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Teen Menstrual Cycle
What exactly is a normal cycle?
Vaginal bleeding occurs in all young women as a result of hormonal changes that occur in the body. Typically your period will begin at or around the age of 12 years. Some women however will experience their first period as early as 9 years of age, whereas others may not have their first menstrual cycle until they are 16 years old. Both are normal.
Most women will have regular menstrual cycles that occur on a 28 day cycle. However just as the age of onset varies, so too does the length. Some women's cycles will be as short as 22 days, whereas others will last 36 days. During that time you may bleed from four to seven days. During adolescence, menstrual cycles are often irregular.
You haven't developed your first period by the age of 16.
Your periods are more often than every 21 days or occur more than 45 days apart.
You bleed in between cycles.
You experience severe pain during your period that is not relieved with over the counter medications.
Your periods are unusually heavy, requiring that you change your pad or tampon up to once an hour for three or four hours straight.