Of course, you are most likely no longer a teenager. But perhaps you have teenage children or teenage grandchildren, and some of them are girls. And these girls, most of them, will have to face a completely normal physiological phenomenon of their lives - the formation of menstrual cycles, which will be accepted by most parents and most doctors as a pathological problem. An analysis of communication with parents and doctors, especially in the CIS countries, showed a very unpleasant picture: more than 97-98% of doctors and parents have a very false idea about normal menstrual cycles in girls. Many women, now mothers, also went through many years of taking hormonal contraceptives from early adolescence, which not only did not help, but also aggravated their problems, and for many, pregnancy and childbirth were not easy.

For some reason, it so happened that the topic of sexual development of children was completely left aside not only in the training of medical personnel, but also by the entire public. Look at the content of health forums and websites. Conceiving a child, pregnancy, the first 3-5 years of a child’s life - these are the main topics that are discussed on the forums. And then a space. When you analyze the problems faced by women who wish to conceive a child, the train of negative consequences stretches far into the past - during their adolescence, when we, without exception, go through a very important stage of puberty, on which our future as parents will depend. However, due to fears and ignorance of many issues of this development, we cripple ourselves and deprive ourselves of the opportunity to become parents in the future, and allow the body to be crippled by illiterate specialists who have a false idea about the sexual development of a child or do not have such an idea at all.
Modern scientific information on the topic of sexual development for the Russian-speaking population is practically absent, and what is offered on the pages of magazines, websites, forums, and various publications is a repetition of the same old dogmas of medicine, backward, untrue information.

Human sexual development has several stages, but we will talk about adolescence. This is a period of a new surge in metabolic processes in the body of children, which ends with puberty and the ability of a person to reproduce. This period begins with an increase in the level of male sex hormones in both girls and boys, which is why it is called adrenarche, at approximately 6-8 years. Most of these hormones are produced by the adrenal cortex.
Why does a girl’s body need male sex hormones? It is necessary to know and understand that male sex hormones are precursors to female sex hormones. In other words, a woman’s body is a “production plant” of male sex hormones, some of which are processed into female sex hormones. Most doctors don’t know about this, so they consider male sex hormones to be enemy number one for women. But without the masculine there will never be a feminine - a law of nature, not invented by us and operating outside of our consciousness and desire. (Read more about this topic in the article on male sex hormones).
After the period of adrenarche, thelarche occurs. Thelarche is engorgement of the mammary glands, which is a sign of the beginning of a new stage of puberty. Menarche (first menstruation) usually begins 2-3 years after thelarche appears.
Over the past 150 years, the age at which girls begin menstruating has become significantly younger. The average age at menarche depends on race, diet, place of residence (urban, rural), hereditary factors, body weight, and other factors. About 30 years ago the average age was about 14.5 years in many countries, however, these figures have now dropped to 12.4 years. About 10% of girls begin menstruating at age 11, and 90% of adolescents begin menstruating at age 13.75. By age 15, 98% of girls have menstruated.
The age window when a woman can conceive and give birth to children, called her reproductive age, has expanded significantly over the past 200 years. Another 100-150 years ago, most women experienced menopause at age 40. Modern women menstruate until they are 50-55 years old. This is due to the fact that people’s life expectancy has increased significantly and in many countries it is 70-80 years. Therefore, the age at which menstrual cycles begin has also become younger.

Teenage girls, their parents and, unfortunately, some doctors do not know to what extent the irregularity of menstrual cycles in adolescence is a manifestation of pathology or normality. Most often, the results of hormonal examinations differ from the norms for an adult woman; however, doctors do not take into account the age of girls, but prescribe long-term hormonal treatment, which not only does not improve the situation, but often worsens it.
If there is no contact based on trust between teenage girls and their parents, many adolescent problems, including those related to the function of the reproductive system, remain outside of discussion. Girls hide about whether they missed a monthly cycle, how often they change their pads, and how long the menstrual cycle is. Often, adolescent girls receive additional information about sexual development from their peers, rather than from their parents and doctors. And this information is very dubious.
Over the past two decades, a lot of research has been conducted on the topic of menstrual cycles and their disorders in teenage girls. According to WHO, 38% of girls had a menstrual cycle from menarche to second menstruation lasting more than 40 days, 10% more than 60 days, and 20% 20 days. The duration of the first menstruation ranges from 2 to 7 days, but often lasts up to 2 weeks.
It was erroneously believed that if girls do not have egg maturation (ovulation), then this is a pathology that needs to be treated as quickly as possible. If menstruation begins at age 12, it has been proven that these adolescents will have anovulatory cycles for a year or more. Anovulation (lack of egg maturation) is normal for a teenage girl. In teenage girls, cysts are more often observed on ultrasound, mainly functional cysts that do not require treatment or surgical intervention in most cases.

