When it comes to puberty and growing up, it is normal for everyone to be different. Generally, girls start earlier than boys. The bodies of some girls begin changing as early as age eight. Others don't start changing until they are 14.

How do you know when you are entering puberty? Typically, your breasts start growing, the hips become rounder and your waist becomes more narrow. Simply put, you now have a figure! Which probably explains why the boys start looking at you differently!

The next big step is your first menstruation, or period. The first time menstruation happens is called menarche (meh-NARR-key) and is a sign that you have reached puberty. Menstruation lets you know you have a normal, functioning reproductive system. Now, what is menstruation?

Girls have two ovaries in their reproductive system. Each ovary holds thousands of eggs. One ovary releases a mature egg about once a month. The release of the egg is called ovulation. Before ovulation, the uterus builds up a lining made of tissue and blood like almost everything else inside us.

After ovulation, the egg moves through a fallopian tube toward the uterus. Most of the time, the egg breaks apart before it gets to the uterus. Then the tissue and blood that line the uterus aren't needed. They flow out of the uterus, through the cervix, through the vagina, and out of the body. This is called a menstrual flow or "period." Different women have different amounts of flow during their periods. Only three or four tablespoonfuls of it is actually blood.

Like everything else about puberty, when it comes to menstruation, it is normal for every girl to be different. One menstrual period can last for as few as two and as long as seven days. The first few cycles are irregular and several months can go by before the next one! Over time, they become regular, usually occurring every 28 days or so.

Your periods will not interfere with your normal daily activities, but they can be a bit messy. Use tampons or sanitary pads to absorb the blood flow. Tampons are worn internally and are generally more convenient. Tampons must be changed every four hours. Pads (worn inside the underwear) should be changed every four to five hours at least. Overnight pads should be changed every eight hours. Keeping extra tampons or pads is a good idea so that they are on hand whenever you need them. Even though you keep track of your periods, they can come on suddenly, so it's always a good idea to keep an extra tampon or pad in your school bag.

Sometimes, you will find yourself feeling cranky and irritable. This usually happens a few days before your periods start. You could also get cramps and aches in your lower tummy. It's called premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and is very normal!

Your period is something you eventually appreciate as a symbol of your womanhood. Again, everything about your period is normal- all women have gone through the same thing!

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