“Why do women have periods? “All the important questions about periods.” What is menstruation in girls? What is menstruation in brief?

How menstruation goes is a question that is important both for young girls whose cycle has not yet established itself, and for women who have encountered any problems in the functioning of the reproductive system.

The regularity and stability of the cycle indicate, first of all, the normal functioning of the body and the woman’s ability to fertilize and give birth to a baby. However, due to a number of factors, a malfunction occurs in the body and menstruation does not go as it should.

Duration

Knowing how many days menstruation should last, and what volume, a woman is able to promptly understand the onset of a malfunction. The individuality of each organism should not be excluded, however, there are certain norms regarding the nature of menstruation.

The duration is believed to be between three and seven days. During this period, a general deterioration in health and pain in the lower abdomen are considered natural.

If the discharge lasts less or more than the specified time, it makes sense to contact a gynecologist.

Long periods or, on the contrary, very short periods may indicate:

• disruption of the normal hormonal balance in the body;
• inflammatory or infectious processes in the organs of the reproductive system.

Calculation methods

The regularity of menstruation in women should be discussed by knowing the exact number of days in the cycle. You should understand what it is. Some people mistake it for the period between discharges. In reality, the cycle includes total number days from the first day of menstruation to the first day of the next menstruation.

(Date of menstruation - date of previous menstruation) + additional one day = cycle duration

The norm is 28 days. However, a duration of 21 to 35 days is allowed; these are all normal options.

The duration of the female cycle can be influenced by:

• fatigue and overwork;
• stressful situations;
• diets, weight loss or weight gain;
• colds and exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• moving to a different climate zone, etc.

To keep track of their own cycle, the doctor often recommends that girls keep a calendar and mark the dates of their periods in it. This method will allow you not only to monitor the condition of the body, but also to accurately indicate information to the gynecologist when visiting him.

How are periods normal?

How menstruation proceeds normally, how discharge should proceed correctly, every lady needs to know.

Doctors point to various options that are not a deviation:

1. On the first day, heavy menstruation contains dark blood clots. In subsequent days, the discharge becomes less abundant and disappears by days 5-7.
2. The beginning of menstruation is dark spotting, which becomes more abundant by the 3rd day. Then the intensity of menstruation decreases.
3. Change in discharge throughout 5-7 days. The discharge may be scanty at first, and then abundant, and vice versa.

You can rely on these options if you are concerned about how your periods are going normally. But another course of menstruation can be completely natural.

How much should there be?

Menstrual flow is distinguished by volume, it can be:

• normal;

It’s normal if up to 6-7 pieces of hygiene products are used per day. A larger number of pads used indicates excessive discharge, a smaller number of pads is an indicator of scanty periods.

Reasons for deviations

If a woman realizes that there is something wrong with her cycle, and the discharge is far from normal, she should go to the doctor and get examined.

A large amount of discharge that lasts more than a week may be a symptom of problems such as:

• problems with blood clotting;
• hormonal imbalance in the body;
• the presence of other inflammatory or infectious diseases.

Poor menstruation may indicate the following problems:

• disruption of the natural balance of hormones in the body;
• improper functioning of the ovaries;
• etc.

What to do if a failure occurs

If your periods take a long time, the reason is not always the presence of a disease. There are often situations when menstruation occurs, or does not occur at all, but there is also no pregnancy. The cause of all these conditions must be found by a doctor and prescribed appropriate treatment.

There are types that require medical intervention:

• Algomenorrhea. Often occurs in young girls. The duration of the cycle and discharge are usually normal, but on the days of menstruation severe pain occurs, which can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and other disorders in the body.
• Amenorrhea. This is a complete absence of menstruation. Is normal during pregnancy and after childbirth.
• Metrorrhagia. Bloody discharge that appears in the middle of the cycle. The reason is often the presence of tumors in the uterus, such as fibroids. May appear after stress.
• Dysmenorrhea. The onset of menstruation is much earlier or later than the due date. The reason is hormones or the influence of any external circumstances - stress, exams, flight.
• Oligoamenorrhea. Rare and scanty menstruation, which can subsequently cause infertility in a woman.

