Don't worry : How to prepare young girls for their periods
What advice to give to a girl on her period?
A natural phenomenon, periods correspond to a blood flow coming from the uterus. Their duration, abundance and frequency can vary greatly from one person to another. Sometimes, abdominal pain occurs, before or during the days of menstruation.
What are periods or menstruation?
Periods are blood flow from themucous membrane(inner wall) of the uterus. Each month, during the menstrual cycle, themucous membranethickens, to accommodate aovulefertilized. This natural phenomenon prepares for a possible pregnancy. However, if there has been no fertilization of aovuleby aspermatozoon, the surface layer of themucous membraneuterine tissue detaches and is eliminated through the vagina : this is menstruation .
Understanding the menstrual cycle
The menstrual cycle is made up of 2 phases separated by theovulation.
The follicular phase
The follicular phase prepares for theovulation. During this phase, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), produced by thepituitary gland, stimulates the ovarian follicles to produce aovulemature. It also promotes the secretion by the follicles of estrogens which act on the thickening of themucous membraneuterine and the consistency of thecervical mucus. Variations in the duration of the cycle occur during this phase.
Ovulation
Ovulationis caused by an increase in the level of luteinizing hormone (LH surge), under the action of estrogen, leading to the rupture of the follicle and the release of theovulemature who moves in thefallopian tubesto the uterus.
The luteal phase
The luteal phase is the period between theovulationand the onset of menstruation. After theovulation, the follicle transformed into a corpus luteum producesprogesteronewhich helps to strengthen themucous membraneuterine in view of thenesting.
Periods
If the egg is not fertilized, it does not implant in the uterus. The corpus luteum atrophies and the progesterone level drops sharply in a context of low estrogen production. As a result, the superficial layer of the uterine lining detaches and is eliminated. It is this period that signals the start of the next cycle.
When do periods return?
The duration of a cycle, on average 28 days, varies from 23 to 35 days depending on the woman. Any variations in cycle duration occur most frequently during the follicular phase. The duration of the luteal phase, which is more constant, is generally between 12 and 16 days.
It follows that periods occur, depending on each girl, on a variable date ranging from 23 to 35 days. In adolescents, cycles can be irregular from one month to the next. If the period does not occur and the delay lasts more than 3 months, it is called amenorrhea. It is necessary to know the cause.
The onset of menstruation can be announced by pain in the lower abdomen, or colored discharge.
The periods themselves generally last three to six days. However, they vary greatly from one person to another, whether in terms of:
- their duration;
- their abundance (in general, periods are heavier in the first 3 days);
- the signs associated with them (e.g.: pain).
During their periods, some young girls may feel dirty or impure. This sometimes causes fear or a feeling of shame. Generally, these feelings disappear within a few months.
The periods do not involve changing your usual activities (for example, you do not have to stop playing sports during this period).
Other symptoms may announce the arrival of menstruation
In the days before menstruation, some women experience, for example, during each cycle:
- A feeling of tension in the breasts;
- Abdominal bloating;
- Nervousness;
- Mood disorders.
This is called premenstrual syndrome.
These signs disappear when menstruation begins. However, if these disorders are significant, talk to your doctor: treatments are possible.
Always carry a periodic intimate protection
In adolescents, cycles can be irregular from one month to the next and the date of the onset of the period is unpredictable. Periods can arrive without warning, at any time of the day.
It is therefore preferable to always carry:
- either a sanitary napkin;
- or a tampon.
Young girls are often hesitant to use tampons. However, they come in various sizes, and the thinnest ones can often be used from the first period. This type of tampon is also useful when blood flow is low.
Learn about the different types of intimate protection and learn how to use them safely.
Remember that protection must be changed frequently. Due to the risk of toxic shock when wearing internal intimate protection (tampons in particular) for a long time, they must be changed every 4 to 6 hours and they are not recommended for use at night.
What to do in case of painful periods?
Period pain called dysmenorrhea is very common among young girls. 50 to 70% of teenage girls have painful periods permanently or occasionally. Then the frequency of dysmenorrhea decreases after the age of 18.
Period pain can range from simple discomfort to real cramps. Most often, it is relieved by taking a painkiller such as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen.
Certain actions can also help relieve the pain, for example:
- massaging your stomach;
- taking a hot bath or shower;
- applying a hot water bottle to your stomach;
- doing physical activity (walking, swimming);
- doing relaxation exercises (e.g. yoga).
Sometimes, however, the pain is so intense that it prevents you from doing your usual activities. Period pain is the leading cause of school absenteeism in adolescents. In this case, consult your doctor or take advantage of the medical follow-up examinations offered to you at 11-13 years and 15-16 years to discuss it.
If your period pain is severe and recurring, talk to your doctor. A check-up to look for endometriosis may be necessary.
Your doctor will be able to prescribe appropriate treatment.
In general, a few years after the onset of your first period, period pain often becomes rarer.
Advice to follow when taking painkillers
If you are taking medication for period pain, here are some recommendations:
Check that you do not have any contraindications to using the medication;
Take the smallest effective dose without exceeding the dosage prescribed or recommended in the leaflet (maximum daily dose authorized, quantity and frequency of doses, minimum interval between two doses). This will help you avoid an overdose that could be toxic and/or lead to addiction to the product;
for the same reasons, avoid combining or alternating painkillers of different compositions (unless otherwise advised by a doctor);
treatment with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory should not exceed 5 days. If the pain persists, consult your doctor. If you have started treatment yourself, tell your doctor the medication used, the dose and the frequency of intake.
What to do in case of irregular or heavy periods?
In general, the interval between periods is 21 to 35 days. However, the first menstrual cycles are often irregular. The periods can indeed appear early or on the contrary be very spaced out.
This is nothing to worry about; in one to two years, the menstrual cycles will become regular. To observe their regularity, you can also note the days on which the periods appear, in a notebook or a calendar.
However, if an absence of periods is prolonged (this is called amenorrhea), a medical consultation is necessary.
Similarly, consult your doctor if your periods are very heavy or last a long time, and if this disrupts your daily life.
