My mom got her period at 11, and I'm 10 and already feeling PMS signs. My birthday is March 8th. Could I get my period this year or this month (the signs are already very strong)?

Look, it's super possible that your first period is coming soon! The 'PMS signs' you're feeling, like mood swings or little aches, are quite common before the first period. And it's very normal to start menstruating around the same age as our mother or other women in the family, like aunts and sisters. Most girls start their periods between 10 and 13 years old, so you're in that range!

Besides these symptoms you've already noticed, there are other signs the body gives before the first period. One of them is breast development, when they start to grow. Another sign is a whitish or yellowish discharge in your underwear, like mucus – this means the vagina is preparing itself. And there's also the growth spurt, when we grow rapidly. If you've noticed some of these things, it's a good indication that your period might be closer than you think, perhaps yes, still this year or in the coming months.

What to do while waiting

It's a good idea to have pads at home and in your backpack, just to be safe. That way, you won't be caught by surprise. And if you want to get an idea of how close your first period is, there's a quiz here on the site: how close is my first period?.