I have been having to put my underwear under the tap because of how much discharge is on and I still haven’t got my period also my breasts are stiff and hurt when I squeeze them

Clear, white or off-white discharge and sore breast buds are classic signs of puberty that mean your body is growing, not that something is wrong with you.

What is going on with the discharge

Clear, white or off-white discharge is normal in puberty and can start some months before a first period, and it can look a bit yellow once it dries on your underwear. Your body makes it to clean and protect the vagina naturally, and as hormones kick in, having quite a bit of it is really common. Washing underwear under the tap is totally understandable when there is a lot, but using daily panty liners or cotton underwear can save you the hassle so you do not have to rinse clothes constantly. Wash the outside gently once a day with no soap or perfumed products, and wear cotton underwear and nothing tight.

Tell a grown-up if it comes out a different colour (like deep yellow, green or grey), smells strong or bad, changes texture, suddenly gets much heavier, or comes with itching, soreness, pain when peeing or tummy pain.

Your breasts feeling stiff and tender

That firm feeling under your nipples is what doctors call breast buds, and they are usually the very first sign of puberty. A sore or tender breast bud, one breast growing faster than the other, breasts that stay different sizes, and sore breasts before a period are all really common and normal. Squeezing them will definitely make them ache more, so try to avoid pinching or pressing them to test how they feel. A soft, supportive bra can help protect them from bumping into things.

Tell a grown-up if the pain is sharp or lasts longer than usual, fluid comes out of a nipple, a breast is red, hot or swollen, or you have a fever with it.

When will your period arrive?

Breasts starting to grow is usually the first sign, and the period often comes about 2 years later, and that varies a lot. A first period can come anywhere from about 9 to 15, sometimes later, and the average is around 12. A period before 9, no period by 15, or no breast growth or other puberty signs by 13 means telling a grown-up so a doctor can check.

If you want to see which signs your body is showing right now, there is a quiz on this site: how close is my first period?.