Your period is a term for the days during your menstrual cycle when menstrual fluid comes from your vagina. The menstrual cycle is a series of changes a woman’s body goes through to prepare for a pregnancy. Every 21-35 days, the uterus grows a new lining to get ready for a fertilised egg. During the first few years of menstruation, your cycle may last up to 45 days long. When there is no fertilized egg to start a pregnancy, the uterus sheds its lining over a few days. This is the menstruation. The menstrual fluid is a mixture of blood, mucous, fluid and tissue from your uterus.

A period is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a sign that you’re now a woman and can fall pregnant. Your period starts now and will continue until your late 40s or early 50s and then you go through other changes called menopause.

It is important to understand how your body works so you can protect yourself from an early or unintended pregnancy.

Do you know when you are fertile? Find out below.