A couple months ago I had cramps and then it went away and came back and went away, but I haven't gotten my period yet and I took the test and it said it was coming next year, but I don't know. Is it accurate? It said sometime next year.

Okay so, it sounds like you're having crampy feelings, which is definitely a sign that things are getting ready for your first period, even if it's still a ways off.

What Cramps Before Your Period Mean

Those crampy feelings you're getting are your uterus practicing! It contracts a little, which can feel like mild cramps, and it's doing that to get ready for when it actually needs to shed its lining during your period. It's totally normal for this to happen on and off for months, or even a year or two, before your actual period starts. It's like your body is doing a dry run, so it knows what to do when the real thing happens.

About the First Period Quiz

The quiz you took is pretty good at guessing, but it's not a crystal ball. It looks at all the signs your body is showing, like breast development and discharge, and uses that info to give you an estimate. "Sometime next year" is a super common answer because it's hard to pinpoint an exact date. Puberty happens at its own speed for everyone, so it's a marathon, not a sprint. The quiz is based on what usually happens for most people, but your body might do things a little differently, and that's okay too.

Keep an eye out for other signs too, like if you've been growing taller super fast, or if you've noticed a clear or whitish discharge in your undies. Those are usually signs that your period is getting closer. If you want to check again how close your period might be, there's a quiz on this site: how close is my first period?