Video about the menstrual cycle

Every woman and girl should know how menstruation goes. This is especially true for teenagers who are just expecting their first menstruation. Any deviation is a reason to consult a doctor. Only careful attention to your women's health will allow you to maintain excellent health and the opportunity to become a mother in the future.

All information is provided for informational purposes. Do not self-medicate. At the first sign of disease, consult a doctor.

Obstetrics and gynecology Menstruation (menstruation)

Menstruation (menstruation)

What are periods

Period or menstruation , this is the appearance of bloody discharge in women at a certain period of time once a month. During menstruation, the inner layer of the uterus is shed. Menstrual blood leaves the uterine cavity through the cervical canal and then enters the vagina. Typically, menstruation lasts from 3 to 5 days.

What is the monthly (menstrual) cycle?

When menstruation occurs regularly at regular intervals, it is called a menstrual cycle. A normal monthly cycle is a sign that a woman's body is working normally. The monthly cycle is ensured by the production of special chemicals called hormones. Hormones prepare a woman's body regularly every month for fertilization and pregnancy. The menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of the last menstrual period to the first day of subsequent months. The average length of the menstrual cycle is 28 days. It can range from 21 to 35 days in adult women and from 21 to 45 days in adolescents. Cycle length is regulated by the rise and fall of hormone levels during the cycle.

What processes occur during the menstrual cycle

In the first half of the cycle, estrogen levels increase. Estorgens are female sex hormones that play an important role in women's health. First of all, under the influence of estrogens, bones become stronger. Estrogens ensure strong bones into old age. Estrogens also cause growth and thickening of the uterine lining, the endometrium. The endometrium is that part of the uterus that initially serves as a medium for the implantation of the embryo and provides nutrition to the embryo during pregnancy. At the same time, along with the growth of the endometrium, a follicle grows in the ovary - a vesicle, which contains an egg inside. Approximately in the middle of the cycle, on day 14, the egg leaves the follicle. This process is called ovulation. After the egg leaves the ovary, it travels through the fallopian tube into the uterine cavity. High levels of hormones at this time provide optimal conditions for embryo implantation. The highest chance of getting pregnant begins 3 days before ovulation and ends on the day of ovulation. If the egg meets the sperm during this period, pregnancy occurs. If there is no meeting with the sperm, the egg dies, the level of hormones drops, and the inner layer of the uterus begins to be rejected. This is how new periods start.

What happens during menstruation

During menstruation, the inner layer of the uterus is shed through the cervical and vaginal canal. This is accompanied by bleeding. With the help of blood flow, the remnants of the inner layer of the uterus are washed away and removed from the body. The amount of vaginal bleeding may vary from month to month. The length of vaginal bleeding may vary from cycle to cycle. On average, it ranges from 3 to 5 days, but the norm is considered to be from 2 to 7 days. During the first few years after menstruation begins, periods are usually longer than in middle age. The usual cycle length is from 21 to 35 days.

What problems can arise during menstruation?

Many disorders that develop during menstruation have been described. The most common are:

At what age should you get your first period?

Average age of first menstruation- 12 years old. This does not mean that your period should begin during this period. The first period can begin between the ages of 8 and 15. Before menstruation begins, breasts grow. As a rule, the onset of the first menstruation occurs within 2 years after the start of breast development. If menstruation does not appear after 15 years or does not occur 2-3 years after breast growth begins, you should see a doctor.

Early periods

If menstruation begins earlier than 21 from the start of the last menstruation, it is called early. The reason for early menstruation may be the insufficiency of the second phase. Insufficiency of the second phase occurs when the formation of the corpus luteum is disrupted or its premature extinction. During the second phase of the cycle, the corpus luteum produces progesterone. Progesterone is a female sex hormone, under the influence of which the endometrium, which grew in the first phase, enters the stage of secretion - the most favorable for embryo implantation. If progesterone is low, its falling level triggers early menstruation.

