Your mom has told you, you might be getting your period soon and not to be worried if you see a blood on your panties, right? She even bought pads or tampons in case you get your period when she is not at home and has probably showed you how to use them. But your mom forgot to explain what period really is and if there were signs and symptoms announcing the period%26rsquo;s arrival. This is at least how it was with me.
Other girls have not spoken to their mothers about menstruation but their friends have all already gotten menstruation, so they might be wondering when their turn was.
Few girls expecting their periods to arrive actually know what period is.
Menstruation (also known as menarche or period) is a woman's monthly bleeding, sure we all know that (even boys) but where is this blood coming from?
Menstruation is related to the woman%26rsquo;s reproductive organs and pregnancy.
Menstruation is part of the menstrual cycle, which prepares the body for pregnancy each month. Menstruation is what occurs when pregnancy doesn%26rsquo;t. In menstruation, the body gets rid of the material that has been preparing for the potential pregnancy. The blood that comes out (to put it this simple) comes from the uterus i.e. it is the lining of the uterus (also called endometrium) that was created during the menstrual cycle, so that the fertilized egg (female egg joined with male spermatozoa) could attach to it and develop further into the fetus and grow into a baby.
A cycle is counted from the first day of one%26rsquo;s period to the first day of the next period. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days long, however girls%26rsquo; cycles can range anywhere from 21 to 35 days.
Body organs involved in the menstrual cycle
Parts of the body involved in the menstrual cycle include the brain, pituitary gland, uterus and cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and vagina.
The reproductive organs involved are:
1. Vagina - the muscular canal extending from the uterus to the exterior of the body, through which menstrual blood flushes out.
2. The uterus - a pear-shaped organ which, in its non-pregnant state, is collapsed and about the size of your fist.
It is located between the bladder and the lower intestines. The lower third of the uterus is called the cervix. The cervix has an opening called the os which opens into the vaginal canal and permits your period to flow out.
3. Fallopian tubes - extending from each side of the uterus, through which eggs move to get to the uterus.
4. Ovaries %26ndash; placed near the end of each fallopian tube. They are almond-sized organs which produce eggs.
Hormones preparing the body for the possible pregnancy:
The ovaries make two important female hormones, estrogen and progesterone while the pituitary gland, situated in the brain, makes follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone or LH.
This is how the whole cycle goes:
In the first half of the menstrual cycle, there is a rise in levels of estrogen to prepare the uterus for the possible pregnancy by making the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grow and thicken. The follicle-stimulating hormone makes an egg (ovum) from one of the ovaries mature. At about day 14 of a typical 28-day cycle, in response to a surge of luteinizing hormone, this egg leaves the ovary in a process called ovulation (What is ovulation?)After leaving the ovary, the egg begins to travel through the fallopian tube to the uterus. There is a rise of the progesterone levels, which helps prepare the uterine lining for pregnancy. If the egg becomes fertilized by a sperm cell and attaches itself to the uterine wall, the woman becomes pregnant. If not, the egg either dissolves or is absorbed into the body. When pregnancy fails to occur, estrogen and progesterone levels drop, and the thickened lining of the uterus (showed as bloody material) is shed during the menstrual period.
Now, when we have covered this up, let%26rsquo;s turn to the real questions and problems
When does a girl usually get her first period?
The average age is 12 but not all girls start at the same age. It is actually possible to start period anytime between the ages of eight and 15. Most of the time, a girl has her first period about two years after her breasts had started to grow.
How long does a woman have periods?
Women usually menstruate until menopause. Menopause, meaning a woman is no longer ovulating (producing eggs) and can no longer get pregnant, can occur anytime between the ages of 45 and 55, usually around age 50.
How long do periods usually last?
Because all girls are different, the length of a period can vary from girl to girl. One girl might have a 3-day period while another girl a 7-day period. It could even take several years for a girl's period to become regular. One month the period might last 4 days, whereas the next month it might be 6 days. Some women experience irregular periods for several years and might not ever be %26quot;regular.%26quot; Some doctors will prescribe birth control pills to help regulate your menstrual cycle. However, I find taking the pills for the cycle regulation unnecessary because stopping birth controls would take a girl to the previous %26ldquo;wacky%26rdquo; cycles and may cause a range of different annoying side effects. (Birth control side effects)(I do advise birth control for pregnancy prevention though but only after consultation with the gynecologist and necessary tests taken).
