Blood in my underwear · For ages 8–12
I've found blood in my underwear. Could it be my period?
If you see blood in your underwear and have not injured yourself, you may have started your first period.
About what you notice
What is happening?
One day you may discover red, dark red or brown blood in your underwear. This may be your first period. If you are unsure where the blood came from, an adult can help you find out.
Inside your body, low in your tummy, is the uterus. It is a small, hollow organ with muscles in its walls. An organ is a part of your body with a particular job. The uterus is where a baby can grow before it is born. From the uterus, a soft passage leads down to an opening between your legs. This passage is called the vagina.
During puberty, as your body gradually becomes more adult, it starts building up a soft layer inside the uterus. This layer is called the uterine lining and contains tiny blood vessels. If a pregnancy does not begin, parts of this layer come away and pass through the vagina as blood and small pieces of tissue. Tissue is made of small parts of the body that together build, for example, skin and organs. This bleeding is called menstruation, or a period.
Blood leaves a little at a time over several days. You may have more bleeding on some days and less on others. Brown blood has often taken longer to leave the body. A pad is a soft absorbent product that sits in your underwear and collects the blood. Period underwear is made to absorb it.
The first day you bleed is counted as day one of a menstrual cycle. This is the time until the first day of your next period. At first, the number of days between periods may vary. An adult can help you find period products and keep track of when you bleed.
Tell someone if you often bleed through clothes, become very tired or have so much pain that you cannot do everyday things. You can ask questions about periods even if you do not yet know what all the words mean.
Find what fits best
Which sounds most like what you notice?
Choose the option closest to what you have seen, felt or noticed.
I've found blood in my underwear. Could it be my period?
Forklaringskort
Important to know
Period blood comes from the uterus inside your body. It passes from the uterus, through the vagina and out of the vaginal opening. It does not come through the same small opening that you pee through.
The uterus is inside your lower tummy. It has a lining on the inside called the endometrium. The blood travels out through the vagina, which is a different passage from the one pee comes through. This is why you may see blood on the toilet paper even though pee comes out through a separate opening.
A period is blood and other material from the lining that has built up inside the uterus. When the lining comes away, it gradually passes out through the vagina over several days.
Periods are part of the changes the body may go through during puberty. Your first period might be just a few spots. You are still the same person and still need care and help. Getting your period does not mean you suddenly have to manage everything by yourself.
Period blood may be bright red, dark red or brownish. Brown blood is often blood that has taken a little longer to leave the body. You might notice it at the start or end of your period.
A little brown spot may be the first thing you notice. The colour can change during the same period and when blood dries in a pad. It helps to describe how much blood there is and how you feel, rather than only the colour.
A period lasts several days. There may be more blood on some days and less on others. The duration and amount of bleeding vary from person to person.
You can write down the day you first saw blood and the day bleeding stopped. A small mark on a calendar is enough. If bleeding lasts more than seven days or causes problems, tell an adult and ask for help getting it assessed.
A pad is a soft absorbent product that sticks inside your underwear and collects blood. There are also period underwear, tampons and menstrual cups. When your first period begins, an adult you trust can help you decide what you would like to use.
Peel off the paper on the back of the pad and stick the adhesive side inside your underwear. The absorbent side faces your body. Wrap a used pad and put it in the bin. An adult can show you, and you can practise before your first period.
A menstrual cycle is the time from the first day of one period until the first day of the next one. At first, this time can vary considerably.
If your period starts on a Monday, that Monday is the first day of your cycle. Your next cycle begins on the day your next period starts. You also count all the days without blood. This can help you understand what an adult means when they ask about your cycle.
Your body does not follow a calendar. Especially during the first few years after your first period, the number of days between periods can vary. Your period may therefore come earlier or later than you expect.
Months have different numbers of days, and your body does not need to take exactly the same number of days each time. Keep a pad available even if you expect your period later. Tell an adult if about three months pass between periods, so you can ask a healthcare professional about it.
Tell an adult you trust if you often bleed through clothes or bedding, need to change your pad very frequently, become very tired or find that your period makes school or everyday things difficult. A school nurse or doctor can help work out whether you need additional care.
You could say, 'I need to change so often that I cannot concentrate in class,' or 'I wake up because the blood soaks through.' You do not need to measure the blood. An adult can help you with products and find out whether you should see a doctor.
What next?
What can you do next?
If this is the first time you have seen blood in your underwear, you can say exactly that to someone: 'I've found blood in my underwear, and I think it might be my period.' You can also keep a pad or period underwear in your school bag so you are prepared next time.
Sources
These are the sources used for this article. Some are written for teenagers, adults or healthcare professionals.
- Helsenorge: Menstruasjon (Norwegian), opens in a new tab
- Helsenorge: Menstruasjon med store blødninger (Norwegian), opens in a new tab
- Ung.no: Jenter og puberteten (Norwegian), opens in a new tab
- Helsenorge: Skolehelsetjenesten (Norwegian), opens in a new tab
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Menstruasjonssyklusen hos ungdom (engelsk, for voksne) (Norwegian source), opens in a new tab