“I don’t get my periods often. I get them once in 4 months or 5 months. Will this be a problem later? Do I suffer from anything?”
Unfortunately, that is something that cannot be answered here. You need to see a health care provider to see if this is normal for you. We sometimes see irregular menstrual cycles in young women who are just beginning to have their periods but there may be other conditions that are causing your periods to be irregular.
“I just started my period about 3 – 4 months ago, I had the second one 37 days later but haven’t had one since. Is that normal?”
Yes, it is normal for a woman’s menstrual cycles to be irregular when she first starts having her period. Once her periods are established, a woman’s menstrual cycle will typically be 28 – 29 days. The way to figure out the length of your cycle is to count from the first day of one period to the first day of the next period. The time that women bleed (length of menses) is usually 4 – 8 days. The amount of flow can vary also, but is usually heavier in the early days of menses and lighter toward the end of menses.
“I’m 13 and have not ever been sexually active. I’ve missed two periods in a row and I have some white vaginal discharge. What does this mean? Please help!”
For most young girls, the menstrual cycle starts at puberty, which is usually between ages 12 and 13, it may happen at a younger or older age. The first menstrual period is called “menarche.”
The menstrual cycle is about four weeks long, however, it can be very irregular when
a girl first starts her period. It may skip months or come several times per month in the beginning. Over time, most girl’s menstrual periods will become regular and you can keep a calendar so that you will be prepared for the start of your period.
It is normal for girls to have a discharge from the vagina that is clear or a white color. As long as the discharge does not cause itching, irritation or have a bad odor, then it is normal. Never douche to try to “clean” the vagina since this can wash away the good bacteria that your body needs to keep you from getting a yeast infection or a bacterial infection. Taking a bath or shower, using soap and water, is all you need to keep yourself clean and stop any odors.
