Girls Puberty & The Menstrual Cycle

Girls Puberty & The Menstrual Cycle

Pimples. Growing breasts. Body hair. Moody moments. If any of these sounds familiar, you are likely on the path of puberty.

It is a road everyone travels, and it certainly has its bumps. But it is also an amazing time!  Remember - while it is tempting to compare yourself to other girls who are also going through puberty, remember that everyone develops at a different pace - and puberty is not a race!

Girls Period & Ovulation

QUICK FACTS

• Period, menstrual cycle, menstruation, menstrual period: Many names, one thing.
• Your menstrual cycle begins on the day you start bleeding or see blood for the first time from your vagina.
• During menstruation, the lining of the uterus flows out through your vagina.
• A girl’s period typically lasts on between two and seven days.
• You only lose about 3 Tablespoons of blood during your period, although it can seem like more!
• About 28 days after you got your period, you will get it again.

WHAT HAPPENS THE FIRST TIME YOU GET YOUR PERIOD?

(Sure we all have funny stories of our first periods!) It may happen at school, sometimes it will happen while you are asleep (lucky you), and sometimes it will happen at a pool party or at church.

Everyone gets their period at different ages. Some girls will start menstruating at age 8, others will start at age 15! (Different bodies, different experiences)

During the first few years you have your period, do not be bothered if it is not regular. It is actually normal for it to be a bit irregular. Sometimes you will wait only 28 days between cycles. Other times it may be 40 days! There is no need to worry - and you can always talk to a healthcare provider if you need to.

IDENTIFYING THE SYMPTOMS OF MENSTRUATION

Menstruation is what most people call having your period. Menstruation is part of the natural process that prepares your body to be able to get pregnant someday when you are mature and ready. This is also called your “menstrual cycle,” with your period being the first day. During menstruation, the lining of the uterus flows out through your vagina.

A girl’s period typically lasts from 5-7 days. Some days it will be a “heavy flow,” with more blood leaving your body. Other days will be a “lighter flow,” when less blood will trickle out.

MENSTRUAL PAINS AND CRAMPS

When you are menstruating, it is important to take good care of yourself! Many women experience menstrual cramps during or before their period. Menstrual cramps can feel like a stomach ache or a back ache. If you have cramps, before or during your period, try taking a warm bath and soaking your tummy. It might help soothe away the pain. Tea and warm drinks might also help to ease off the cramps, as would a heating pad. You can also try taking some paracetamol to help relieve the symptoms of cramps.

If your cramps are unbearable, talk to a healthcare provider about other possible remedies like prescription medication or the help of family planning pills.

PERIOD PRODUCTS

Once you have begun to menstruate, you will need to take adequate care of yourself so that you can remain clean and without infection. In order to keep dry and clean, you will need to soak up the menstrual/ blood flow. There are products designed in particular for soaking up your menstrual flow but you might have to try a few to find the one you are most comfortable with.

Let’s look at some of the products available to you.

Pads

Pads (sometimes called sanitary towels) stick to your underwear and absorb the flow of blood once it leaves your body. They come in many sizes, thicknesses, and widths – you may have to experiment to find the best one for you. If you do not have access to pads, you can use clean cloths - just fold pieces of cloth thick enough to absorb the menstrual flow, and have the edges of the material extend over your underpants to catch any leakages. Each cloth should be changed, and washed in hot soapy water, and properly dried, before being used again.

During the day, depending on how strong your flow is, you should change your pad or cloth every few hours. At night, use a thicker pad or make your folded cloth thicker, and you should be okay throughout the night.

No matter what kind of pads you choose to use, make sure to remove your pads every 4-5 hours maximum to prevent the buildup of bacteria and prevent bad odour. It is important to change your pad frequently even if you flow is very light. Heavy flows obviously require frequent change if you don’t want to get stained.

Signs of Puberty in Girls

During puberty there are many changes that are happening in your body - some visible from the outside, some occurring inside.

First, let us chat about what is happening on the outside of your body.

Breast Development

Breasts come in endless shapes, sizes, and colors. There is no way to predict how big or small your breasts will be, and there is no way to know how long it will take your breasts to fully develop. On average, it takes about 4-5 years for your breasts to fully develop into their adult size.

A woman’s breast size is in her DNA - that means she is born with a predetermined size, and it cannot be changed with injections, medicines, vitamins, or special foods.

To be continued... Read and please share this knowledge to others.