The first rules mark an important milestone in a young girl's life. They are a sign that her body evolves and that its reproductive system starts to function. This change, although natural, can be accompanied by many questions and concerns, both for teenagers and their parents.

Thand's discover togandher everything you need to know about the first period, their impacts on daily life and the best ways to experience them with complete peace of mind.

Understanding the first rules

To best experience this turning point in their lives, the teenagers need to understand what it represents the onset of their periods. What is it, what is going to happen, when is it supposed to take place, ... We will answer all these questions so that you can approach your first period with confidence.  

What is menarche?

The menarche refers to the onset of the first menstrual period in a young girl. The menarche occurs during puberty. This is an important moment that marks the start of the menstrual cycle and of the fertility. 

This phenomenon is dtriggered by a series of hormonal changes the brain, through the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, sends signals to the ovaries pour produce hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. These hormones preparing the uterus for a possible pregnancy.

This is the beginning of your first menstrual cycle. 

The menstrual cycle: how does it work?

The menstrual cycle starts on the first day of the period. It lasts on average 28 days, but this period can vary among women. 

The different stages of the menstrual cycle are: 

1. Menstruation = The rules from 1 to 7 days
2. The follicular phase = Thickening of the endometrium until the 13th day
3. Ovulationn = Release of the egg starting from the 14th day
4. The luteal phase = Maintenance of the ovum until its expulsion during the next period, starting from the 15th day

The menstrual cycle may not be regular during the first periods, but being aware allows the young girls to identify the cause of the changes of their morals. 

At what age do the first periods occur? 

The average age of the first rules occur around the age of 12, but this can vary between 10 and 16 years, according to several biological and environmental factors :

• Genetics The age of first menstruation is often similar to that of the mother or sisters.
• Food A balanced diet promotes normal pubertal development, while a Malnutrition or a diet too high in fats can impact the age of the first menstrual period.
• Physical activity: The intensive sports can observe a delay of the first period due to a low body fat percentage.
• Environment and stress A stressful family environment or lifestyle changes can also influence puberty.
• General health status Some medical conditions or treatments can affect the menstrual cycle.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to predict the day when a girl's period will arrive. However, there are precursor signs that will allow you to identify the period of their arrival. 

The early signs of the first period:

A few months or years before the arrival of the first period, several physical changes announce their arrival:

1. Breast development, about 2 years before the rules.
2. Appearance of pubic and axillary hair (under the armpits), 1 to 2 years before the onset of menstruation.
3. White vaginal discharge (leucorrhea), often observed a few months before the first period.

Once again, nothing very exact. However, being attentive to its signals will allow you to prepare your teenager as best as possible for the arrival of her first menstruation.

However, it may happen that the periods do not occur before the age of 16. If this is the case for your teenager, it is advisable to consult a doctor to rule out any potential hormonal or pathological cause.

First rules: what to expect?

The the first menstrual cycles are irregular, which is perfectly normal. The body needs time to find its hormonal rhythm.

In the early years, the menstruation can:

• Do not occur every month.
• Have variable durations (from 21 to 45 days between two cycles).
• Sometimes very light and then more abundant.

This is due to the hormone maturation (estrogens and progesterone). Your body needs time to adjust its functioning. As a result, the the menstrual cycle gradually regulates until reaching a certain stability after 1 to 2 years after menarche.

The first rules can also have a variable duration due to fluctuations in your hormones. 

You will also notice that your flow will not be constant. This will be observable throughout your menstrual life. Generally, women notice a heavier menstrual flow during the first 2-3 days of your period, before observing a gradual decrease.

You will also be able to have some spotting outside of your menstrual periods. Le spotting is a natural phenomenon, characterized by brown spots. This is not neither white discharge nor menstruation, but only one low blood flow. 

Ultimately, the first periods are irregular, both on their duration, only on their abundance. The symptoms who accompany them can also evolve from the menarche to a more regular cycleBeing in tune with your body during this period is essential for take ownership of your menstrual cycle. 

