Your wackiest period mysteries--solved! Whether you've had your period or are playing the waiting game, you probably have a zillion questions. Well, hold on to your seats because we're about to pull the plug on all your confusion.

Yeah, yeah. Getting your period is supposed to be so cool since it means you're officially growing up. But when you feel bloated, cranky, pimply and crampy on a monthly basis, it's tough to be all that grateful. Dealing with good ol' Mother Nature will become second nature, but we know how mind-boggling menstruation can be. That's why the editors at GL want to delete all the question marks you have about periods.

What is menstruation, anyway?

Menstruation is monthly bleeding from your vagina as a result of your body being able to have babies. What happens is this: Each month, an egg from your ovary takes a little vacation over to your uterus, which builds up with tissue and blood while awaiting the egg's arrival. When your egg isn't fertilized along the way, all that extra tissue and blood (and the egg) make an exit through your vaginal opening. That's your period.

At exactly what age should my period start?

Menstruation starts at different times for different girls, but the average age is about 12 to 13 years old. Then again, if you get it at 15 or at 10, that's perfectly normal too. Go figure.

Will I feel my first period coming?

Uh, sorry, but probably not. Most likely, you'll just notice a little blood in your underwear or on the toilet paper when you go to the bathroom. Or you might feel some unfamiliar dampness in your panties that will clue you in that you may be close to getting your first period.

So just how often will I get my period?

Once a month, you lucky girl! And every month after that until you're in your 50s or so. During your first year of menstruation, you could easily skip a few periods or be pretty irregular because it takes time for your body to adjust to this very big change. On average, you'll get your period every 28 days, but it can actually occur anywhere between 21 to 35 days. It's a good idea to keep track of it on your calendar, so you can be prepared.

OK, how should I prepare myself?

When you know it's around "that time of the month," stash some pads or tampons in your backpack or locker so you can avoid a potentially embarrassing--and blood-stained--moment! Eeeeek! But, hey, even if your period does take you by surprise and stains your clothes, don't stress--it's happened to all of us at one time or another. Just turn your skirt inside out, or tie a sweater or jacket around your waist. Nab a pad or tampon from your BFF or the school nurse, and you're home free.

Uh, tampons? I'm gonna put what up where?!

OK, you probably already know what a tampon looks like--a white, cotton cylinder with a long string dangling from the bottom (that plastic or cardboard contraption you see once you remove the wrapper is the applicator and is not meant to stay inside your vagina!).

So, like, where does it go and how does it get there? Well, the idea of pushing a tampon into your vagina to soak up the flow seems totally gross at first. And it will definitely feel unusual the first time you do it. But tampons are super easy to use, stay in place and are really the safest way to protect your clothes from your period--especially if you're into sports, like swimming. Specific directions are on the box and, honestly, it's completely painless. Once you've got it inside of you, the string hangs out so you can gently pull it out and replace it every four to six hours, depending on your flow. Best of all, you will hardly even notice it's there.

Can't you get Toxic Shock Syndrome from using tampons?

Toxic Shock Syndrome is a very, very rare but potentially fatal disease you can get if you don't change your tampons often enough or if you use them when your flow is extremely light. It's a good idea to use tampons during the day and change them frequently, then use a pad at night (although, you can keep a tampon in overnight as long as it isn't for more than eight hours). Just to be safe, when your period is coming to an end, stick to pads only.

What is that clear, gooey ooze in my underwear between periods?

As yucky as it might seem, a clear or milky white "vaginal discharge" is quite normal. It's just another by-product of your hormones, thank-you-very-much. But if your discharge is green, brownish or cottage cheese-like, tell your mom so you can see a doctor about it. You just might have an infection (very common and totally harmless!) that needs to be treated with medication.

Don't you get kind of stinky from your period?

It's true you can have an odor from your period, but as long as you thoroughly clean that area of your body with soap and water daily, and change your pads or tampons as needed, nobody else should be able to catch a whiff.

Is it true that girls become totally psycho before their periods?

Uh, not psycho, but some girls do get a little cranky or sad, or even find themselves sobbing uncontrollably over sappy phone company commercials about a week before their "little friend" comes to visit. Those are just symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

PMS is caused by a shift in hormones. Luckily, PMS goes away right after you get your period. Other PMS-related problems can be temporary weight gain, sore breasts, bloating, food cravings, headaches and pimples. How to deal? About a week before your period, cut out salty foods, caffeine and chocolate, exercise moderately, and take 100 daily mg of vitamin B6 daily.

Cramps, Why, why, why?!

Cramps are no fun, but only half of you will get them. If you're one of the "lucky" ones who find you have cramps at the end of the menstruation rainbow, don't fret--they're usually pretty mild. That kicked-in-the-gut feeling is the result of muscles in your uterus contracting to push the extra blood, tissue and unfertilized egg out of your vagina. Kind of a monthly spring-cleaning! To reduce or avoid cramps altogether, a week before your period, load up on green, leafy veggies and whole grains. And, just like for PMS, take up to 100 mg of vitamin B6 daily. Raspberry herbal tea, aspirin or Midol can help, too. If those nasty cramps still won't take a hike, try a heating pad--or your cat!--on your tummy. And if, as in very rare cases, you're still moanin' and groanin', see a doctor for a stronger pain reliever.