Girls' periods

If girls get their periods earlier than 8 years old, this is a sign of precocious puberty. The reasons lie in the disruption of hormonal regulation of puberty processes. If such a situation arises, it is necessary to contact a pediatric endocrinologist, who will prescribe a set of necessary tests and select treatment aimed at normal sexual development. Girls' periods are characterized by an unstable cycle. As a rule, this cycle can reach 45 days, which is considered completely normal for girls to get their periods. Also, menstruation in girls often causes pain.

Scanty periods

Lean periods last less than two days. Bloody discharge has a brown tint. Such brown periods appear due to the fact that the process of separating the remnants of the endometrium is very slow and the blood has time to clot, which causes this color. Scanty periods are also characterized by slight discharge. Such periods may indicate a violation of the second phase of the cycle and insufficient thickness of the endometrium. In women with scanty periods, pregnancy is problematic, since most often the existing disorder is associated with a deficiency of progesterone, which promotes embryo implantation.

Heavy periods

Heavy periods last more than 7 days and there is a need to change pads frequently. Frequent changing of pads means the need to change them every 2 hours or more often. Heavy periods occur due to the fact that in the uterine cavity there is a thickened inner layer - the endometrium. When menstruation begins, the endometrium cannot be shed quickly. Partial peeling delays the process of menstruation and causes more heavy bleeding. Often the cause of heavy periods can be uterine fibroids or uterine polyps. Blood clotting disorders also increase the intensity of your periods.

Periods after childbirth

A woman who is breastfeeding usually does not have periods after childbirth. This is due to the fact that the hormone prolactin, which is produced in the body of a nursing woman in large quantities, inhibits the production of hormones that trigger menstruation. However, if there is a lack of prolactin, for example with irregular breastfeeding, your period may start.

How long does a woman have regular periods?

Women have periods until menopause. Menopause occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 years. The average age of menopause is 50 years. Menopause characterizes the period when a woman loses the ability to become pregnant, her periods disappear and her eggs do not mature. Menopause does not occur immediately. For some women, it takes several years for it to develop. This is the so-called transient menopause. It can last from 2 to 8 years. For some women, menopause may occur later early age due to illness, chemotherapy or surgery. If a woman has not had her period for more than 90 days, she should consult a doctor to rule out pregnancy, early menopause and other conditions.

In what cases should you consult a doctor if your periods are irregular?

• If your period does not start after age 15
• If there are no periods 3 years after breast growth begins, or if breasts have not begun to grow by age 13.
• If there is no menstruation for more than 90 days
• If, after a period of a stable cycle, periods begin to occur irregularly
• If menstruation occurs more often than once every 21 days or less than once every 35 days
• If bleeding continues for more than 7 days
• If the bleeding intensity is higher than usual or you have to use 1 pad every 1-2 hours.
• If vaginal bleeding occurs between menstrual periods
• If you experience severe pain during menstruation
• If a high temperature suddenly appears after using the pads

How often should you change your tampon or pad during your period?

It is necessary to change a tampon or pad at least once every 4-8 hours. Always use a tampon or pad with the least absorbency rating. Absorption is the ability to retain blood. The higher the absorption rate, the more blood can accumulate in the pad or tampon. The use of tampons and pads with a high degree of absorption can cause the development of toxic shock syndrome. Toxic shock develops due to the absorption into the blood of bacterial waste products that colonize a pad or tampon soaked in menstrual fluid. Although this syndrome is rare, it can have fatal consequences. It is safer to use a pad rather than a tapmon.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, remove your tampon or pad and visit your doctor:

• Sudden increase in body temperature
• Muscle pain
• Diarrhea
• Vomit
• Nausea
• A rash on the body that looks like sunburn
• Redness of the eyes
• Discomfort in the throat

What to do if you miss your period

If you miss your period, this could be a sign of pregnancy. To confirm, you need to do a pregnancy test. If the test is positive, you need to see a doctor for a uterine ultrasound to make sure that the embryo is in the uterine cavity. If your period has disappeared and the pregnancy test is negative, you should consult an obstetrician-gynecologist. There can be a lot of reasons, and the doctor will help you choose exactly those tests and examination methods that will determine the cause.

Is it possible to get pregnant during menstruation?

