Hi Curious,
Great question! The brown gooey stuff is actually menstrual discharge, so your menstrual cycle is definitely kicking in...it is just not the bright red heavy flow yet. Your period may be irregular for a while (change in color, amount of flow, how long it lasts, when it starts during the month...even missing a month is normal).
Girls start their periods anytime between ages 8-15; most girls start their period around the age of 11-13 (as your family members did), but starting when you are 14, 15 or even 16 can be very normal.
However...it sounds like you HAVE started your period, and it may be a good idea to start charting it on a calendar (date it started and ended is all you would need). The women in your family likely do not remember the exact color of their first-ever period, so they may have experienced the same thing you are now!
I think it is wonderful that you are able to talk about your body and menstrual cycle so openly with your family; many families are embarrassed by this very natural process, whereas other families celebrate the beginning of menarche!
You can read more about menstruation for teens at this resource:
http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp049.cfm
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Hi Curious,
Great question! The brown gooey stuff is actually menstrual discharge, so your menstrual cycle is definitely kicking in...it is just not the bright red heavy flow yet. Your period may be irregular for a while (change in color, amount of flow, how long it lasts, when it starts during the month...even missing a month is normal).
Girls start their periods anytime between ages 8-15; most girls start their period around the age of 11-13 (as your family members did), but starting when you are 14, 15 or even 16 can be very normal.
However...it sounds like you HAVE started your period, and it may be a good idea to start charting it on a calendar (date it started and ended is all you would need). The women in your family likely do not remember the exact color of their first-ever period, so they may have experienced the same thing you are now!
I think it is wonderful that you are able to talk about your body and menstrual cycle so openly with your family; many families are embarrassed by this very natural process, whereas other families celebrate the beginning of menarche!
You can read more about menstruation for teens at this resource:
October 1, 2009 - 2:33pmhttp://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp049.cfm
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