Yeah, yeah. Getting your period is supposed to be so cool since it means you're officially growing up. But when you feel bloated, cranky, pimply and crampy on a monthly basis, it's tough to be all that grateful. Dealing with good ol' Mother Nature will become second nature, but we know how mind-boggling menstruation can be. That's why the editors at GL want to delete all the question marks you have about periods.

What is menstruation, anyway?

Menstruation is monthly bleeding from your vagina as a result of your body being able to have babies. What happens is this: Each month, an egg from your ovary takes a little vacation over to your uterus, which builds up with tissue and blood while awaiting the egg's arrival. When your egg isn't fertilized along the way, all that extra tissue and blood (and the egg) make an exit through your vaginal opening. That's your period.

At exactly what age should my period start?

Menstruation starts at different times for different girls, but the average age is about 12 to 13 years old. Then again, if you get it at 15 or at 10, that's perfectly normal too. Go figure.

Will I feel my first period coming?

Uh, sorry, but probably not. Most likely, you'll just notice a little blood in your underwear or on the toilet paper when you go to the bathroom. Or you might feel some unfamiliar dampness in your panties that will clue you in that you may be close to getting your first period.

So just how often will I get my period?

Once a month, you lucky girl! And every month after that until you're in your 50s or so. During your first year of menstruation, you could easily skip a few periods or be pretty irregular because it takes time for your body to adjust to this very big change. On average, you'll get your period every 28 days, but it can actually occur anywhere between 21 to 35 days. It's a good idea to keep track of it on your calendar, so you can be prepared.

OK, how should I prepare myself?

When you know it's around "that time of the month," stash some pads or tampons in your backpack or locker so you can avoid a potentially embarrassing--and blood-stained--moment! Eeeeek! But, hey, even if your period does take you by surprise and stains your clothes, don't stress--it's happened to all of us at one time or another. Just turn your skirt inside out, or tie a sweater or jacket around your waist. Nab a pad or tampon from your BFF or the school nurse, and you're home free.

Uh, tampons? I'm gonna put what up where?!

OK, you probably already know what a tampon looks like--a white, cotton cylinder with a long string dangling from the bottom (that plastic or cardboard contraption you see once you remove the wrapper is the applicator and is not meant to stay inside your vagina!).

So, like, where does it go and how does it get there? Well, the idea of pushing a tampon into your vagina to soak up the flow seems totally gross at first. And it will definitely feel unusual the first time you do it. But tampons are super easy to use, stay in place and are really the safest way to protect your clothes from your period--especially if you're into sports, like swimming. Specific directions are on the box and, honestly, it's completely painless. Once you've got it inside of you, the string hangs out so you can gently pull it out and replace it every four to six hours, depending on your flow. Best of all, you will hardly even notice it's there.

Can't you get Toxic Shock Syndrome from using tampons?

Toxic Shock Syndrome is a very, very rare but potentially fatal disease you can get if you don't change your tampons often enough or if you use them when your flow is extremely light. It's a good idea to use tampons during the day and change them frequently, then use a pad at night (although, you can keep a tampon in overnight as long as it isn't for more than eight hours). Just to be safe, when your period is coming to an end, stick to pads only.

What is that clear, gooey ooze in my underwear between periods?

As yucky as it might seem, a clear or milky white "vaginal discharge" is quite normal. It's just another by-product of your hormones, thank-you-very-much. But if your discharge is green, brownish or cottage cheese-like, tell your mom so you can see a doctor about it. You just might have an infection (very common and totally harmless!) that needs to be treated with medication.

Don't you get kind of stinky from your period?

It's true you can have an odor from your period, but as long as you thoroughly clean that area of your body with soap and water daily, and change your pads or tampons as needed, nobody else should be able to catch a whiff.

Is it true that girls become totally psycho before their periods?

Uh, not psycho, but some girls do get a little cranky or sad, or even find themselves sobbing uncontrollably over sappy phone company commercials about a week before their "little friend" comes to visit. Those are just symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).