My discharge is looking a little pink. I haven't gotten my period yet. Is that normal?

That can be how a first period starts, so tell a grown-up what you noticed: they can help with supplies, and check with a doctor if it isn't a period.

Pink discharge means some blood has mixed in with your usual discharge. When you haven't had a period yet, a few drops of blood or a light streak can be the very first sign that your body is kicking things off. It might stay light and pink or brownish for a day or two, or it might turn into a regular flow. If it turns into a period, tell a grown-up if you need a new pad every 1 to 2 hours, it lasts more than 7 days, you pass clots bigger than about 2.5 cm, blood leaks through to your clothes or bed, you miss normal things because of your period, or you feel tired or out of breath a lot.

Here is what you can do right now:

• Put a pad or a pantyliner in your underwear so your clothes stay clean.
• Tell a parent or trusted adult so you can grab whatever supplies you need.
• Keep a couple of spare pads in your school bag just in case.

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. 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. Also, before age 9, any bleeding or spotting means telling a grown-up so a doctor can check.

If you want to see where you might be on the timeline, there's a quick quiz on this site: how close is my first period?