Many people believe that it is impossible to get pregnant during menstruation. However, it is not. The fact is that in order to get pregnant, ovulation is necessary. Ovulation (the release of an egg from the follicle) usually occurs in the middle of the cycle, but can also occur on the tenth day of the monthly cycle. Considering that the normal duration of menstruation can be up to 7 days, fertilization can occur if there was sexual intercourse on the seventh (last) day of menstruation. The lifespan of sperm can reach 72 hours, that is, 3 days. That is, on day 10 the egg has a chance to be fertilized. Usually, sperm carrying X chromosomes live this long, that is, as a result of such fertilization, the child will have a female sex.

Is it possible to get pregnant immediately after menstruation?

You can get pregnant immediately after your period if your periods last a long time and ovulation occurs within 72 hours by the end of your period. Early ovulation and prolonged periods can periodically occur in completely healthy women. Of course, the likelihood of getting pregnant immediately after menstruation is small, but it should be taken into account by those couples who do not plan to have children and do not follow a certain lifestyle (drink alcohol, smoke, take medications).

Is it possible to have sex during menstruation?

During menstruation, the cervical canal opens and rejected endometrial fragments accumulate in the vaginal cavity, which serve as a breeding ground for conditionally pathogenic bacteria. The mucous plug of the cervical canal, which serves as a barrier to the penetration of infections into the uterine cavity, is absent during menstruation. If a woman has an STD that is in a latent, hidden form, they can become active during menstruation. Thus, on the one hand, sex during menstruation can jeopardize the health of a man, who is at risk of getting a nonspecific infection or STD. On the other hand, for a woman, sex during menstruation is dangerous because at this time the natural defenses are reduced and the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases is higher.

Discharge after menstruation

Vaginal discharge after menstruation may be bloody. If vaginal bleeding occurs, it means that there could be a piece of tissue in the uterine cavity that has not completely separated. Such incomplete separation can occur in small portions over a fairly long period. As a rule, discharge after menstruation occurs with endometrial polyps and other processes accompanied by nervous thickening of the endometrium. Sometimes discharge after menstruation can be due to hormonal imbalances.

Discharge before menstruation

As a rule, discharge before menstruation can occur if a woman has inflammatory disease, which worsens before the onset of menstruation. Many chronic diseases of the genitourinary system, especially chlamydia, trichomoniasis, mycoplasmosis and ureaplasmosis, can worsen before menstruation. One of the signs of exacerbation is precisely the presence of vaginal discharge.

How to induce menstruation if you haven’t had one for a long time or your cycle is irregular?

The absence of periods or their irregularity can occur for many reasons. Often the reason for the absence of menstruation can be polycystic ovary syndrome. In order to induce menstruation, you must first determine the reason for their absence. In some cases, it is enough to adjust the diet and apply rational physical activity for menstruation to resume. In other cases, it is necessary to correct hormonal levels or even resort to surgical treatment. This question is so complex and takes into account so many individual characteristics that it is necessary to consult a good specialist.

In obstetrics and gynecology we work in the following areas:

• Vaginal discharge in women, discharge during pregnancy

At the age of 12-14 years, every girl becomes a girl, she has her first one, she doesn’t know yet, so explain to her everything about female body Mom should. Naturally, at first such phenomena will frighten the young lady, but they should not be afraid, because this is a completely natural physiological process.

In order not to pronounce the long word “menstruation”, many girls replace it with “red days of the calendar”, “these days” or simply “menstruation”. The last name is primarily due to the fact that this process occurs once a month. But what is it and what are periods for?

Menstruation is a state of the body in which your egg is fully mature. During this process, the uterus, in which blood accumulates, increases in size in order to accommodate the egg in the event of fertilization. However, this does not happen, so the egg is destroyed, and the uterus narrows and blood comes out. It is the latter that we see every month, each time asking the question: “Why are periods needed?” Some days the blood flows quite quickly, so you have to constantly change the pads. However, this process ends soon and is repeated on the same day of the next month (or with a shift of 2-3 days).

The role of menstruation cannot be underestimated, because they are the first sign of a woman’s health, so only those planning a pregnancy can rejoice in their absence. In other cases, non-occurrence or delay means the emergence of a problem. When one occurs, you no longer rack your brains about why periods are needed, but, on the contrary, you look forward to their arrival.

