My name is Lulu and I’m here to talk to you about the most sensitive issue ever to a girl: P-E-R-I-O-D. Menstruation! That thing that happens to every single girl in the entire world, but we’re supposed to be super embarrassed to talk about.

Sisters, that’s some nonsense.

So let’s talk about a few of the things that they’ve made us too nervous to talk about. It’s our bodies, and it’s our responsibilities to know how they work. The only thing scary about having your period is not knowing what’s happening when you’re having your period:

Myriella from the Congo: “I’m already 15! And I haven’t start my period yet. All my friends are teasing me, telling I’m still a kid. Am I normal?”

First, yes. You are normal. You are fine! Chill.

Girls normally start their menstruation about 2 years after they hit puberty. Signs of puberty are breast development but sometimes pubic hair comes first. It’s very normal to grow underarm hairs or hairs ‘down there’ way before you start your period!

You can also ask your mom how old was she when she got her first period, because things like that can be hereditary. Other causes: girls who are extremely into athletics or really thin sometimes have delayed periods, and some girls don’t get their periods because of hormone imbalances. Severe stress? That too.

Abia from Morocco: “But I am worried. What if I never get my period?”

Girls who reach the age of 16 without menstruating may have lack of menstrual flow. I suggest you to tell your Mom about this and consult to a doctor to get medical test and diagnosis!

Sara from the British Virgin Islands: “I’m 22 and I notice there’s an irregular cycle to my period. I even have twice a month and the flow is so heavy! Help me!”

On average, a woman will get her period for 3 to 7 days once a month. But the amount of blood shed during a period varies. Some women have heavier periods than the others. Here is some common causes of irregular periods:

• Stress. It is the most common cause of irregular periods! Get familiar to the hormone that makes you stress: Cortisol. If you have too much cortisol in your bloodstream, the time and flow of your cycle can change! Love yourself and take a good care of yourself, girls.
• Diet. Diet affects almost everything about how your body works, and that includes your menstrual cycle. If you needed another reason to avoid high-fat, high sugar, vegetable free eating… well, now you have one!
• Exercise. To menstruate normally, your body needs to have a certain amount of fat and nutrients. If you’re training hard (and we mean hard!) for sports, sometimes this can stop your period from happening regularly.

And last but certainly not least: never be afraid to seek answers. If you’re worried, ask your mom. If she doesn’t know what’s wrong, ask your doctor. If they don’t know, ask another doctor. It’s your body, it’s your life, and it’s your choice to make.