Overview
Menstruation is outward proof that a girl is becoming a woman. If you're a teenage girl, you may have already started having a period. If you have not, you might be anxious about the subject or a bit concerned.
During puberty, hormones are released from the brain and stimulate the ovaries. The ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone, hormones that cause the eggs in the ovaries to mature so the woman can become pregnant. Every month, one egg leaves one of the ovaries on its way to the uterus via the fallopian tubes. Meanwhile, in preparation for the egg, the uterus starts to develop a thicker lining and it’s walls become cushiony (this is called the endometrial lining). If the egg reaches the uterus and is fertilized by a sperm cell due to sexual intercourse, it attaches to the endometrial lining and the woman becomes pregnant.
Most of the time, the egg just passes through without fertilization. Since the uterus no longer needs the extra blood and tissue to make the walls thick, it sheds them by way of the vagina once a month. This cycle will happen until the ovaries stop releasing eggs several decades later.
Symptoms
Periods are different for every woman. Some girls start menstruation when they are nine or 10 years old, while some do not start until their late teens.
The length of the cycle also varies. The cycle between menstruation usually lasts about 28 days. If you have just begun your menstruation, your body will need time to regulate itself to these changes so your periods might be a bit erratic. You may have two cycles in one month but miss having one the next month.
The length of your period also varies. Some girls have their periods for only three or four days, while others have them for as long as a week. The amount of blood can vary from woman to woman also.
Some girls may have body and/or mood changes around the time of their period. Menstrual cramps are a pretty common side effect during the first few days of your period. These cramps tend to become less uncomfortable and sometimes even disappear as a girl gets older. Over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can often give relief.
As your period approaches, you may experience something called premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Most likely caused by the rise and fall of hormones during a menstrual cycle, PMS often causes amplified emotions. Many women get depressed, irritated and angry, while others cry more than usual. It often causes cravings for certain foods. Many women also feel bloated because of water retention. When your period begins, PMS usually goes away.
You may also have acne flare-ups during or around the time of your period.
Treatment
Periods are a complex part of puberty, but are your body's way of telling you it is functioning properly. You can still exercise, swim and do everything you enjoy.
Researchers from Yale University and others have discovered that low-dose birth control pills can often help most symptoms of PMS such as painful cramps and severe bloating. Birth control can even be used to treat acne.
Ask Your Physician
If you are experiencing extreme cramps or pain during or before your period, talk to your doctor.
If you are worried about your period, ask friends or sisters who have already had their periods to discuss how periods are a normal and routine part of their life.
