What to do when you get your first period

Step 1: Head to the bathroom

Grab your bag and go. If you don't have a pad, ask a friend, teacher, school nurse, or check the bathroom — most schools stock free pads now. It's the #1 most-asked question in bathrooms; no one thinks twice.

Step 2: Use a pad

For a first period, pads are the easiest option. Peel the wrapper, stick the sticky side to your underwear, and center it. Change it every 3–4 hours or when it feels full. You don't need a tampon — you can try that later at your own pace.

Step 3: Change your underwear if you need to

If your underwear got stained, that's normal. Cold water helps get blood out. Change into spare underwear if you have some in your first period kit — if not, no big deal, a pad handles it.

Step 4: Tell a trusted adult (when you're ready)

You don't have to tell everyone. Just one trusted adult — usually a parent, older sister, aunt, or school nurse. It helps because they can get you supplies, check in on you, and mark the day. Not sure how to bring it up? Here's how to tell your mom you got your period.

Step 5: Log Day 1

Today is Day 1 of your first cycle. Open Bloomy (or any tracker) and log it. This is what turns your app from "first period predictor" into a full cycle tracker — from now on it will predict every period, PMS days, and moods for you automatically.

What to expect over the next few days

• How long: most first periods last 2–7 days.
• How heavy: often lighter than later periods. Some days heavier, some lighter.
• Color: anywhere from bright red to dark brown. All normal.
• Cramps: mild pulling in the lower belly is normal. A warm water bottle or bath helps. Ibuprofen too, if a parent has okayed it.
• Mood: feeling extra tired, hungry, or emotional is normal. Be nice to yourself.

Your first few cycles won't be regular

Don't stress if your next period doesn't come exactly a month later. For the first 1–2 years, teen cycles are usually irregular — sometimes 20 days, sometimes 45. That's completely normal. Read more about irregular teen periods →

The one thing that helps most

Tracking. Even just logging the start and end date of each period gives you your cycle length within a few months, so future periods stop being a surprise. That's what Bloomy is built for — free, private, and made for teens.