Dear PLS,
I don't have my period yet, but I want to know if they hurt?

Signed,
D.K.

Dear D.K.,
Lots of girls wonder about this because the menstrual flow contains blood. Usually, you don't bleed unless you've been cut or hurt in some way. But periods are a whole other kind of bodily function. Though some girls get cramps (kind of a dull ache in the belly), periods do not hurt. Your body painlessly collects the blood and tissue that lines the uterus each month. When this lining is shed, the menstrual flow is released through the vagina.

If cramps are your concern, doctors recommend eating right, getting exercise, and taking pain relievers, if needed. Talk with a doctor if (when you get your period) it ever keeps you from doing your normal activities.

Think Pink!
The PLS

More about periods on KidsHealth.org