In the modern world, many medical topics are widely covered. But menstruation is still rarely talked about. Her and the problems associated with her are ashamed. Even parents are afraid to talk to the children about this topic. Because of this, young girls who first heard about menstruation have many questions - when the first periods appear, how they occur, what problems can later arise. All of these issues are worth considering. They are associated with the formation of the menstrual cycle, on which the reproductive function will depend in the future.
Monthly: what is it and how to determine their first approximation
The word "monthly" is derived from the Latin word "mensis". It translates as "month." Speaking in medical language, then menstruation is a regular spotting from the vagina, which is observed monthly by teenage girls and adult women. This is not something terrible, some kind of disease or pathology. This is a natural biological process characteristic of the female body.
The Herald of the onset of puberty. So called the first menstruation. Signs of their approach can be observed in this way:
- girls develop mammary glands, the first hairs appear on the pubis and in the armpits, a female-type figure begins to form;
- muscle and fat mass is growing rapidly;
- about a year before the first menstruation, whitish discharge (whitish) begins to stand out from the vagina, performing a protective and moisturizing function.
The average age of the onset of menstruation
Menstruation does not occur at any particular age. For each girl, this process is individual. For some, the first menstruation starts at 12 years old, and for someone at 14 years old. Modern experts note that menstruation has “rejuvenated” over the past few decades. In the past, girls started this biological process much later - at about 14.5 years old. Now at this age, almost 98% of girls have menstruation. The fact that menstruation is “younger” is explained by a change in living conditions.
Also, modern experts note that the average age of the onset of menstruation is determined by several factors. First, nutrition and body weight play an important role. The more adipose tissue the girl has, the earlier her period comes. Secondly, the start of a natural biological process is determined by race. Southerners, as a rule, ripen earlier. Thirdly, an important role is inherent in heredity. Girls adopt genes from their parents. If the mom's period came late (at the age of 14), then this process is likely to begin at the same age for the daughter.
What is the beginning of menstruation connected with: hormonal changes
The beginning of the first menstruation in the girl indicates that her reproductive system has matured. A number of anatomical and physiological processes lead to the first menstruation. It all starts with the head. The level of hormones formed in the pituitary gland and controlling the function of the ovaries (paired sex glands) rises.
In the ovaries, estrogen is produced due to exposure to substances. This is an important hormone, which for 2-3 years contributes to the development of the girl's body. Under the influence of estrogen, the uterus grows, secondary sexual characteristics appear. This hormone also stimulates the growth of the endometrium, the uterine mucosa.
The formation of a dominant follicle in the body of a girl
When the girl’s body matures, a dominant follicle with an egg is formed in the ovaries. On a certain day he is torn. From it comes a mature egg, which exists for about 24 hours. In place of the follicle, a yellow body forms. It lasts about 12-14 days and produces another important female hormone, progesterone. It positively affects the uterus, its mucous membrane.
When the "corpus luteum" ceases to exist, the hormonal background in the body changes. The endometrium, considered a target organ for hormones, is undergoing changes. The functional layer of the uterine mucosa begins to be rejected. This process provokes temporary bleeding, which is called menstruation.
It is important to note that monthly egg maturation occurs in adult girls and women. In young girls, during the early first periods, this process may not occur, since their body is not yet formed, only puberty sets in. Menses in the first year are mainly anovulatory, that is, this means that the egg does not mature and does not exit the ovary.
What occurs during menstruation
The beginning of menstruation is a signal that changes have occurred in the body, the hormonal background has changed. Firstly, there are spotting from the vagina. As a rule, during the first menstruation, they are not very plentiful. Secondly, on the first day of menstruation, the lower abdomen aches. This is a natural symptom. It occurs due to contraction of the muscles of the uterus. The first day of menstruation is always painful. Thirdly, mood spoils. Girls, like adult girls and women, note irritability and tearfulness in themselves.
What are the first periods in duration? Duration is individual. On average, it is from 2 to 7 days. The volume of blood lost ranges from 30 to 50 ml. Every day, the profusion of bloody discharge decreases. In recent days, they may be smearing. As a result, spotting stops.
What is needed for menstruation
If a girl observes whitish discharge, then she should prepare for her period. You will need to buy pads - hygiene products that are sold in pharmacies and stores in a wide range. At the first menstruation, girls can trust the purchase to their mother or make it on their own.
