MENSTRUATION: LIVING WITH YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE

As girls approach their teen years, many changes occur to prepare their bodies for adult life. The body grows taller, forms breasts, and grows pubic and underarm hair. Other changes prepare the body for pregnancy. Once the body, brain, and uterus are old enough, a monthly bleeding cycle occurs. This monthly cycle is called menstruation or the menstrual period.

In adult women, the lining of the uterus prepares for pregnancy each month. If a pregnancy does not occur, the lining is discarded with blood. This blood flows from the woman's vagina and is referred to as her "period."

Menstruation usually begins around the age of 12.5 years, but the age range can vary from 9 to16 years of age. If menstruation does not start by age 16, a healthcare provider should be consulted. There are tests that can check for normal reproductive growth and development.

If periods stop for 3 months without a pregnancy, a healthcare provider should be notified. From her first period on, it is possible for a girl to get pregnant. The ability to get pregnant lasts until periods have stopped for a year as a result of menopause. After menopause, a provider should evaluate any vaginal bleeding.

How often a period comes and how long it lasts varies from girl to girl and woman to woman. Stress, illness, heavy exercise, a poor diet, being nervous, and pregnancy can interfere with both irregular and regular menstrual cycles. Most women will bleed every 20 to 35 days with the average being 28 days. Most periods last from 3 to 7 days.

After her first period, a girl's first few menstrual periods may be irregular. Cycles can be as short as 3 weeks or as long as 6 weeks and sometimes even longer. Within 1 to 2 years, the periods will usually become regular (occurring every 3 to 5 weeks). The bleeding may be light or heavy.

If the time between periods changes, or the amount or duration of blood flow changes from month to month, an examination may be needed. Keeping a diary of bleeding patterns can help determine if there is a problem.

Bleeding is not the only sign the body gives as it goes through each monthly cycle. Vaginal wetness may occur as mucus is produced by the cervix. Changes throughout the cycle are a result of hormones. Abdominal pain may also occur in the middle of the menstrual cycle.

Most women can tell their period is coming because they experience some breast tenderness and pelvic discomfort. These symptoms can occur before, during, or after your period. Sudden mood changes are not unusual. Bloating, tiredness, and headaches may occur. There are ways to lessen more annoying problems.

Seek medical care if any of the following symptoms occur:

a sudden change in your period with no obvious cause (like an illness)
very heavy menstrual bleeding that lasts more than 7 to 10 days
bleeding between periods
severe abdominal pain that lasts for more than 2 days and is not early in your period
you think you might be pregnant and
other concerns you may have that something is wrong

Good nutrition, daily exercise, and rest help the body function at its best. Over-the-counter medicines, like naproxen or ibuprofen, can control the pain and discomfort that a monthly period brings. Learning the cues each body gives and when to expect them, can better help girls and women manage their periods. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be taken with food or milk to prevent stomach upset. NSAIDs should not be taken by anyone who has been diagnosed with asthma, ulcer disease, or a bleeding disorder. Taking NSAIDs increases the risk of bleeding with trauma, dental work, surgery, or if taking blood thinners (anticoagulants).

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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