What don't doctors and parents know? That it takes 8 to 12 years to establish regular ovulatory cycles. The process of maturation of the mechanism for regulating menstrual cycles, or more precisely, the process of establishing the full function of the reproductive system, which is responsible for the reproduction of offspring, has several stages and lasts several years. The last stage is the maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary center for the regulation of sexual development and the functioning of the reproductive system, and it is this link in the regulation of the menstrual cycle in teenage girls that is immature for a long period of time, which, from the point of view of human physiology, is the norm for this age and does not require intervention adjusting this process. The process of formation of the last stage of the mechanism for regulating the menstrual cycle is completed at approximately 21-22 years, but for some women it may be delayed.
Translated into English, the word “teenager” sounds like teen or teenager. The root of this word has a connection with numbers: thirteen (13), fourteen (14) and so on until nineteen (19). The age from 12 to 20 years is considered adolescence abroad. In many countries, 21 is the age of majority. And therein lies an important meaning: teenagers are people who are going through a stage of maturation, including the stage of sexual development, which ends by the age of 21-22. This category of the population has completely different indicators of the norms of functioning of their body at different levels, just like pregnant women or people of the older generation. But in most cases, doctors compare the results of examinations of adolescents with the norms of a mature age group of people.

What else do parents and doctors not know? Most teenage menstrual cycles last between 21 and 45 days. In an adult woman, a menstrual cycle lasting 14-40 days is considered normal (on average, 21-35 days). The first three years after the onset of menstruation, cycles last more than 28-35 days, but with age they become shorter, more regular, and are more often accompanied by full maturation of the egg. The following cycle fluctuations in adolescents are considered normal:
The first year after menarche – 23-90 days;
Fourth year – 24-50 days;
Seventh year – 27-38 days.
The individual menstrual cycle is therefore restored no earlier than 19-20 years. The duration of menstruation is 3-7 days, and the girl usually changes 3-6 pads per day.
However, there are a number of conditions that you need to pay attention to. These include:
Lack of menstruation for 6 months or more;
Presence of endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, etc.);
Hereditary predisposition to polycystic ovary syndrome;
Excessive exercise;
Anorexia, bulimia;
Chronic stress;
Taking medications, drugs;
Tumors of the pituitary gland, ovaries, adrenal glands;
Blood diseases.
Most often, the duration of the menstrual cycle is influenced by stress (emotional and physical) and poor nutrition (low and high weight). Often, girls complain that during or after exam sessions, menstruation is late or absent for several weeks. This is a consequence of anxiety and overwork, and therefore does not require the intervention of a doctor in the vast majority of cases.

What simple truth should you understand and teach your children to understand? All of us, without exception, were brought into this world for the purpose of further reproducing our own kind. Living nature has no other goals except one: to continue the process of Life in any way through the reproduction of living individuals. Man is no exception. Therefore, all processes in the human body are aimed at preparing the body for its reproduction. However, if external or internal factors appear that can disrupt the function of the entire organism and lead to its death, then the self-preservation program of the living organism is automatically activated. This program is embedded in genes, every representative of living nature has it, and manifests itself through reflexes, instincts, behavior and the body’s response to changes in metabolic processes.
Now think carefully: if the body is in a state of stress, is it possible to reproduce it? Of course not. After all, this is a serious additional load, and if the body is in a state of emergency, then why does it need additional stress? Therefore, first of all, the reproductive function of a living organism is turned off and blocked in order to increase its chance of survival. This is why plants and animals cannot reproduce in unfavorable conditions. This is the law of Self-preservation and Self-survival. We, people, live by the same laws, although because of our stupid pride we often reject and do not recognize these laws. Like, we are taller and therefore smarter...

Returning to teenage girls: if a teenager’s body is under the influence of some stress factors (including family scandals), the process of puberty may also be disrupted and even shut down or slow down for an indefinite period of time. This also applies to poor nutrition, especially strict diets with rapid weight loss. Do you know that the work of the reproductive system in many young girls, chasing a skinny skeletal figure in response to the flashy fashion of tuberculosis-dry models, is irrevocably suppressed and such women remain not only infertile, but are in a state of early menopause (menopause) for life? It is impossible to restore the functioning of the ovaries in such “experimenters” in most cases, and doctors are completely powerless here. Because blocking of this work occurs at such a level of body function, where it is still impossible to reach even with the modern level of knowledge and modern methods of treatment - entry is prohibited by Nature itself. It turns out that women themselves become enemies of their own bodies, enemies of their femininity and enemies of motherhood.