Being well prepared, the key to experiencing your first period comfortably 

Being well prepared means living your first period well. Now that you know when and how they will arrive, here are some practical tips to ensure you are always ready. 

What hygiene protection to choose for your first period?

There is several types of hygiene protection. When one has ses first rules, we tend to use the same period products as her mother or her sisters. But being all different, with a sensitivity that is unique to us, it is important to choose a suitable hygiene protection to our needs and desires. 

Here is a table comparison of different hygiene products to help you make your choice: 

Type of protection	Advantages	Disadvantages	Tips
Sanitary napkins	Easy to use, perfect for beginners.	Can be uncomfortable, to be changed regularly.	Favor models with wings for better support. For better hygienic health, prefer natural brands and those without toxic products.
Tampons	Discreet, practical for sports and swimming.	Must be well positioned to avoid discomfort, to be changed every 4 to 6 hours.	Train at home before wearing them outside. For added safety, wear them with a panty liner. Just like sanitary pads, choose natural brands to avoid toxic shock.
Menstrual panties	Eco-friendly, reusable, very comfortable, healthier.	High initial cost, need for multiple models to operate.	If you engage in physical activity, equip yourself with menstrual panties suitable for sports.
Menstrual cup	Zero waste, cost-effective in the long run.	Request training for implementation, otherwise there is a risk of leaks and inconvenience.	Train at home before wearing them outside.
Lingerie protector	Ideal for spotting, discharge, or as a complement to another protection.	Not suitable for heavy flow.	Your best ally for protecting your lingerie.

Our tips for using your menstrual protection effectively 

The menstrual protections all have their advantages and disadvantages, but if they are misused, disaster is guaranteed.  

For avoid any risk of leakage, it is recommended to:

• Change your hygiene protection regularly (every 4 to 6 hours to avoid odors and irritations).
• Avoid scented protections that can cause irritations.
• Favoring chemical-free hygiene products to minimize the risks of allergies, irritations, or toxic shock. 
• Respect the rules hygiene (wash your hands before and after each change of protection).

📌 Tip : For hesitant teenage girls, the menstrual panties are an excellent option to test the first protections without the risk of leaks or discomfort. 

Create your "menstrual kit" 

Having your period, it is to face the unpredictableMother Nature doesn't have the decency to send us a text message to warn us that today our rules arrive. Having on you a menstrual pouch can help you avoid situations that can be very embarrassing at times. 

We have prepared a list of essentials to prepare your menstrual pouch : 

✅ 2 Replacement hygiene protections
✅ 1 Replacement panty
✅ 1 Replacement sock in case you get a stain
✅ 1 Waterproof pouch for storing used protection
✅ Intimate wipes to refresh yourself
✅ Pain relievers (paracetamol, ibuprofen) for intense cramps

Keep this with you menstrual pouch as soon as you are out of the houseYou can also create one specifically for middle school or high school and keep it permanently in your locker to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

How to manage your emotions and stress during your first period?

The arrival of premières rules maybe source of anxiety, acertainty, and questioning. To better navigate this transition, it is essential to be prepared and to adopt a relaxed and reassuring approach. 

Why do we feel stress before or during menstruation?

The hormonal fluctuations related to the appearance of the first rules influence mood and emotions, which can make this period more sensitive for some young girls. It is important to understand these changes and learn to manage them calmly.

The main causes of stress for a teenager are: 

• Anxiety related to the unknown 
• The fear of leaks
• The risk of mockery from other students
• The physical decrease
• Increase in cortisol levels

Furthermore, during the règles, the teenagers experience increased fatigue and many physical discomforts (cramps, headaches) that can make more irritable.

To reduce this stress, it is important to have someone to confide in. Talking about your menstruation with friends or a family member allows you to feel reassured and better prepared. But it is often a difficult subject to address. 

How to talk about the first period? 

Talking about the first periods can be intimidating, both for a young girl only for her mother. However, communication open and welcoming allows breaking taboos and establishing a climate of trust.

