Menstruation

Tell your daughter that getting her period is a natural step toward becoming a woman-something to feel positive about. Further, explain that menstruation is actually just one part, or phase, in a monthly cycle. Each month, a woman's reproductive system repeats a regular pattern of events:

Phase One. The first phase of the menstrual cycle is the three to seven days of menstruation. The first day of menstruation is the first day of the cycle.

Phase Two. Toward the end of menstruation, one of the ovaries begins to prepare an egg (or ovum) for release into one of the fallopian tubes. The endometrium, or lining of the uterus, begins to thicken at the same time, preparing to nourish the egg if it is fertilized.

Phase Three. Around day 14 of a 28-day cycle, ovulation occurs: a ripened egg leaves the ovary and enters the fallopian tube.

Phase Four. The endometrium continues to thicken as the egg moves down the fallopian tube toward the uterus. If the egg isn't fertilized by a sperm cell, it disintegrates; the endometrium is not needed and is shed from the uterus. Menstruation and a new cycle begin again.

The average menstrual cycle is 28 days long, for older girls and women, but a cycle from 19 to 35 days is normal. In most cases, a young girl's cycle is not regular at first. Your daughter's first periods may last one day or 10 days; her flow may be very heavy one cycle and light the next. Cycles may be very short, or two to three months long. Young girls may skip one or more periods, followed by a relatively heavy flow the next cycle.

You can help your daughter get to know her own cycle by encouraging her to record each period on the personal calendar included in her booklet, A Time for Answers. As her cycle becomes predictable, which can take two years or more, she'll begin to see a pattern.

Except during pregnancy, the menstrual cycle normally repeats from menarche, the onset of menstruation, to menopause, when menstruation stops permanently - typically between the ages of 45 and 55. The menstrual cycle may be temporarily altered in times of stress, illness, or by a sudden change in lifestyle.

Girls and women may experience menstrual cramps, mild or severe abdominal or back pains that accompany menstruation. Cramps are more common in the first years after menarche. If your daughter is prone to painful cramping, over-the-counter medications are available those containing ibuprofin are commonly recommended). A heating pad and warm bath may also be soothing. If such treatments don't offer relief, consult your family physician.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is another problem some women experience. During the two weeks before menstruation, they suffer from symptoms such as mood swings, breast tenderness, a feeling of bloatedness and increased emotional sensitivity. Many women learn to recognize and cope with these physical and emotional changes. Ways to cope include exercising to lessen the tension, eating a well balanced diet, and being sure to get sufficient rest. But for some women, PMS symptoms occur every month and are severe enough to really affect their lives. If your daughter suffers from PMS and is bothered by the symptoms, talk to your doctor.

This understanding of menstrual discomfort is quite different from what many of today's women heard as young girls - that "it's all in your head." Other ideas about menstruation have also changed through the years. You may remember being told that it's dangerous to bathe or shampoo, or to drink cold beverages during menstruation. Very few people still believe these myths today. At one time, girls weren't expected to swim or participate in gym class or any athletic activity when they had their periods. Today, with the right menstrual protection, there's no reason for a girl to give up these everyday activities. In fact, exercise may sometimes be a helpful way to deal with menstrual discomfort.