Explaining stop and start periods

How to help your teen understand irregular flow

Quick summary

• It’s completely normal for a period to pause for hours and then start again later
• This happens because of gravity, movement, and the way the uterus sheds blood over time
• It’s usually nothing to worry about, but tracking with luna or using a panty liner can help your teen feel prepared

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Periods can be confusing at the best of times, especially for teens.

If your teen has come to you and said, “I thought my period had finished… but then it came back later that day?”, it may be a great chance to get your biology teacher hat on.

See, periods aren’t always straightforward. But talking about periods with your teen and learning why their bodies do what they do can bring you closer together.

And, you might learn something new, too!

When it comes to periods stopping and starting, it’s important to reassure your teen that it is totally normal.

Let’s look at what is going on and how you can support your teen through it.

A quick reminder of what a period is

Understanding the basics of the menstrual cycle phases can make the stop-start flow feel less confusing for your teen.

The uterus is a small, stretchy organ where a pregnancy would grow. 

Each month, the body builds a lining of blood and tissue inside the uterus. If pregnancy doesn’t happen, that lining breaks down and leaves the body – that’s a period. 

The uterus doesn’t release everything at once; it sheds that lining gradually. This is why periods can seem to pause before starting again.

Why your teen’s period stops and starts

A steady, continuous flow from day one to the end of a period is actually quite rare.

Here’s what’s going on behind the scenes:

• The uterus releases blood gradually, not in one constant stream
• When your teen is lying down or sitting still, gravity slows the flow
• When they stand up, move, or go to the toilet, gravity helps release the blood that’s been collecting
• This can feel like the period “came back,” even though it never truly ended

So if their pad stays clean for hours and then suddenly there’s more blood, it’s usually just the natural rhythm of their cycle.

Why this happens even more often in teens

In the first couple of years after a teen’s first period, the body is still finding its rhythm.

This means that:

• Hormone levels rise and fall unpredictably
• The uterus may shed blood unevenly
• Periods may be irregular and vary in length from month to month

All of these factors can lead to small pauses in bleeding.

While it may be frustrating sometimes, this experience is very normal. With time, your teen’s cycle will usually settle into a more predictable pattern.

How to tell if your teen’s period is ending

Toward the end of a period, your teen might notice:

• A lighter flow
• A change in colour to brown or pink
• A clean pad or liner for 12–24 hours

However, even with all these signs, a final little “last round” of bleeding is incredibly common.

Wearing a panty liner for an extra day or two can help avoid leaks and give them peace of mind.

When should you be concerned?

Stop-start bleeding within a period is normal. 

But seek medical advice if:

• Bleeding stops for several days and then returns outside their usual cycle
• Their cycle becomes unusually short (less than 21 days) or long (more than 35 days)
• They experience persistently heavy menstrual periods or severe pain

When in doubt, checking with a doctor together can be reassuring for both of you.

Helping your teen manage a stop-start period

A few small habits can make a stop-start period easier:

• Use a panty liner on the days their flow seems to be slowing down
• Using a period tracker app like luna to learn what’s typical for them
• Keep a period kit in their school bag 
• Reassure them that stop-start bleeding is a normal part of growing up

Tracking is especially helpful as it shows teens patterns over time and helps them feel more prepared and confident.

The luna app can help with this, while also providing them with expert-vetted advice on growing up, puberty, and everything in between.

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