Adipose tissue plays a very important role in human life. In relation to sexual development and regulation of menstrual cycles, it is necessary, first of all, because it is involved in the absorption and exchange of sex hormones - both male and female. If there is a lack of it, the process of assimilation of female sex hormones is disrupted. How can the regulation of menstrual cycles occur without these hormones? No way. For menstruation to begin, a girl’s body must have at least 20-21% fatty tissue of her total body weight. For cycles to be regular, the female body needs 22-24% fat tissue. Therefore, an organism in the form of “skin and bones” from the point of view of female nature is considered a pathological option, and in such an organism all reproductive processes are minimized or completely suppressed. Perhaps for a teenage girl this negativism of nature is not so important compared to the appearance that she tries to create with her abuse of the body. But the task of parents is to warn such unthinking children about the serious consequences of fasting, dieting and intense exercise.
Often, parents themselves see future Olympic champions in their children and create too harsh conditions for heavy physical activity, without thinking about the fact that not everyone is destined to be champions, but the chance of such children and adolescents becoming reproductively disabled in the future is very high. Typically, these girls, like female athletes, have higher levels of male sex hormones, so they are more likely to experience menstrual cycle disorders.
Excess weight and obesity, which are often accompanied by inactivity, can also disrupt the regularity of menstrual cycles, since adipose tissue accumulates male sex hormones, and the exchange of sex hormones is disrupted.

When should a girl be examined and how often? Since sexual development begins at the age of 8 in most children, many doctors suggest examining girls with a gynecologist (external genitalia, mammary glands) from this age once a year. Others recommend starting screenings at 12 or 13 years of age. It is very important to explain to adolescents and parents the stages of puberty and the features of this maturation. For example, not all girls' breasts develop symmetrically. When menstruation begins, the girl is encouraged to keep a calendar to monitor the length of her menstrual cycles. Unfortunately, there is no universal plan for monitoring and counseling adolescent girls. According to the recommendations of many doctors, menstrual cycles lasting 42-180 days can be considered a pathology in adolescents; secondary amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation for 180 days or more. Girls who suspect menstrual irregularities are asked to undergo examination - physical examination, hormonal levels, ultrasound, measurement of body mass index.

Treatment of menstrual irregularities in teenage girls depends on the cause of these irregularities. If a girl plays sports intensively and does not get enough sleep in preparation for classes and exams, it is important to create the most favorable conditions for the child to have proper rest. Many girls try to diet, imitating their idols. Such teenagers will benefit from consultation with a child psychologist, psychotherapist, with the involvement of a nutritionist and nutritionist. Ovarian tumors in adolescence are not always benign, so removing them can solve problems with menstrual cycles. Treatment of diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, adrenal hyperplasia, prolactinoma with a number of medications significantly improves the regularity of cycles. The prescription of COCs (combined oral contraceptives) and other hormonal drugs must be seriously justified. The use of COCs to regulate menstrual cycles without appropriate examination, without determining the causes of this irregularity, is often a medical error, and therefore is not recommended until the age of 19-20. If a teenager has begun sexual activity, in such cases COCs can be one of the methods of contraception, but the prescription of COCs should be carried out individually in the absence of contraindications.
Most often, doctors prescribe hormonal contraceptives without any reason. They do not know, like many parents, that hormonal contraceptives do not regulate menstrual cycles. What are they doing? The main function of contraceptives is to protect against pregnancy. Hormonal contraceptives create regular artificial withdrawal bleeding. In other words, cycles while taking COCs are not natural cycles that occur under the influence of the ovaries, but just artificially created cycles of controlled bleeding. The ovaries do not work at full capacity while taking COCs, as their function is suppressed.
It is a very false idea among women and doctors that when taking COCs, the ovaries supposedly rest. Imagine the situation: a woman decided to relax and called a maid from some agency about which she knows almost nothing. A young strong servant, without further explanation, locks the mistress of the house somewhere in the closet or basement of the woman’s own house, and at the same time begins to play the role of a housewife, mother and even wife. She is completely indifferent to a woman who does not understand what is happening in her house. When the contract is completed, the woman is free. I'm shocked? Most women will be shocked. This is exactly how hormonal contraceptives work, supposedly creating “rest” for the ovaries. After they are discontinued, in many women the menstrual cycle is disrupted even more, because the main cause of the cycle disruption is not determined before prescribing COCs. Modern medicine suffers from the fact that finding out the cause of a disease or a disorder of some process is not encouraged, and prescribing some drugs to everyone without unnecessary analysis of the situation has become a prerogative.
Prescribing COCs to teenage girls can not only disrupt the subtle architectonics of the relationships and processes of sexual development and maturation, but also cause harm, creating a breakdown at those levels of these relationships where it will be impossible or too late to provide help in the future.

