menStRuatiOn ( a pEriOd)

Puberty and Periods

Menstruation (a period) is a major stage of puberty in girls; it's one of the many physical signs that a girl is turning into a woman. And like a lot of the other changes associated with puberty, menstruation can be confusing. Some girls can't wait to start their periods, whereas others may feel afraid or anxious. Many girls (and guys!) don't have a complete understanding of a woman's reproductive system or what actually happens during the menstrual cycle, making the process seem even more mysterious.

When girls begin to go through puberty (usually starting between the ages of 8 and 13), their bodies and minds change in many ways. The hormones in their bodies stimulate new physical development, such as growth and breast development. About 2 to 2½ years after a girl's breasts begin to develop, she usually gets her first menstrual period.

About 6 months or so before getting her first period, a girl might notice an increased amount of clear vaginal discharge. This discharge is common. There's no need for a girl to worry about discharge unless it has a strong odor or causes itchiness.

The start of periods is known as menarche. Menarche doesn't happen until all the parts of a girl's reproductive system have matured and are working together.

How Often Does a Girl Get Her Period?

Just as some girls begin puberty earlier or later than others, the same applies to periods. Some girls may start menstruating as early as age 10, but others may not get their first period until they are 15 years old.

The amount of time between a girl's periods is called her menstrual cycle (the cycle is counted from the start of one period to the start of the next). Some girls will find that their menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, whereas others might have a 24-day cycle, a 30-day cycle, or even longer. Following menarche, menstrual cycles last 21–45 days. After a couple of years, cycles shorten to an adult length of 21–34 days.

Irregular periods are common in girls who are just beginning to menstruate. It may take the body a while to sort out all the changes going on, so a girl may have a 28-day cycle for 2 months, then miss a month, for example. Usually, after a year or two, the menstrual cycle will become more regular. Some women continue to have irregular periods into adulthood, though.

As a girl gets older and her periods settle down — or she gets more used to her own unique cycle — she will probably find that she can predict when her period will come. In the meantime, it's a good idea to keep track of your menstrual cycle with a calendar.

How Long and How Much?

The amount of time that a girl has her period also can vary. Some girls have periods that last just 2 or 3 days. Other girls may have periods that last 7 days or longer. The menstrual flow — meaning how much blood comes out of the vagina — can vary widely from girl to girl, too.

Some girls may be concerned that they're losing too much blood. It can be a shock to see all that blood, but it's unlikely that a girl will lose too much, unless she has a medical condition like von Willebrand disease. Though it may look like a lot, the average amount of blood is only about 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) for an entire period. Most teens will change pads 3 to 6 times a day, with more frequent changes when their period is heaviest, usually at the start of the period.

Especially when menstrual periods are new, you may be worried about your blood flow or whether your period is normal in other ways. Talk to a doctor or nurse if:

• your period lasts longer than a week
• you have to change your pad very often (soaking more than one pad every 1–2 hours)
• you go longer than 3 months between periods
• you have bleeding in between periods
• you have an unusual amount of pain before or during your period
• your periods were regular then became irregular

LaTe pEriOD???? ouWhh noO..

Being a woman can be quite complicated when you have to contend with fluctuating hormones and missed periods. It can be scary to discover you have an irregular, missed or absent period. There are so many different health factors that have an effect on your menstrual cycle that it can be hard for you or a doctor to determine the cause. Before you begin to worry, though, consider whether any of these situations might apply to you and learn what you can you do to bring back your period if they do.

First Things First

You must begin by asking yourself a series of questions:!!!!!

• How long has it been since I missed my period?
• Am I taking birth control?
• Is there a possibility I might be pregnant?
• Do I have bleeding between periods?
• How often do I have heavy menstrual bleedING

Why is it Late?
There can be several explanations as to why you have had a late or missed period that depend on your unique health history and lifestyle. Among the more common reasons, late or missed periods can be caused by variety of factors including:

• Pregnancy
• Eating disorders
• Excessive exercise
• Stress
• Travel
• Medications
• Birth control pills or hormonal drugs
• Illicit drug use
• Breastfeeding
• Menstrual disorders
• Premature ovarian failure