Signs and Symptoms That Your First Period Is Coming Soon

Co-authored by Laura Marusinec, MD and Jennifer Mueller, JD

Last Updated: February 7, 2023 References Approved

Wondering when you can expect your first period? It's normal to be nervous about it, but don't worry—you've got this! Most people get their first period sometime between the ages of 12 and 14.^{[1]
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Research source} We're here to help you learn the signs you can look out for that will tell you that your first period is just around the corner.

Things You Should Know

Look for your first period to come about 2-3 years after you start puberty.
Talk to the parent who gave birth to you about when they started their period. It's more likely you'll start yours around the same time.
Expect your period in 2-3 weeks if you have vaginal discharge that looks and feels like egg whites.
If you feel emotional and irritable or like you're starting to get sick, it's possible that your first period is just a few days away.

1

You started puberty about 2-3 years ago.

Typically, breasts develop first and menstruation starts 2-3 years later. This doesn't necessarily mean when you first started wearing a bra—you might still not be wearing a bra. The initial stage of breast development, "budding," usually happens when you're between 8 and 10 years old. So if you started developing breasts when you were 9, you can figure you'll probably start your period when you're 11 or 12.^{[2]
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- Usually, breast budding signals the onset of puberty, but this isn't true for some people. It's perfectly normal to notice other signs of puberty, such as pubic hair, before breasts.
- Don't worry if that means you're probably going to start your period later than your friends. Everybody's body is different!^{[3]
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  Research source} Starting your period later doesn't mean that you're less mature or grown-up than your friends.

2

You've recently had a big growth spurt.

Your first period usually comes about 6 months after a big growth spurt. If you're keeping track of your height on a growth chart, you'll notice that changes come really rapidly and then start to slow down. At the point when you start growing more slowly, you can figure you're about 6 months away from having your first period.^{[4]
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- Even if you don't have a growth chart, you can still keep track of your growth by looking at how your clothes fit. For example, you might try on a pair of pants that fit well 4-6 months ago and see how they fit now. Then, try something from last year—you'll probably notice a big difference.
- Speaking of pants, around the same time, you might also notice that your hips are getting wider—that's a part of puberty too, and can also cause your pants to fit a little weird.

3

Your vaginal discharge gets thicker.

Thicker discharge means your period is likely 2-3 weeks away. About a year before your first period, you'll start noticing discharge in the crotch of your underwear.^{[5]
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Trustworthy Source
National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
Go to source} This is totally normal and doesn't mean you're unclean or have any health problems. At first, the discharge is probably thin and whitish or clear. When it starts looking kind of like egg whites, that's a sign you can probably expect your period in a couple of weeks.^{[6]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Many people notice that they don't have any discharge in the week before their period, but this isn't the same for everybody.
- If discharge makes you uncomfortable or embarrassed, talk to a parent about getting panty liners to absorb it.
- At this point, it's a good time to put together a period kit if you haven't already. Get a small bag and include a couple of pads or tampons with a change of underwear.

4

You start to grow more pubic hair.

New pubic hair is a sign your period is coming in about 2 weeks. The pubic hair between your legs starts growing in a wider patch. In the places where you already had it, you might notice that it's thicker or denser than it was before. You'll probably start growing hair under your arms as well, although for some people this doesn't start until after their first period.^{[7]
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- Pubic hair is natural and normal, but some people prefer to shave it. If that's something you want to do, talk to a parent about it. They'll help make sure you know how to do it correctly so you don't hurt yourself.

5

You're bloated or have other digestive issues.

If you have a puffy belly, your period might be on its way. If you notice anything like this or feel a little sick to your stomach, think back to what you've eaten recently. If you haven't eaten anything that might cause you to feel sick, you might be getting your period in a week or two.^{[8]
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- Diarrhea or constipation, nausea, and other digestive issues are also pretty common just before you get your period.^{[9]
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- If these symptoms are bothering you too much, ask your parents if you can take some over-the-counter medicine to help you feel better.

6

Your face is breaking out more than usual.

Changes in hormones can cause pimples to appear. Although acne is pretty common for everybody during puberty, it can get out of control about a week or two before your period. And this is a bummer, but period-related acne can even show up if you're already using anti-acne face wash or other treatments to control breakouts.^{[10]
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- On the other hand, if you've never had any acne before and you wake up one morning with a zit, it could mean your period is coming—but it could also just be a normal part of puberty. Unfortunately, it's hard to know with your first period! After having several periods, you'll probably start to notice a pattern.

7

Your breasts feel sore or heavy.

Breast tenderness is a common sign that your period is coming soon. Your breasts might feel so sensitive that even the slightest touch or pressure hurts. This happens because of the changing hormones in your body around the time of your period and usually means your period is less than 2 weeks away.^{[11]
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- Wearing a sports bra can help with this because your breasts won't move around as much. If you keep them stable you won't notice the soreness as much.

8

You have a hard time falling asleep.

Even though you're tired, you can't slow down your brain. This can be a frustrating part of the hormonal changes that occur in the weeks before you get your period. When you go to bed, you toss and turn as your mind goes in a million different directions. Even if you've had a long day and feel tired, you just can't calm down enough to go to sleep.^{[12]
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- If you're able to do so, getting up and walking around for a bit—even if it's just walking in circles in your room—can sometimes help.
- Work with your parents to set up a good sleep routine. It'll help your body know when it's time to drift off, even when your hormones are out of whack.

9

You're moody, anxious, or emotional.

You feel happy one minute and sad the next, seemingly for no reason. You might find that you get frustrated easily or that things that never bothered you before suddenly bother you a lot. You might even find yourself getting choked up by something as simple as a sappy commercial. This kind of moodiness is often a sign that your period is coming within a week or two.^{[13]
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- This can be really hard to deal with because it can feel like you have no control over your emotions. When you start feeling anxious or irritable, it might help to take a few deep breaths and try to relax.
- If you do end up snapping at someone or saying something you don't mean, just apologize. You might say, "I'm sorry I snapped at you—my emotions are out of control right now."

10

Your body feels sore and achy.

Hormonal fluctuations can make you feel run-down. You might almost feel like you're coming down with a cold or the flu. Except, instead of actually getting sick, that tired soreness lingers on. This is typically a sign that you'll be getting your first period within the next week.^{[14]
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- A nice warm bath can ease some of that soreness. Throw in your favorite bath bomb and make it a treat!
- Exercise can actually help too, but it's okay if you feel too tired to exercise. Even just taking a short walk, if you're up to it, can help you feel a little more like yourself.

11

You have lower abdominal cramps.

Cramps are one of the most common signs that your period is coming. If you've ever had a muscle cramp anywhere on your body before, you know what it feels like. But these cramps affect internal muscles in your lower abdomen and don't go away quickly like a cramp in your leg would. Cramps usually tell you your first period is coming within a day or two.^{[15]
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- If your cramps get really uncomfortable, ask your parents for some ibuprofen—that'll help.^{[16]
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