How to talk about her first period with your daughter?

As a mère, it is essential to open a caring dialogue, based on listening and learning with your daughter. However, adolescence or preadolescence can be challenging times, and it can be difficult to establish open communication with your daughter.

Here are some tips for approaching the topic in a natural and reassuring way: 

1. Anticipate the conversation: Don't wait for your period to talk about it.
   By setting up a open dialogue from a young age about periods, will encourage an open dialogue during puberty. Start by simply explaining to your children that you have your period and talk about it openly on a daily basis. Starting from 9 or 10 years, start to discuss the physical changes with your daughter whom she will meet. 
2. Use suitable supports: Don't forget that you are not alone! From numerous supports exists to allow your daughter to to educate oneself on the subject Books, educational videos, or teaching materials. These resources, accompanied by open discussion, will build their confidence. 
3. Be open and caring: Listen to their questions, anxieties, and fears without judgment and respond without embarrassment or taboo. The more you listen, the more she will have make it easier to confide. 
4. Avoid negative talk: The rules are not a chore, but a natural phenomenon that affects every woman. A positive speech can be a source of comfort for your teenager. 
5. Offer different protections: Leave the choice of her hygiene protection for your daughter.
   It can be difficult to help your daughter learn how to position her cup if you have never used one yourself. But once again, you are not alone. Ask your friends or a doctor to help or guide her. Not imposing your way of doing things on her will allow her to fully embrace its rules. 
6. Reassuring about the symptoms: Explain to her that cramps, mood swings, and irregular cycles are normal at the beginning. You can even ask the whole family to be more accommodating with her if her first periods are particularly painful. 
7. Don't overwhelm him/her: there's no need to bombard them with questions or books on the subject too frequently. This will create fatigue and will not encourage him to come and talk to you. 

Create a climate of trust around habit and open discussion allows young girls to feel comfortable coming ask questions without taboo.

Don't forget that it's not you who experiences them, but her. Be attentive and available, but be careful not to be too intrusive, adolescence is a time when your daughter will seek more independence. 

How to talk about your first period with your mother?

For some adolescentes, address the subject of periods with her mother may seem embarrassing or difficult. However, your mother can prove to be a great ally in helping you understand and master this transformation. 

Here is how facilitate this discussion with your mother : 

1. Remember that it's natural: The rules apply to all women, there is no shame in talking about it. Your mother also experienced this period and will advise you to help you experience it. 
2. Choose a quiet moment: One relaxed discussion at home or during a walk can be more comfortable than during a family meal or while on a car trip.
3. Ask questions without fear: It is normal to want to know more about protections, the cycle, or the symptoms.
4. Being honest about your feelings: Express your feelings without fear.
   It is it's normal to feel apprehension, pain or that you have some interrogationsYour mother knows her stuff well and will give you advice to help you cope better with them.
5. Be forgiving: Just as it is difficult for you to bring up the subject with your mother, it can also be difficult for your mother. The answers she can provide you may not be suitable for you. But she will do her best to help you. So, give yourself some time, discuss the topic several times and you will see that she will listen to you. 

There are still many family where the taboos around menstruation persist and where it can be difficult to discuss the topic. But whether it is within your school establishment or in your family entourage, there will always be a woman to listen to you and advise you. 

The discussion on the rules should not be a taboo. The more we talk about it openly, the more we feel confident and prepared. 

Deconstructing taboos and preconceived notions

In certain cultures and traditions, the periods remain a taboo subject. However, it is essential to deconstruct preconceived notions and promote a positive and natural view of periods.

Main taboos surrounding menstruation :

• "The rules are dirty" → FALSE !
  Menstruation is a natural process of endometrium elimination, and not a sign of impurity.
• "You can't play sports when you have your period." → FALSE !
  Sport can even relieve cramps and improve mood thanks to endorphins.
• "You cannot get pregnant during your period." → FALSE !
  Although unlikely, a early ovulation can lead to pregnancy.
• "Periods must necessarily be painful" → FALSE !
  If the pain is very intense, it may indicate a health issue. In this case, consult a healthcare professional.

