If you’re between the ages of 9 and 14you’ve probably started to experience pubertyor the changes that happen when your body changes from a child to a young adultThen againyou may not haveEither waydon’t worryPuberty in girls can start as early as age 8 and as late as 13 or 14but eventually everyone goes through it! Beginning menstruationoften called getting your periodis a normal part of going through puberty for girlsYour period happens around once a month because changes from puberty signal your brain to release new chemicalscalled hormonesinto your bodyDuring this timeyour uterus starts creating a thicklush layer of blood and nutrients inside in case you have sex and a fetus (or baby-to-bestarts to grow in thereIf there is no pregnancythe uterus pushes out the layer of nutrientscalled the endometriumwhich comes out of the vagina as your periodYour body then begins toa new layer with a fresh lining and it starts over again. It’s normal to feel nervous or anxious about getting your periodIt can help to talk with an adult that you trust about what to expect and to carry some feminine hygiene supplies (like a maxi pad or tamponwith you just in case.