation to day 1 of the next menses. It is usually 28 days long.

The egg cell is ejected from the ovary to the Fallopian tube, usually on day 14 of the monthly cycle, that is, about half way through it, and then reaches the uterus. The egg cell waits several days to unite with the sperm cell and pregnancy take place. If they do not meet, it is discharged with the blood that was to feed the embryo, through the vaginal entrance.

The discharge of the egg cell, blood and fluids to outside the body occurs once each month and is called menstruation or the monthly period; it usually continues for about 3-7 days.

Though it can be scary at first and something you will have to manage monthly, it is important to remember that getting your period is a sign that you are healthy and that your body is growing properly.