And one more extremely important point, which is never mentioned anywhere and by anyone, including doctors: female reproductive cells are given to a woman from the moment of her conception, are gradually lost at an accelerated or slow pace throughout the woman’s life and are never restored. Therefore, take care of your ovaries like the apple of your eye. And teach your daughters to take care of them too. More detailed information on this topic is in the article “Secrets of Conception and Early Pregnancy.”

Thus, the health of adolescents largely depends on the participation of parents in the lives of their children and understanding what is happening in the children’s bodies, what is normal, and what requires immediate medical intervention. Try to build a bridge of understanding and trust between yourself and your children from the moment of their conception to the moment of their birth, without being led by fears and rumors, without cluttering the child’s body with countless tests and medications. With your hasty actions, you can cripple the life of a child and deprive him of the opportunity to become a father or mother in the future. So always think. And teach your children to think.

Teenage girls, menstrual cycle, hormones

The problem of puberty in Russia is relevant in our time. It so happens that in many Russian families, discussions with children about issues of sexual development, marriage, and childbirth are left “behind the scenes.” But not only parents, but also teachers in schools need to hold conversations with children and schoolchildren, striving for competent sex education for our descendants.

Puberty, as a physiological process, occurs in a certain sequence.

In prepuberty, rapid growth and the appearance of the first signs of femininity in the figure are observed: the hips are rounded as a result of the growth and uniform redistribution of fatty tissue, and the female pelvis is formed. Many girls begin to feel embarrassed about such changes. Therefore, during this important and responsible period, the mother needs to talk extremely gently and carefully with the girl about sexual development.

In the puberty phase (10 - 12 years), the mammary glands grow, which is called thelarche; The beginning of pubic hair growth is noted (11 years - 12 years) - this is called pubarche. The end is the onset of the first menstruation - menarche (menstruation begins in girls aged about 12 - 13 years), coinciding with the completion of body growth in length.

What are periods (menstruation)?

Menstruation, and from the medical side - menstruation, is the rejection of the endometrium (the mucous membrane of the inner layer of the uterus), a rhythmic process that repeats at certain intervals. Menstruation is the completion of a physiological process - the menstrual cycle, which lasts 3 - 4 weeks.

During puberty, the hypothalamus and pituitary gland begin to produce gonadotropic hormones (FSH-follicle-stimulating hormone and LH-luteinizing hormone), which trigger the mechanism of follicle growth, steroid production and egg maturation. In the mucous membranes of the uterus, vagina, and cervical canal, cyclic changes occur that correspond to the phases of the menstrual cycle.

Cycle phases

The menstrual cycle has several phases:

• the phase of endometrial rejection, which has individual durations from one day to several days. This is a very complex process, after which the process of endometrial growth immediately begins, which occurs with extraordinary speed;
• then the proliferation phase begins (with a normal 4-day cycle) begins on the 5th day and lasts until the 14th day of the menstrual cycle. Every day the process of endometrial growth increases, and by the end of the proliferation phase, the growth of the endometrium in thickness reaches its maximum;
• after the proliferation phase, the secretion phase will begin from the 15th to the 28th day of the menstrual cycle. In this phase, the growth of the endometrium stops and its preparation begins for the reception of a fertilized egg, or for rejection (if fertilization of the egg does not occur).

It should be noted that menstruation is not only changes that occur in the reproductive organ - the uterus, but manifestations of changes in the whole organism.

Changes in the body

Before the onset of menstruation, the body signals this various manifestations, among them:

• nagging pain in the lower back and sacrum;
• headache;
• feeling overwhelmed;
• tension in the nipples;
• weight gain;
• in many girls and young women, a few days before the onset of menstruation, heavy mucous discharge begins;
• possible, but not always, increased body temperature, fluctuations.

In addition to the above changes, the first signs of menstruation in girls can be manifested by changes in the psychological sphere: weakening of memory, irritability, tearfulness, insomnia.

The amount of blood released during menstruation, on average, ranges from 50 ml to 150 ml. Menstrual blood is darker, unlike arterial or venous blood.

In the first 1.5 years after menarche, the frequency of cycles with ovulation (that is, cycles in which the egg matures) reaches 60%. In 1/3 of girls, the first 3 to 5 years after menarche, menstrual cycles are characterized by insufficiency of the corpus luteum, but most often the cycles are anovulatory. This explains the high incidence of dysfunctional uterine bleeding during puberty.