What are the signs and symptoms of menstruation?
Bleeding from the vagina is the primary sign of menstruation.
Symptoms that might be felt around the time of menstruation:
%26bull; Cramping, bloating, and sore breasts
%26bull; Water retention
%26bull; Pelvic pressure
%26bull; Backache
%26bull; Food cravings
%26bull; Difficulty concentrating
%26bull; Mood swings and irritability
%26bull; Headache and fatigue
Around 85% of women report some emotional or physical changes around the time their period occurs. If these physical and emotional symptoms are severe, it might be a sign of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS usually occurs one or two weeks before menstruation and is brought on by rising and falling hormonal levels just before the period begins.
Some women may also experience positive sensations such as relief, release, euphoria, new beginning, invigoration, connection with nature, creative energy, exhilaration, increased sex drive and more intense orgasms.
Is there a Way to Relieve These Symptoms?
Uterine cramping is the most common and the most annoying uncomfortable sensation women may experience during menstruation. There are two kinds of cramping.
Spasmodic cramping %26ndash; believed to be caused by prostaglandins, chemicals that affect muscle tension. Some prostaglandins cause relaxation while some cause constriction. Foods such as vegetables and fish, high in linoleic and liblenic acids, increases the prostaglandins for aiding muscle relaxation.
Congestive cramping - makes the body retain fluids and salt. To counter congestive cramping, avoid wheat and dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, and refined sugar.
To alleviate cramping, don%26rsquo;t turn to pharmaceutical companies that target and create a market to treat this normal part of a woman's cycle as a disease for their own financial benefits. There are better, natural ways to do so.
%26bull; Increase exercise to improve blood and oxygen circulation throughout the body, including the pelvis.
%26bull; Keep your abdomen warm. Use a heating pad or hot water bottle to ease your cramping.
%26bull; Avoid using tampons as well as IUD (intrauterine device) as your birth control method because they are said to increase cramping
%26bull; Avoid eating red meat, refined sugars (sweets), milk, and fatty foods.
%26bull; Eat lots of fresh vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and fruit.
%26bull; Avoid caffeine. It constricts blood vessels and increases tension.
%26bull; Meditate, get a massage.
%26bull; Have an orgasm (alone or with a partner).
%26bull; Drink ginger root tea (especially if you experience fatigue).
%26bull; Put cayenne pepper on food. It is a vasodilator and improves circulation.
%26bull; Take time for yourself and reduce stress by meditating, having a massage, or taking a bubble bath
Two types of PMS
The first type of PMS is characterized by symptoms such as anxiety, irritability and mood swings, which last until the beginning of the bleeding. This type is believed to be linked to the balance between estrogen and progesterone. If there%26rsquo;s a surge of estrogen, anxiety occurs while progesterone dominance often leads to depression.
The second type of PMS is characterized by sugar craving, fatigue and headaches. In addition to sugar, women may crave chocolate, white bread, white rice, pastries, and noodles %26ndash; in one word refined carbohydrates. These cravings are probably caused by the increased responsiveness to insulin related to increased hormone levels before menstruation. Women experience symptoms of low blood sugar and their brains are signaling a need for fuel. A consistent diet with complex carbohydrates will enable a steady flow of energy to the brain and disable the ups and downs of blood sugar variations.
Is it pregnancy or PMS?
Both of these conditions are characterized by the rise of the two hormones %26ndash; estrogen and progesterone, so it happens often that the symptoms of these conditions overlap, which more than often leads to panic due to possible pregnancy. I%26rsquo;m sure you%26rsquo;ve been there because I have numerous times.
Symptoms overlapping are: light cramping, backache, spotting for a day, food craving, breast tenderness, mood swings, bloating, etc
The only way to know if it were a period or pregnancy is to wait for the day you are supposed to get your period or the day after and if missed, to get a pregnancy test done. Only this way, you can tell for sure if it%26rsquo;s pregnancy or PMS symptoms you are experiencing.
I%26rsquo;ve tried to cover the symptoms of the menstrual periods. If the article has made you wanting to know more about periods, you can go through some of the following ones:
On the Rag_Not just the period
Using Tampons_Teenage Girls
Using Tampons_Facts and Myths
Delayed menstruation__What could cause it?
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