There's no such thing as a 'typical woman' - everyone's body looks a bit different. But in this section we look at the things women have in common, like the changes happen when a girl goes through puberty, and the personal care that a healthy body needs.
The five most common myths about your period debunked. 1. Menstrual blood is dirty. 2. You lose lots of blood. 3. You're definitely pregnant if you miss a period. 4. It's unhealthy to have sex during your period. 5. You can't get pregnant if you've got your period.
Your periods start anywhere between the ages of 9 and 16. When this happens, it shows you’re in the final stages of puberty – becoming physically and sexually mature.
You have sexual organs on the inside and outside. The word vagina is often used to describe the genitals or female sexual organs, but actually it is just a part of them.
Breasts come in all shapes and sizes. Nipples also vary a lot, both in size and colour. Often breasts are uneven in size or shape. Around the age of 20, the difference often begins to even out.
Female circumcision or genital cutting is an age-old tradition, whereby a young girl or woman has her genitals cut. Depending on her ethnicity and nationality, a girl or woman may have part or all of her external genitals removed.
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a disease caused by bacteria. It can be fatal, but it’s very rare. One way you can get toxic shock syndrome is by leaving a tampon in too long.
The two most common products to absorb the blood during your period are pads (also called sanitary pads, sanitary towels, sanitary napkins, or maxi pads) and tampons.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about periods -- can you get pregnant when you're having your period? Can you ovulate without having a period? Can you know when you will ovulate? All this and more...
Every woman experiences the menstrual cycle after she reaches puberty. Find out how it works, what it does to a woman's body, what happens as a result and much more...