Not all women experience the onset of “these days” the same way. For some, this is a completely ordinary day of the calendar, differing only in the undesirability of sexual intercourse. For others, the onset of menstruation means several days of constant pain and tears. Both reactions are completely normal, so you shouldn’t be too scared. However, experts believe that pain during menstruation can appear as a result of hypothermia of the ovaries, so you need to be careful during “these days.”

What are periods for, besides fertility? Naturally, the blood lost as a result of menstruation creates conditions for the body in which it is forced to produce it again, which helps to improve its level and new saturation with vitamins and minerals.

The few days before your period may seem like hell to your partner, and you - the main character in it. As the body undergoes restructuring, women’s mood often changes. Even the most insignificant little thing can upset them to tears and even enrage them. On such days, it is advisable for a man to treat the girl more gently and not create conflict situations.

We hope that you understand why periods are needed in a woman’s life. I wish you health and happiness. Remember that health is the key to our future happiness, so take care of it from a young age.

Menstruation or menstruation is the period of the menstrual cycle in girls and women of childbearing age during which the endometrium (the upper layer of the mucous membrane) of the uterus is shed.

What happens in the body?

IN last days During the menstrual cycle (before the onset of menstruation), the endometrium is characterized by increased elasticity, as it prepares to receive a fertilized egg into the uterus.

If pregnancy does not occur, the hormonal levels in the woman’s body change, which leads to a deterioration in the blood supply to the upper layer of the uterine mucosa, it stratifies and is gradually rejected. Along with it, blood comes out of the vagina, which has accumulated due to the rupture of small blood vessels- menstruation begins.

From the second day of menstruation, simultaneously with the rejection of the upper layer, the endometrium begins to recover and is renewed. This process is completed on days 5-7 of the cycle. Next, the mucous layer begins to thicken and again prepares for the possible conception of a child.

At the same time, in the first half of the menstrual cycle, the egg matures in the ovaries. Around the middle of the cycle, a woman ovulates: a mature egg leaves the ovary and enters the fallopian tube. If conception occurs at this time, pregnancy occurs; if not, the endometrium of the uterus is rejected again and the whole process begins all over again.

What does the discharge consist of?

Menstruation consists of blood, particles of mucous membrane and vaginal discharge and has a specific odor. Normally, their color can vary from red to dark brown, sometimes with clots. The volume of blood loss during menstruation, on average, for the entire period is about 250 ml (about a glass), and from 20 to 50 ml per day.

Throughout life, the volume of secretions may change. For example, young girls may have heavier periods than older women. However, a sharp change in their color, volume or duration should alert you at any age.

If bleeding from the vagina is very heavy, prolonged (more than 7 days), there are a large number of clots in the discharge, or, conversely, they suddenly become very scarce, and also if the blood during the entire menstruation is only scarlet in color - this is a serious reason for an unscheduled visit to gynecologist.

How long do they last?

The menstrual cycle is a period that is counted from the first day of menstruation to the first day of the next. On average, for girls and women it is 28 days. However, for some, the number of days of the cycle may differ: a variant of the norm is considered if it lasts from 21 to 35 days.

As you can guess from the name, menstruation occurs only once a month. But if menstrual cycle short, they can come 2 times, and if it’s very long (35 days), menstruation may not occur every month.

Periodic menstrual bleeding lasts from 3 to 7 days.

The absence of menstruation in women of childbearing age may indicate:

• serious illness
• hormonal changes,
• but most often - about the onset of pregnancy.

If your periods suddenly stop, you should urgently go to a gynecologist to find out the reason.

At the age of about 55, menopause occurs - the last menstruation, after which periodic bleeding in a woman stops. Menopause can occur at any age from 40 to 60 years.

At what age do teenagers get their periods?

When should your first period appear? It is impossible to give an exact age; it depends on the individual characteristics of the body. Usually, the first menstruation begins between the ages of 11 and 14 years, but there are cases when it occurs very early - at 8, or, on the contrary, late - at 16 years.