Se preparing for the first period does not boil down to choose a menstrual protection. It is also about managing one's emotions, speak without taboo and deconstruct preconceived notions. Good preparation allows you to experience this new stage with confidence and serenity.

Should you consult a healthcare professional during your first period?

The first rules are a natural process, which does not require a medical visitHowever, healthcare professionals such as the attending physician, a gynecologist, or a midwife can help your teenager to better navigate this period. 

At the beginning of their menstrual life, young girls are questioning a lot, a healthcare professional will be able to provide answers and reassure her health. If you are not particularly comfortable discussing periods, know that your girl needs answers and that these specialists can provide it to him.

However, it is important to inform him thatA first gynecological appointment does not involve an intimate examination. It is advisable to consult a healthcare professional in case of excessive pain during the first periods or if they do not stabilize. 

Why and when to consult?

It is not always easy to know if the issues experienced are normal or require a medical visit. Here are some situations that justify a consultation:

Absence of periods after 16 years

If the first periods did not occur after 16 years, it is advisable to make an appointment to check that the puberty follows a normal development. This may be due to a puberty delay, un hormonal issues or a low body weight.

Very heavy periods (menorrhagia)

If a young girl needs to change her protection all hours or that the periods last more than 7 days, a consultation is recommended.
Un excessive menstrual flow may be related to a hormonal imbalance or a iron deficiency (anemia). It is imperative to consult in order to provide him with an appropriate solution. 

Extremely painful periods

It is normal to feel some menstrual cramps, but if the the pain is unbearable, that prevents them from attending classes or engaging in their daily activities, a consultation is necessary. Because this may indicate the presence of a gynecological issues underlying, such as endometriosis.

Very irregular cycles after 2 years

The first years of menstruation can be irregular, but after 2 years, the cycles should stabilize. If the rules continue to be very spaced out (more than 45 days between two cycles) or very close (less than 21 days between two cycles), it is recommended to consult.

Periods absent for several months

Similarly, if a young girl has already had her first period and that they disappear for several months for no apparent reason, you need to consultThis may also be related to significant stress, excessive weight loss, or intense physical activity; it is only during a consultation that you can determine the origin and limit the effects. 

In general, a health professional will answer your teenager's questions, but it can also help you help prepare for one's sexuality. 

Importance of information on contraception and STIs for young girls?

The first rules mark the start of fertility, which means that a pregnancy is possible or the contraction of a IST (sexually transmitted infection) in case of unprotected sexual intercourse.

It is important to warn young girls of these risks. You can start discussing the topic alone with your daughter, and then when the time is right, take her to see a doctor to explore the subject in more detail. contraception and STIs. 

Why talk about contraception as soon as the first period?

A good sexual education allows toprevent early pregnancies and unwanted. It makes sense, really. The more a teenager is aware of the risks and solutions, the better she will be able to make the right decisions. 

It is important to take into account your daughter's age and adapt your speech accordingly. If your daughter is over 13 years old, when she got her first period, it is important to discuss the sexuality with her. In particular to inform her of the different methods of contraception (condoms, pill, implant, IUD, etc.) and give her time to gather information and choose which one she would like to have. 

With the start of a sexuality, the risk of pregnancy is not the only one; it is also important to inform her about the IST (Sexually Transmitted Infections).

There are certain vaccines like the one for the Papillomavirus which must be performed during adolescence. That's why the premières règles are the perfect opportunity to start a dialogue with your teenager about their sexuality. 

It is recommended for many young girls to start a gynecological follow-up from their first period, but in reality, it is not mandatory. In case of complications or for preparing your sex life, a first consultation can provide them with the right reflexes.

The most important thing is to listen to your teenager and support her at her own pace. 

Living your period to the fullest every day

For better experience their first period and in alleviate menstrual symptoms, young girls must set up new routines regarding their food, their hygiene and their daily life. 

