Nov 2, 2017 4 min read

I can’t adequately express how much I love teaching fifth- and sixth-graders. The biggest change I’ve seen in over 40 years of teaching happened within the culture of 10- and 11-year-olds. Life on social media is real to them; they have access to online information my own children never encountered. Some of their questions mirror queries I received a decade ago from 11th-graders; some are no different than questions from students in the first classes I taught in 1981. The following question resonates for its simplicity. Some things don’t change.

Q.Why do we get periods anyway? I don’t want to be a mom for a long time. I’d like it if boys had periods. Why can’t they?

11-year-old

Mary Jo’s response: Great questions! I’m glad you don’t want to be a mom at your age. Parenting is a huge and important job; a mature person needs to raise children. I’ll explain periods and why they happen. Some of these words may be new to you. Get ready!

Our bodies are programmed to reproduce long before we consciously choose to become parents. As your body grows, your reproductive system kicks in – this happens during a time called puberty. Hormones, chemical messengers in your body, change how your body works. Ova (eggs), which are half of the two cells needed to start a pregnancy, mature in your ovaries. You were born with these tiny cells, but they weren’t ready to be used until puberty. Eventually, one ovum (one egg) pops off and is sucked into one of the two fallopian tubes from your uterus. That’s called ovulation. If more than one egg matures and is released, multiple births like twins or triplets can result.

Ovulation signals your body to prepare for a pregnancy. The inside of the uterus, called the endometrium, thickens to create a cushion so a baby can attach there and grow. Babies develop in the uterus, which is a very strong muscle. When we look at pictures of the inside of bodies, the parts look pretty boring; in reality the body is always active, with blood flowing through our arteries and veins. The cushion inside the uterus is made of blood and other fluids. Pregnancy only happens if the ovum unites with a sperm during intercourse. If a pregnancy doesn’t occur, these fluids are not needed. They are released through the vagina, which is the pathway from the uterus to the outside of the body (called the vulva). This is called the menstrual cycle, or a period. Periods continue to happen in a repeating cycle of every 28 to 30 days, and last over a period of days (usually three to seven days per cycle, depending on the person). Sanitary products like pads, napkins, panty liners or tampons help a person stay clean during a period. Periods end during menopause, when a person reaches mid-life (usually between 48 and 51 years of age).

Although starting your periods may not seem like fun, the menstrual cycle is a sign of health. Only bodies with a uterus (also called a womb) can carry a pregnancy to term (about 40 weeks). You’re not the first person I know who wanted to wish periods on boys. When I was young, periods were often called “the curse,” but they’re not a negative thing. They’re about life and your body moving toward adulthood. Good luck with this important change in you life, and enjoy being 11!

Have a question? Send it to Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski’s email at podmj@healthyteens.com.