What factors influence puberty (onset of menstruation) and at what age do girls start menstruation?

It should be said that the time of onset and course of puberty is influenced by a large number of factors. These include hereditary factors (race, nation), constitutional factors, health status, and body weight.

For example, girls with a large body weight get their periods earlier, unlike their peers who have a lower body weight.

To the question, what time, on average, does a girl’s period begin, there is an answer: when she reaches a body weight of 47.8 +-0.5 kg, when the fat layer makes up 22% of the total body weight (on average 12 - 13 years )

In addition to the listed factors, the onset and course of sexual development are also influenced by other factors (external): climatic (illumination, altitude, geographical location) and a balanced diet (with a sufficient content of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, microelements and vitamins).

Also, sources can be diseases such as heart disease with heart failure, tonsillitis, severe gastrointestinal diseases with impaired absorption of nutrients, insufficiency of kidney function, and insufficiency of liver function. All these conditions weaken the girl’s body, inhibiting the normal course of puberty.

How many days does the first period last?

According to the World Health Organization, in 38% of girls the menstrual cycle from menarche to second menstruation lasted more than 40 days, in 10% - more than 60 days, in 20% - 20 days.

The duration of the first menstruation ranges from 2 to 7 days, but it can last longer, up to 2 weeks, and on average a girl uses from 3 to 6 pads. But usually girls' first periods are heavy and long.

What does Doctor Komarovsky say?

An article by the famous children's doctor O.E. Komarovsky states that the final establishment of the menstrual cycle takes from 8 to 12 years and for a large number of adolescents its duration is from 21 to 45 days.

The first three years, the menstrual cycle is on average 28 - 35 days, but with age it shortens, which is associated with the work of the ovaries.

Highlight the following fluctuations in the menstrual cycle in adolescents:

• the first year after menarche - 23 - 90 days;
• fourth year - 24 - 50 days;
• seventh year - 27 - 38 days.

All this suggests that the menstrual cycle, individual for each girl, is finally established by the age of 19 - 20 and should not begin and end the same for everyone!

It should be noted that there are signs and conditions that should alert parents and force them to promptly consult a specialist.

These include:

• absence of menstruation for 6 months;
• symptoms of endocrine system disorder (diabetes mellitus, obesity);
• polycystic ovaries;
• active sports (which is common among 12-year-old girls);
• loss or lack of appetite, or vice versa, when girls’ appetite begins to increase rapidly;
• taking certain medications, drugs;
• tumors of the pituitary gland, ovaries, adrenal glands;
• blood diseases.

Exist menstrual irregularities:

• amenorrhea when there are no periods for more than 3 months (it is worth saying that there is a physiological absence of periods during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and in other cases amenorrhea is pathological and requires treatment);
• oligomenorrhea- the interval between menstruation is more than 35 days;
• polymenorrhea— the period is less than 22 days;
• hypomenorrhea-duration of bleeding less than 3 days;
• hypermenorrhea- more than 7 - 10 days;
• menorrhagia when bleeding continues for 10 - 14 days or more;
• opsomenorea- infrequent periods with an interval of more than 35 days and scanty periods.

Stress has a great influence on the menstrual cycle. If a girl is constantly exposed to stress (at home, at the institute when taking a test), her periods may be delayed, scanty or absent altogether, this is the so-called stress amenorrhea.

It should be noted that menstruation can begin earlier than twelve years, at the age of 8 years, the so-called early menstruation. This will not be considered a pathology if the girl’s mother or grandmother had the same thing (there is a genetic factor), however, such an early onset of menstruation may be a sign of pathology (concomitant diseases, stress, pituitary tumors and others).

And it happens that the first menstruation begins later: at the age of 16 - 18 years. The reasons for the late onset of menstruation may be underweight, pituitary tumors, previous infectious diseases (measles, rubella), stress, and psycho-emotional stress.

What is better to use: pads or tampons?

When our grandmothers had their periods, they used gauze and rags, then washed them and used them again.

In the modern world, a huge number of pads and tampons have been developed and put into widespread use.

This is really very convenient, because using them allows you to continue to lead an active life without fear that something will leak somewhere. The question remains which is better to use: tampons or pads.

It must be said that the use of pads is safer than tampons, because when using cotton cylinders, safety and hygiene measures must be observed.

A tampon can be left in the vagina for no more than 2 hours, and longer use creates a favorable environment for the growth of pathogens.