Here are some tips to help you better cope with the changes in your body: 

1. Always be equipped : As we mentioned earlier, the rules arrive unexpectedly. Having on you a menstrual pouch will save you in case of a leak or unexpected arrival. 
2. Use an app or a calendar to track the evolution of your periods and master your cycle. 
3. Adapt your outfit When you have your period, opt for comfortable and fitted underwear and choose dark-colored bottoms. 
4. Practice a gentle physical activity Sports like yoga, walking, or swimming can help you to reduce cramps and to improve your mood. 
5. Set up a hygienic routine Hygiene is essential when you have your period.
   Make this moment a moment just for you. Take the time to indulge in a bath and treat yourself to a beauty mask to feel clean and relax. 
6. Adjust your diet When things aren't going well, we tend to eat fatty foods for comfort, but fat doesn't really comfort us. It's better to focus on a diet rich in iron, Omega-3, and vitamin C. 
7. Stay hydrated With blood loss, your body will have an easier time dehydrating. You can also drink herbal teas to relax while staying hydrated. 

Having your period shouldn't stop you from living normallyWith the right protections, a good diet, and daily tips, every teenager can learn to manage her cycles calmly.

By understanding how to adapt your daily routine, it is possible to continue your sports activities, attend classes without stress, and limit menstrual discomfort.

How Sorio helps teenagers better experience their first periods

At Sorio, we have designed practical, comfortable, and effective solutions so that the adolescents can live their periods without constraints. Thanks to our menstrual swimwear et sport menstrual underwear, they can continue to enjoy their favorite activities with complete peace of mind.

Menstrual swimsuits for teenagers: Enjoy the water without stress

The rules should not prevent teenage girls to enjoy a day at the beach or a swimming lesson. The

Menstrual Swimwear for Teenagers by Sorio

are specially designed to provide optimal protection in water, without leak no feeling of humidity.

Why choose Sorio period swimwear? Because they are: 

✔ Discreet and elegant : No visible swelling, it looks like a classic jersey.
✔ Integrated absorbent technology : Retains light to moderate flow and prevents leaks.
✔ No more need for a stamp An ideal alternative for those who do not wish to use internal protection.
✔ Easy to maintain A simple rinse with cold water followed by a machine wash is enough to make it look like new.

Result? No more need to deprive yourself of the pool or the sea because of your period. ! Teen girls can swim with confidence, without worrying about discomfort, a string sticking out, or leaks. 

Menstrual sports underwear: Move freely without constraints

Cramps and the fear of leaks can sometimes to hold back teenage girls in their sports activities during their periods. However, the practice of a Physical activity helps reduce cramps and improves mood. 

With the menstrual sports underwear for teenage girls by Sorio, they can continue to train without stress, while enjoying reliable and comfortable protection.

Why adopt a Sorio sports menstrual underwear? Because they are: 

✔ Designed for effort: Absorbs sweat and menstrual flow while staying dry.
✔ Adjusted and leak-proof: Offers good support without any feeling of discomfort.
✔ Eco-friendly and economical: Reusable and washable, it is a sustainable alternative to disposable products.
✔ Feeling of freedom: No friction or feeling of dampness, to focus 100% on your activity.

With our innovative hygiene solutions and tailored to the needs of teenagers, the rules are no longer a hindrance to daily activities. Easy to use and maintain, our swimsuits et sport menstrual underwear offer optimal comfort and protection, to the point that the young girls even forget their periods!

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The premières règles are a natural and important step in the life of a adolescente. Although they may raise questions or concerns, good information, supportive guidance, and tailored solutions allow them to be approached with complete confidence.

Thanks to alternatives like menstrual swimwear and the sport menstrual underwear Sorio, young girls can continue to practice their favorite activities even during their periodNo need to give up a pool outing or a sports training session: with the right protection, your period becomes a simple routine, not a barrier to your daily life.

If you would like to learn more about how better experience your first period, discover our other items and our innovative solutions for menstrual protection suitable for teenagers! 🚀