Feminax
Always read the label
Bayer Healthcare
Ask Natalie
Hi, I'm Natalie. I'm 18 and I've been suffering from period pain since I was 14 so I've become a bit of an expert in the subject.
Here's a few of the questions my younger sister and her friends often ask me about periods, period pain and how to cope with the monthly cramps. I bet you've had some of the same problems and worries yourself.
Does period pain lessen as you get older?
I suffer from very heavy periods that often last for 7 days or more. Is this normal?
What is PMS?
I've just started my periods and they don't happen at the same time every month. Is this normal?
Is there a way of finding out when your next period is due?
I get a sharp pain one or two weeks before my period starts. What causes this?
My Mum gets really bad period pain. Does that mean I will too?
None of my friends seems to suffer from period pain. Why am I affected so badly?
Does period pain lessen as you get older?
Hopefully, yes! Most girls (and I'm one of them) find that their periods become less painful over the years. Also, there are lots of different ways to keep the cramps under control. Check out How to cope with the pain for some suggestions of things you can try.
I suffer from very heavy periods that often last for 7 days or more. Is this normal?
Don't worry, my sister has heavy periods too and I know quite a few other girls in the same boat. If you lose a lot of blood every month, be careful you don't become anaemic - make sure you're getting plenty of iron in your diet or take an iron supplement, just to be on the safe side. If you're really worried about your periods, talk to your GP or ask someone at your local family planning clinic for advice.
What is PMS?
PMS stands for Premenstrual Syndrome and most girls have at least some of the symptoms in the days leading up to the start of their period. These symptoms include bloating, tender breasts, a swollen stomach, back and lower abdominal pain, headaches, lack of concentration, mood swings, clumsiness and tiredness. A lot of girls also crave things like chocolate and crisps at this time of the month.
I've just started my periods and they don't happen at the same time every month. Is this normal?
When you start your periods they can be very unpredictable and it may take a year or two for them to settle down into a regular pattern. Remember also that the length of your menstrual cycle may not be exactly 28 days. For some girls it's as short as 20 days and for others it's as long as 42 days. Over time you should start to see a monthly pattern and then you can use the Period Predictor to work out the likely start date of your next period.
Is there a way of finding out when your next period is due?
If you know the length of your menstrual cycle and how many days your period usually lasts, you can work out the date your next period is likely to start. To save you counting the days on a calendar, use our Period Predictor to do the calculations for you.
I get a sharp pain one or two weeks before my period starts. What causes this?
The pain you feel is probably caused by ovulation - the stage in your menstrual cycle when one of your ovaries releases an egg. However, there's a slim chance it could be a sign of a medical condition so you might want to get your GP to check everything's ok.
My Mum gets really bad period pain. Does that mean I will too?
Not necessarily. You might start your periods at a similar age as your mum but this doesn't mean you'll suffer from period pain in the same way.
None of my friends seems to suffer from period pain. Why am I affected so badly?
No one really knows why some of us suffer from period pain and other girls don't feel a thing. It could be that your friends have found ways to keep the monthly cramps under control - if I were you I'd have a chat with them about it as they might be able to give you some tips. You could also try some of the suggestions featured in How to cope with the pain.
Period Predictor
Use our Period Predictor to find out the likely start dates of your periods for the next 12 months
Did you know?