1. Since a girl’s first blood may appear not at 12 years old, but at 11 years old, and sometimes at 10 years old, it is necessary to tell the girl about menstruation in advance.
2. It is necessary to take a closer look at the child to see how actively he shows interest in “forbidden” topics.
3. You need to find suitable literature that explains in accessible language how to tell a girl about menstruation and at what age they should start (books, magazines, video lectures).

Common questions from teenage girls: “Does it hurt?”, “How much discharge is there?”, “How long does the first period last?”

Try to explain that the harbingers of the first menstruation are unpleasant sensations and moderate nagging pain in the lower abdomen. Discharge flows out evenly, sometimes in the form of clots, lasting several days (for example, if menstruation began on December 1, then her next period will begin on December 28).

When a girl approaches 11-12 years of age, she begins to wait for her period. During this period, you can purchase hygiene products - pads or tampons. If the girl is not yet sexually active, then these will, of course, be pads. It is necessary to explain to the girl that the pads need to be changed every 3-4 hours or as they get dirty, take a shower twice a day (morning and evening) and wash each time the pad is changed.

In addition, explain to the girl that the onset of menstruation indicates that there is a possibility of pregnancy and from this stage the girl should take more responsibility for her health and life.

Many girls, even if they know what menstruation is, are not ready for its onset. And sometimes the first period can come completely unexpectedly and greatly frighten you. To prevent this from happening, you need to know at what age the onset of menstruation should be a concern, and at what age is completely natural. Often, many mothers ask the question on forums: “Is having periods at 11 years old normal, or is there a reason to sound the alarm?” We will try to answer this and other related questions so that neither mothers nor daughters worry in vain.

First periods in girls aged 11

To determine the approximate age of the first period, you should know how the girl’s body prepares for the onset of puberty. Already at 7-9 years of age, the endocrine system begins to produce sex hormones, which, when they reach the required concentration, stimulate the maturation of follicles in the ovaries and, as a result, the onset of menstruation. Usually, about one to two years pass from the start of hormone production to the first menstruation, so if at the age of 11 menstruation occurs for the first time, this will be absolutely normal.

The following factors also influence a girl’s puberty:

• Heredity. In order for a mother to guess as accurately as possible when her daughter will have her first menstruation, she should remember at what age she herself encountered this phenomenon. In most cases this gives an accurate result, but there are exceptions. For example, a mother’s first period could begin at the age of 14, and a daughter’s first period at 11. There is also no need to worry in such cases, because normally the period should begin before the age of 16. In this case, the age of eleven years will be the lower limit of this time period .
• Physical development. It is possible to assume that the first menstruation will begin at a fairly early age by analyzing the general development and development of secondary sexual characteristics. With the beginning of the production of follicle-stimulating hormone at the age of 8–9 years, the growth of the mammary glands, the “rounding” of the hips, and the appearance of hair on the pubis and armpits begin. If these signs appear early enough, then there is reason to believe that the onset of menstruation will be early.
• The presence or absence of diseases. Chronic diseases of the endocrine system can significantly affect the age at which the first menstruation occurs. An important influence is also exerted by the presence of pathologies of the reproductive system, which may be a consequence of birth trauma or individual genetic characteristics.
• Body mass. Very thin or overweight girls may have problems with the development of the genital organs. The optimal weight is calculated using the formula: height in centimeters minus one hundred.
• Lifestyle. Usually, in girls who lead a fairly active lifestyle, eat right and do not suffer from overwork, the menstrual cycle is established quickly and practically does not go astray, and the periods themselves are almost painless.

Each body is individual, so it is difficult to say exactly when a girl’s first period should begin. But there are norms, deviation from which should alert parents.

What are periods and at what age do they begin in girls?

• sudden mood swings;
• increased fatigue;
• absent-mindedness, decreased attention;
• there may be a deterioration in appetite or, conversely, an increased need for food;
• skin problems: .

It is not difficult to notice the girl’s emotional state, as well as skin problems. Don't miss such signs. Therefore, the mother should tell her daughter in detail about what to expect when the menstrual period begins. You need to agree with your daughter so that she reports less obvious signs of the imminent onset of menstruation.

These symptoms are:

• enlargement of the mammary glands, their swelling just before the start of regulation;
• heaviness in the lower abdomen, possible mild pain;
• blood pressure surges;
• spasmodic in nature.

It is important to understand: no matter how well a girl is aware of what will happen to her during her first period, the onset of menstruation will still be stressful for her. It is better to constantly be near her during this period, try to calm the child down, be tolerant of her nervous state and outbursts of irritation or, conversely, possible despondency.