It is important to remember that choosing a gasket is not as easy as it might seem at first glance, because you need to consider a lot of features:
- The gasket must have hypoallergenic properties. Only then it will create comfort, will not cause irritation and itching.
- Absorbent properties are very important. They are estimated by the number of drops indicated on the package. For example, with abundant discharge, the best option would be gaskets that have the most drops on the packaging.
Use swabs instead of pads
In modern pharmacies and stores, tampons are found among hygiene products for critical days. They resemble small cylinders that are designed to be inserted into the vagina and retain menstrual blood. Tampons can be used at any age. When used correctly, they do not cause discomfort, pain, do not violate the integrity of the hymen, since their maximum diameter is about 1.3 cm.
Tampons are convenient to use. Experts do not argue with this, but recommend taking into account one feature of this hygiene product. The swab should not be in the vagina for more than 6 hours. After 4 hours of use, it is recommended to replace it with a new one. Due to the untimely removal of a contaminated swab in the vagina, bacteria begin to multiply rapidly. Menstrual blood with microorganisms flows back into the uterus. The infection is spreading. As a result, serious complications may develop.
Menstruation lifestyle
From the first day of menstruation, the girl should pay special attention to hygiene, so as to always feel comfortable, not to face irritations. A shower is required in the morning and evening. In addition, regular washing is necessary, because blood under the influence of air and microbes decomposes very quickly, there is an unpleasant odor that people around can feel. The minimum allowable number of washings is 2-3 times a day. Ideally, water procedures should be after every replacement of a pad, tampon, or toilet.
During menstruation, as a rule, their health worsens, so girls are allowed not to attend physical education classes on critical days, not to participate in sports. Experts also recommend that during this period, refuse to swim in the pool, river, sea.
Menstrual cycle concept
The concept of “menstrual cycle” is inextricably linked with menstruation. This term refers to the period of time from the first day of one menstruation to the first day of the next menstruation. Normally, the cycle time for a healthy girl and woman is from 21 to 35 days.
At the first menstruation, the cycle duration may differ from the norm. The World Health Organization notes that the very first menstrual cycle in 38% of girls lasts more than 40 days, in 10% - 60 days, and in 20% - only 20 days. All this is considered quite normal during the first menstruation. It's just that girls do not immediately have a menstrual cycle. This may take 1 or 2 years. With age, the duration of the cycle becomes within normal limits.
SOS Signals
The process of puberty is not always normal. Some girls have problems that require seeking medical attention. Here are a number of symptoms that indicate that the reproductive system is not all right:
- too long first periods (more than 8 days) or too short (less than 3 days);
- excessively heavy discharge, due to which the gasket has to be changed almost every hour;
- violation of the menstrual cycle (long first delay of menstruation or too short a period between the first and subsequent menstruation).
In the presence of the above symptoms, a doctor’s consultation is simply necessary, because the girl may have serious problems that in the future will lead to sad consequences (for example, infertility or miscarriage). The reasons for an irregular cycle can be poor nutrition, improper hygiene. The doctor will give the necessary recommendations, in the presence of the first signs of a delay in menstruation, he will recommend herbal remedies for the correction of menstrual function.
What is important to know about pregnancy
Unfortunately, too many modern girls begin to live sexually too early. Due to the lack of important knowledge, some have an unwanted pregnancy. Young girls should remember that menstruation indicates puberty, but they do not yet mean the body's readiness for pregnancy. At this age, conception is undesirable. Girls who have sex, first of all need to take care of contraception. Doctors warn that without protection, pregnancy can occur at any time, even with an irregular menstrual cycle.
If conception occurs, then the girl can understand this by the presence of the first signs of pregnancy before the delay of menstruation. As a rule, the chest becomes painful, there is an aversion to certain products, and nausea suffers in the morning. The presence of such symptoms should be reported to parents and consult a doctor in the future. Pregnancy at a young age is a serious stress for the body, so a specialist consultation is necessary.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that the beginning of menstruation is an important event in the life of any girl. At this point, you need to be prepared. It is important to know about the features of menstruation, and deviations from the norm, and about a possible pregnancy. If you have any problems, you should not be afraid to contact mothers and specialists, because menstruation is natural. They occur in every woman.