Most often, a girl's first period comes around the same time as her mother's. However, the arrival of menstruation too early or late in adolescents often indicates hormonal disorders, so in this case it is highly advisable for a young girl to visit a gynecologist.

Menstruation symptoms

What symptoms may indicate your period is approaching? Everyone is different. Some people do not feel any changes in their well-being at all, and only learn about the onset of menstruation when it occurs. However most of representatives of the fair sex still experience a number of characteristic symptoms.

Most often in girls before menstruation:

• breasts swell,
• the lower abdomen begins to hurt,
• they become irritable and hot-tempered.

These are symptoms of the so-called premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which makes itself felt several days (from 2 to 14) before the onset of menstrual bleeding. According to statistics, at least 45% of women experience it.

In addition to the symptoms listed above, the following may also appear during PMS:

• feeling of anxiety, melancholy,
• irritability,
• aggression or depression
• heartache,
• panic attacks,
• frequent urination,
• heaviness in the lower body,
• some even experience bouts of vomiting and a slight increase in body temperature.

However, if such manifestations are so strong that they interfere with concentration at work, or are accompanied by fever and severe pain, we recommend that you bring them to the attention of your doctor.

What should you not do during your period?

Menstruation is not a disease. On the contrary, this is a sign that the girl’s health is fine and she can give birth and carry a child if she wishes. However, this does not mean that you do not need to take care of your health at this time.

During menstruation, it is very important to observe a number of restrictions so as not to harm your body and not increase bleeding.

Experience physical activity

On critical days, it is highly advisable to limit physical activity, and this applies to even the most notorious sports fans. Do not lift weights, run, or do strenuous physical work.

Why? Because all these actions increase blood flow to the pelvic organs and aggravate bleeding from the vagina. Because of this, the hemoglobin level may drop significantly, causing a feeling of weakness, drowsiness, and fatigue.

By the way, this is why many schools allow you not to go to physical education class when girls are menstruating.

Drink alcoholic drinks

Alcohol is harmful in itself, so you should avoid it on other days as well. But during menstruation, alcohol is also prohibited because under its influence the walls of blood vessels dilate, which again can lead to more heavy bleeding.

Have a sex life

Lovers should wait a few days to protect the body from pathogenic organisms. During menstruation, the uterine and vaginal mucosa becomes very vulnerable, and the risk of contracting an infection increases several times.

In addition, sex is also physical activity, which is contraindicated during this period. And there may not be any pleasure, since it will be difficult for a woman to relax due to the discharge and special smell.

Take a hot bath, go to the sauna, swim in open water

During menstruation, girls need to take better care of themselves and wash themselves regularly. warm water to avoid the appearance of an unpleasant odor. You should not take a hot bath, much less visit a sauna. There are cases when, after such visits, women began bleeding so heavily that it was difficult to stop.

Also, during menstrual bleeding, you should not swim in pools and especially open water, as the risk of pathogenic bacteria entering the vagina and uterus increases. Unfortunately, even the use of tampons will not help provide the necessary protection.

Plan operations

Doctors warn that during menstruation it is impossible to plan operations, even such seemingly insignificant ones as tooth extraction, since during these days women’s blood clotting worsens.

Ignoring this prohibition can lead to complications: large-scale, difficult-to-stop bleeding and large blood losses.

Take anticoagulants

For the same reasons, during the period when menstruation occurs, you should not take aspirin, ascorbic acid and other anticoagulants. They thin the blood and prevent it from clotting, so they can cause heavy bleeding.

Follow a strict diet

On the days of menstruation, you should not adhere to strict dietary restrictions, much less starve or sit on liquid or mono diets. The girl must eat well so that the body is not depleted due to simultaneous blood loss and malnutrition.

The result of dieting during menstruation can be a serious deterioration in health and fainting.

If a girl takes care of herself, eats right and does not overwork, then her critical days will pass without any negative consequences.

Video: what is menstruation and why is it needed?

Every modern first-grader already knows that women and girls periodically have periods. But even adults’ ideas about this process are often very vague, and some young ladies are not even properly prepared for this period. What is menstruation in girls? Why do all representatives of the fair sex, starting from 11-13 years old, bleed for several days of the month?