The first period can last from three days to a week. The cycle is not established immediately: in the first year for a girl it can vary from 21 to 35 days. Any painful sensations during menstruation, too long gaps between menstruation or periods are reasons why you should consult a specialist in order to avoid serious illnesses.

If your period starts early

Puberty that is too early is not in itself something painful or wrong. But if a girl’s period began before she was nine years old, she should consult with doctors and understand what risks such rapid maturation may entail.

Previously for psychological or physiological reasons. If a girl has been sick since childhood, has low immunity, is emotional, and has difficulty withstanding stress, then she may have early menstruation.

If the onset of menstruation before the age of nine is caused by physiological reasons, this is already a cause for concern. Rapid puberty is associated with the functioning of the brain and possible disturbances in its activity. Thus, the cause of early menstruation may be disturbances in the impulses of the cerebral cortex or any changes, including tumors, in the area of ​​the hypothalamus or pituitary gland.

There are also simpler reasons for early menstruation. It can be triggered by the following factors:

• an overly active lifestyle among girls who are professionally involved in sports from an early age;
• hormonal imbalances caused by long-term use of hormonal drugs in the treatment of any diseases, for example, allergies;
• structural features of the body, for example, being overweight or underweight;
• heredity, when in the family the mother and grandmother also had earlier sexual development.

With the early onset of menstruation, even if the regularities were observed only for two or three months in a row, and then suddenly stopped, it is worth seeking help from specialists. It is necessary to identify the reasons for the onset of menstruation before the age of 9 years, and, if possible, undergo treatment in order to even out the development and activity of the reproductive system. The consequences of starting menstruation too early can be vegetative-vascular diseases, diabetes, joint pathologies and breast tumors.

Late onset of menstruation

The onset of menstruation in girls over fifteen years of age is considered a deviation from the norm. Usually this process causes concern for mothers by the age of 14. In such a situation, when puberty has already occurred, but menstruation has not yet occurred, adolescents begin to complain of poor health. Girls may experience the following symptoms:

• headache;
• dizziness;
• blood pressure problems;
• fainting.

Serious diseases that can result in a delay in menstruation are defects in the development of the uterus in girls or any malfunction of the pituitary gland caused by congenital disorders or the development of tumors.

But more often, late periods are the result of a girl’s mental state or her unhealthy lifestyle. Nervous, overly emotional teenagers have a late onset of regulation, as well as girls who are prone to weight loss or those who, using a variety of diets, achieve frequent weight fluctuations.

When the body does not receive enough fatty acids, the production of the hormone estrogen decreases, which results in the absence of menstruation. By normalizing the diet, the problem is solved. But it is advisable to establish the causes of delayed sexual development in a girl as quickly as possible and seek treatment. In the future, late onset of menstruation may lead to a risk of developing cancer.

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The onset of the first menstruation in girls: harbingers and character. Normal duration, color and volume of girls' first periods.

The first menstruation is a very important and quite exciting moment for young ladies. Some girls are waiting for this moment with interest, and some are incredibly afraid of it.

In this article we will try to figure out what time girls can expect puberty to begin, what its symptoms are and its duration.

At what age do girls get their first periods? Is it normal for girls aged 11, 12, 13 to have their first period?

• Just a few decades ago, girls reached puberty at the age of 17-19 years. Today, young people are developing much faster and more rapidly. The same applies to the development of their genital organs
• Modern girls typically begin menstruation between the ages of eleven and sixteen.
• Later menstruation at 17-18 years old is considered a delay in the girl’s puberty
• There are cases when a baby’s period begins at 8-9 years old. This is also considered an abnormal phenomenon and may be due to disruptions in the hormonal development of the baby. Excessive physical activity can also be the cause of early puberty in girls.

The onset of menstruation in girls depends on several factors:

• diseases suffered in early childhood (encephalitis, colds and viral diseases, meningitis, head injuries, chronic tonsillitis)
• physical development (weight, height)
• genetic predisposition
• lifestyle
• food quality
• emotional background
• place of residence
• race

• If a girl suffered serious illnesses in early childhood, then in adolescence this may affect the timing of her puberty. Often, these girls begin their periods much later than their peers.
• If a girl’s mother or grandmother began her period at an early age, then there is a chance that she will start her period just as early.
• A lack of vitamins, microelements, as well as unbalanced and inadequate nutrition can lead to delayed development of a child. This also applies to puberty. From an early age, a girl should receive sufficient quantities of useful and nutritious substances for the full development of all her systems and organs.
• It is believed that southern and eastern women begin to mature sexually much earlier than representatives of northern and western nationalities
• Childhood emotional traumas, constant worries and stress can also leave their mark on a girl’s puberty. They can provoke both too early and late onset of menstruation.

