Am I Getting My Period?

I’m 13 and I don't have my period yet...but I have been getting discharges of a mixture of blood and something else. I'm not sure what to do and I'm too embarrassed to tell my mom. What should I do?

This may be a sign that your first period is about to come. As long as you’re pain-free and don’t have any bothersome vaginal symptoms like itching or irritation, there’s no reason to worry. “It’s normal and healthy to have vaginal mucus and the amount that you see can wax and wane with hormonal changes throughout the month,” says nurse practitioner in gynecology, Elizabeth Bobby, who practices at About Women By Women in Wellesley, Mass.

Bobby recommends making a note on your calendar on the days that you have any bleeding. “Some girls do get very light and irregular periods when their periods first begin and this may help you see a pattern,” she explains. Bottom line? Don’t freak out, but do pay attention to what’s going on, and if it continues, you’re gonna need to talk to your mom. She won’t be weirded out though, she’s been through it herself!

POSTED IN period 101, puberty, discharge