Is it normal for blobs of blood to come out along with just blood?

Seems freaky, but a chunk-like discharge is normal. It's your uterus shedding tissue and blood, mixed with mucous.

Will I "leak" if I swim or take a bath?

Swimming is fine if you use tampons. In fact, cold water temporarily stops your flow (that said, don't hit the pool without protection). You might want to skip the bath. Warm water tends to make you bleed more, so stick to showers.

Will everyone know when I'm having my period?

No way. It's your secret--no one will be the wiser unless you blab. While some girls who use pads feel more confident sticking to looser clothing, you can be sure no one will notice. Still uncertain? Ask yourself this: Have you ever known when someone was having her period if she didn't tell you? Case dismissed.

Why do I sometimes feel itchy "down there" before my period comes?

That's just from the increased blood flowing down to your genital area before you menstruate. No worries.

Why are my boobs a little sore before my period?

Hormones again, girly! They cause fluid to be retained in your breasts. If it really feels uncomfortable, cut out salty foods and wear a more supportive bra. It'll only last a couple days.

To add insult to injury, why am I gaining weight every month around my period? Ugh!

Don't you just love all this growing-up stuff? Well, fortunately, your weight gain is only temporary. It's your body retaining water, so it's normal to pack on a couple of extra pounds, but you'll shed them as soon as your period is over. To lessen the bloats, avoid salty foods, exercise and, oddly enough, drink more water! It helps to flush the excess fluids out of your system.

I don't want to have a period: Why am I so upset about getting it?

Some girls feel fine with it, but many feel shaken up by this mondo change in their bodies. Bleeding in general can be pretty scary, but bleeding from "down there" ... yikes! Also, it can be hard to accept change (remember how anxious you were just going from elementary to middle school?). Most likely, the only major physical change you've had to deal with so far has been getting taller. But you'll get used to having your period. It truly is a great, amazing thing--it means your bod is healthy and that your "plumbing" is working properly.

Test your menstruation savvy

Think you're the period know-it-all? Put yourself to the test!

1. You can lose a tampon inside of you if you don't put it in right. [] True [] False

2. If you use a tampon, you could lose your virginity. [] T [] F

3. If you are sexually active, you can still get pregnant while you're having your period. [] T [] F

4. When you menstruate, you normally lose about a pint of blood. [] T [] F

5. You can't go camping when you have your period because you'll attract bears. [] T [] F

6. Having your period is a curse. [] T [] F

7. Drinking cold milk causes cramps. [] T [] F

8. When girls in the same age group have been living together for awhile, like in a camp bunk, they tend to get their periods at the same time. [] T [] F

9. Periods normally last a week. [] T [] F

10. PMS is all in your mind. [] T [] F

ANSWERS

1. False. There is limited space inside your vagina--with only one way out!

2. False. Takes more than a tampon!

3. True. Cycles may vary, so it is possible to get pregnant during your period.

4. False. On average, a girl loses four to six tablespoons of blood each month.

5. False. You do, however, have to put used pads or tampons in airtight bags when you're camping just so animals don't find them and--gag!--eat them.

6. Way false. It's a blessing. It shows that your body is in working order!

7. False. Just a goofy rumor.

8. Weird but true. Girls living around each other for a while tend to get "in synch" with one another's cycles.

9. False. The average period lasts only four or five days, but it can really vary since every body is different.

10. False. PMS affects your emotions, but it is the result of physical changes.

What PMS really stands for?

* Psychotic Mood Shift

* Permanent Menstrual Syndrome

* Perpetual Munching Spree

* Puffy Mid-Section * People Make me Sick

* Provide Me with Sweets

* Pardon My Sobbing

* Pimples May Surface

* Pass My Sweatpants

A Period by any other name

* My monthly visitor

* My little friend

* The curse

* On the rag

* Aunt Flo

* Cleanup in aisle on e

* Code red

* Crimson curse

* The gift

* Leak week

* Ragtime 

* Red letter day

* Shark bait

* A sprung leak

* That time of the month

* Having the painters in

* Rain down south

* The gift

Period tidbits 

And you thought you'd heard it all. We went in pursuit of some trivial facts about menstruating....

* In ancient Egypt, women used papyrus as tampons. In Greece, they used lint. In Rome, it was wool. The Japanese used paper, and Africans used rolls of grass.

* The first tampon with applicator was sold in the United States in 1936.

* A hundred years ago, the average age for getting your period was 14.8 years old. Now, it's only 12 and a half!

* The average number of periods you'll have in a lifetime is 480.

* In ancient Rome, it was believed that the touch of a menstruating woman caused crops to fail, seeds to dry, fruit to fall, bees to die and mirror surfaces to dim.

* Many American Indians believe a woman is at her psychic height during her period.

* The French, way back when, didn't let women work in wineries, it was believed that, when menstruating, they would turn the wine into vinegar.

* In ancient times, many cultures believed menstruating women had positive supernatural powers. Their blood was said to protect men in battle, stop thunder and hurricanes, and serve as a good omen. Right on!