Symptoms and signs of girls' first periods

The following external manifestations can signal the imminent onset of a girl’s first menstruation:

• changes in the figure (taking on more rounded shapes)
• breast enlargement
• hip extension
• the appearance of hair on the pubis and under the arms
• acne on the face, back and chest
• increase in the volume of the external female genitalia
• darkening of the genitals
• increased oily scalp, dandruff
• presence of whitish vaginal discharge

In addition to external changes, the girl may experience some emotional changes:

• frequent mood swings
• tearfulness
• fast fatiguability
• weakness
• apathy
• aggression
• headache
• lack of appetite
• nausea

Can girls experience pain during their first period?

• The first menstruation may be accompanied by symptoms familiar to adult women. That is, the baby may experience nagging pain in the lower abdomen, extending slightly to the lower back. Typically, these sensations last from one to two days.
• After this time, the pain should subside
• In order for the girl not to be afraid of such sensations, a conversation should be held with her in advance. She must have complete information about all processes occurring in her body

Not all representatives of the fair sex experience elevated temperatures on the eve of their first menstruation.

However, a rise in body temperature to 37.5 degrees before menstruation is not considered a deviation and can be considered normal.

What do girls' first periods look like?

• The first menstruation in girls can be manifested by the presence of small drops of blood on the underwear. On average, during the first menstruation, blood loss can range from fifty to one hundred and fifty milliliters of blood. These figures are relative; the amount of discharge will directly depend on the characteristics of the female body
• The most abundant discharge will be on the second or third day of the cycle.
• The first bleeding, as a rule, has a peculiar smell. This is due to the work of vulvar secretions

Are girls' first periods always brown?

The color of a girl's first period can vary from bright red to dark brown. This is explained by the fact that during the release, the bloody discharge mixes with the mucous membrane of the inner uterus (endometrium), as well as discharge into the vagina.

Thus, light brown, dark brown, cloudy red, and scarlet discharge are considered normal. These menstrual colors should not cause concern.

How many days does the first period last?

Typically, the first menstruation can last from three to ten days. Everything, as always, will depend on the individuality of the female body.

There are cases when the first period passes in the form of weak ointments for a couple of days. This also should not frighten the girl. Most likely, next month she will have full discharge.

The monthly cycle at the first menstruation is quite unstable. Its formation takes place throughout the whole year.

The intervals between the first periods can range from two weeks to three months. This is considered the norm.

Heavy discharge during the first menstruation is also an indicator of the norm and directly depends on heredity and the characteristics of the girl’s body.

Girls' first periods, how to determine the cycle?

• The adjustment of the menstrual cycle in girls occurs during the first two years. Therefore, you should not expect any kind of consistency during this period.
• The first cycles can last from 28 to 34 days. For some babies, the gaps between periods sometimes last up to six months.
• It happens that the first menstrual cycle is twenty-four days, and the next one is thirty, or vice versa. This is also considered normal

• In order to at least roughly predict the next period, a girl needs to get herself a calendar. In a special calendar you need to mark the start and end dates of menstruation.
• Such records will not give critical days the opportunity to take the girl by surprise. In addition, if a girl’s monthly cycle does not stabilize in the future, such a calendar will help the gynecologist trace the entire history of the onset of menstruation
• In any case, a week before the expected date of menstruation, the girl should always have all the necessary hygiene products with her. This will protect her from difficult, unforeseen circumstances and embarrassment.

When will your first period start - test for girls?

Today on the Internet you can find a lot of different tests for girls that help determine the approximate age at which the first menstruation may begin.

Such tests are based on a series of questions. Questions help elicit information related to factors that directly influence the onset of your first period. Here are the approximate wording of such questions:

1. How old are you?
2. When did your mother (grandmother) have her first period?
3. What is your height?
4. What is your weight?
5. Have your breasts started to grow?
6. Do you have hair under your arms and on your pubic area?
7. Have you noticed any discharge on your underwear?

After analyzing the girl’s answers, we can predict when approximately she will start her first period.

• In any case, whenever a girl’s first period begins, she should be mentally prepared for it. Her mother, grandmother or older sister can help her with this
• The girl needs to be explained that menstruation is a natural process and there is nothing shameful about it
• Also, the baby should know about the rules of hygiene these days, and in her purse, just in case, she should always have feminine hygiene products
• In addition to the rules of conduct during critical days, the girl must be correctly informed about the possibility of becoming pregnant after the start of menstruation and the need to use contraception

Video: Girls' first periods