Menarche

The first menstrual cycle that occurs in a girl during adolescence is called menarche. Experts cannot yet understand what is the main etiological factor for the onset of menarche at any age. But it is believed that genetic characteristics of the body, proper nutrition and acceptable physical activity are the main reasons for the onset of this period on time. By the time menarche occurs, teenagers leave the "stormy" period of their development behind, reaching the maximum possible height.

Time of menarche

If a girl develops normally, the first menarche occurs between the ages of ten and a half and sixteen and a half. During this period, the teenager reaches her mature "gynecological age". The first monthly cycle indicates that the girl's body has already reached its sexual development, but it is not yet ready to have children.

If a girl's menarche occurs between the ages of 12 and 14, this is considered normal development. Some teenagers may have their first menstruation delayed or earlier. This depends on the individual characteristics of their body. To understand what caused the early menarche, you need to see a pediatric gynecologist.

The appearance of menarche is greatly influenced by the teenager's daily diet. It is very important that the girl receives a varied and nutritious diet. Menarche can be caused by stressful situations, so it is important to monitor the emotional health of the child, and physical activity also plays an important role.

Statistics show that menarche most often begins in the fall-winter, that is, in the cold months.

Signs of menarche

The first signs begin to appear in adolescents one to two months before the onset of the first menstrual cycle:

1. Painful sensations that occur in the lower abdomen. Abdominal pain can be very intense or barely noticeable.
2. A few months before menarche, natural vaginal discharge may become white and frequent.
3. Just like adult women, girls may experience what is known as premenstrual syndrome. During this period, teenagers experience a sharp decline in strength, frequent headaches, and a changing emotional state.

Early menarche

In some cases, girls begin to show their first sexual signs before the age of eight. This is considered early menarche. It is important to take your child to see a specialist right away to determine why the first menstrual cycle began so early.

As a rule, early menarche occurs due to improper functioning of the ovaries, adrenal glands or pituitary gland. In this case, too much testosterone and estrogen are released in the child's body. In some cases, the causes may be:

1. Features of ecology.
2. Stressful situations in a teenager's life.
3. Malnutrition.

If we talk about more serious causes of early menarche, then here are some serious diseases:

1. Tumors in the spinal cord or brain or severe injuries to them.
2. Ischemia.
3. Transfer of meningitis or encephalitis.
4. Incorrect functioning of the adrenal glands.
5. Genetic diseases (including McCune-Albright syndrome).
6. Improper functioning of the thyroid gland.

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Late menarche

Late menarche can be discussed if the first menstruation does not begin in a teenager after 16 years. But do not worry right away if menarche is delayed. This can happen due to an inadequate diet, individual characteristics of the body, stressful situations, "sitting" on diets, unfavorable ecology, exhausting physical activity or nervous irritation.

The most common cause of late menarche is considered to be excessively low body weight of the girl. If the body lacks fatty tissue, this can cause insufficient amounts of estrogens. Remember that 17% of fatty tissue is considered normal.

Late onset of menarche may also indicate serious illnesses:

1. Pathologies in the functional and anatomical development of the uterus.
2. Incorrect functioning of the ovaries.
3. Disorders of the endocrine glands.
4. Disruption of the pituitary gland.

This is why it is necessary to visit a pediatric gynecologist who will determine what the problem might be.

First menarche

The first menarche is a stressful situation for a girl if she is not prepared for it in advance. The menstrual cycle always develops gradually, so parents usually have time to talk to their daughter about menarche. You should not expect that immediately after the first menstruation, the girl's cycle will always be smooth and uniform. The body is still developing, so a delay of several days should not cause concern.

Delayed menarche

Isolated delay of the first menstrual cycle is a condition in which a girl has all the signs of puberty, but her period does not come for about four to five years.

There are quite a few reasons for such a delay:

1. Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism: a pathology that means that the sex glands do not function properly.
2. Deficiency of certain hormones in the body (including gonadotropic hormones).
3. Blood flow from the vagina is impossible due to the hymen being too thick.
4. Malformations of the internal genital organs (agenesis of the uterus or vagina).

Remember that only a professional can make an accurate diagnosis, so if a teenager's first period is significantly delayed, be sure to visit a pediatric gynecologist.

Delayed menarche can cause infertility.

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Menstruation after menarche

After the onset of menarche, menstruation returns in 25-28 days. This is a standard interval, but in some cases it may be longer or shorter. It happens that the cycle after menarche is not established immediately, so the onset of a new menstruation can be expected even two or three months. This is normal and there is no need to worry in vain.

The first year after menarche is considered special in a girl's life. It is not recommended to perform any surgical operations during this period. Also, try to protect the child from stress, as it can later cause serious female problems in the future.

Many girls experience premenstrual syndrome (mood swings, abdominal pain, breast swelling) before their period.

Delay after menarche

After the first menstruation, cycle fluctuations are normal and should not frighten either the child or his parents. Some factors are very important here, namely the physical health of the teenager, his diet, sports, stress. For those who eat right and do not have bad habits, the cycle almost immediately becomes the same.

In adolescents with slow physical development, a weak immune system, and chronic diseases, the stability of the menstrual cycle after menarche may fluctuate. At the same time, menstruation itself can bring a lot of unpleasant sensations: increased body temperature, headaches, shortness of breath, sweating, pain in the chest and lower abdomen.

The main reasons for delay after menarche are:

1. Improper nutrition – try to ensure that your child does not go on exhausting diets or overeat.
2. Too much physical activity – if a child does too much exercise, this can lead to delays in menstruation.
3. Acclimatization - sometimes sudden cold or warm spells can cause delays.
4. Stress and nervous tension often have a negative impact on women’s health, especially after the first menarche.

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How to induce menarche?

If there are no reasons for delaying menarche, you should immediately contact a specialist. The fact is that the first menstruation may not come due to a hormonal imbalance, which must be treated correctly. Remember that only a professional gynecologist can give advice on how to induce menarche without harming the health of the teenager.

But there are also general recommendations that can be used without a doctor:

1. Eat regularly and properly.
2. Stabilize the child's emotional background.
3. Maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Very often, if the delay in menarche is not a consequence of serious diseases, doctors prescribe "Duphaston". This drug helps to induce the first menstruation. The drug contains the active component dydrogesterone. The dosage is prescribed by the doctor.