When do the first critical days begin?

An important stage in the life of every girl is the beginning of the menstrual cycle. More recently, it began in girls at the age of 18, but now puberty begins much earlier. If a girl starts her period at age 11, then this is considered normal. But if the menstrual cycle began at 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 years old, this is also normal, because the onset of menstruation depends on many factors:

1. physical development
2. heredity
3. past diseases
4. living conditions
5. climate
6. nutrition

If the grandmother and mother had an early cycle, then the girl will most likely have an early cycle too. If a girl is physically weak and has been constantly ill since childhood, during puberty she will most likely lag behind her peers. Maturing too early for a girl is fraught with violations hormonal levels, and delayed - in insufficient functioning of the ovaries, a disorder of the pituitary gland or nervous stress.

The first signs of menstruation in girls

The girl observes traces of atypical discharge in her underwear several months before her menstruation. This is a whitish, yellowish or transparent discharge with no odor. But if the discharge is accompanied by itching, burning or an unpleasant odor, then you should definitely visit a gynecologist, as this is not the norm. Signs of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in a girl are observed several days before the onset of menstruation. This condition is often accompanied by:

• aggression or apathy
• tearfulness
• frequent mood swings
• headaches
• pain in the lower abdomen

The first sign of the onset of menstruation is spotting. They are usually very moderate at first, then the bleeding intensifies (towards the middle of the cycle), and by the end of the period they become moderate again. During the very first menstruation, a girl produces from 50 to 150 ml of blood. This different volume is due to hereditary factors. Menstrual discharge has a characteristic smell, which is inherent in all girls without exception at any age, because during this period the mucous glands of the vulva actively produce secretions.

Also, do not worry that there are nagging pains during menstruation. This condition can easily be explained by normal female physiology. Girls, even before the start of their periods, need to know about the need to follow the rules of hygiene, because blood is a very favorable environment for the proliferation of microorganisms, the presence of which will quickly lead to inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system.

Features of the menstrual cycle

The duration of menstruation varies from 3 to 7 days, but it is impossible to say exactly how long menstruation lasts, because the cycle changes in different years and at different periods of a woman’s life. In teenage girls, the intervals between their first periods sometimes range from one and a half to six months. Menstrual function has not yet fully formed, so such breaks are considered normal.

Typically, the menstrual cycle ranges from 21 to 35 days, if you count the period from the first day of the previous menstruation to the beginning of the next. It changes, so in different months it is observed different numbers. But if the break between the first menstruation is really long: there is no bleeding for more than 6 months, then you should definitely contact a gynecologist. This condition indicates a malfunction in the young body.

Why do girls have delays?

The menstrual cycle becomes more or less regular only after two years. But if by this time irregular periods occur, for example, the delay with a negative test constantly reaches 60 days or more, then you need to look for the reasons. Problems usually arise due to:

• sudden climate change
• poor nutrition
• the presence of endocrine or infectious diseases
• high physical activity
• stress
• overweight or underweight
• defects or injuries of the genital organs
• metabolic disorders

A popular reason among modern teenage girls for late periods is anorexia. Such a nervous disease occurs when a girl is underweight, when she thinks that any piece she eats will turn her into an ugly fat woman. Alcohol and promiscuity also lead to long delays in the monthly cycle. Usually, after delays, heavy periods with heavy blood loss occur painfully.

Maintaining hygiene

Hygiene during menstruation must be observed especially carefully. This requirement is justified not only by the presence of an unpleasant odor in the discharge, but, above all, by preserving the girl’s intimate health. An intimate shower is needed more often than usual. It would also be a good idea to take care of special detergents, because regular soap is not the best product for intimate hygiene: it dries the skin even more, which is already subject to excessive friction due to wearing pads.

It is not recommended to take a bath these days, because tap water contains many pathogenic microorganisms, and the cervix is ​​open. This makes it easier for them to get inside, and then infection is inevitable. Also hot water will lead to increased bleeding, which will negatively affect general condition. It is better to wash yourself under warm water 3-4 times a day, and if this is not possible, then you should purchase special wet wipes for intimate hygiene.