Sanitary pads are the mainstay for adolescent girls as they adjust to the new phenomenon of menstruating. As I think back to the days when you had to fiddle with the old sanitary napkin belt and the bulky, leaky pads of the 1970s, I realize just how much easier girls have it now. Pads nowadays are more absorbent, more comfortable, and have better features such as side wings and increased length to prevent leakage.
These aren’t the only changes when it comes to sanitary pads. When disposable pads first became available, in many stores women placed their money in a box and then took a package of sanitary napkins from the counter so that they wouldn’t have to undergo the embarrassment of dealing with the male sales clerk. But today, you’re likely to end up viewing a multitude of commercials for sanitary pads while you’re just trying to watch a little TV with your teenaged son.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
What menstrual issues should prompt me to take my daughter to a doctor?
In addition to routine preventive health visits, there are certain signs related to menstruation that should prompt you to contact a doctor about your daughter’s health. Specifically, you should schedule an appointment if your daughter’s menstrual period:
• has not started within 3 years of her breast development;
• has not started by age 13 and there are no other signs of the onset of puberty;
• has not started by age 14 and she is experiencing excessive hair growth on her body;
• has not started by age 14 and you suspect that she is engaging in excessive exercise or may have an eating disorder:
• has not started by age 15;
• became regular, but then became noticeably irregular;
• occurs more frequently than every 21 days or less frequently than every 45 days;
• occurs more than 90 days apart, even for just 1 cycle;
• lasts more than 7 days;
• requires frequent pad or tampon changes (such as soaking more than one pad or tampon every 1 to 2 hours).
In many cases, even with these signs and symptoms, a doctor will conclude that an adolescent girl is just fine. But in other cases, medical treatment will be required. That’s why medical evaluations are so helpful. They’re indispensable to us as we fulfill our sacred responsibility as mothers.
• has not started within 3 years of her breast development;
• has not started by age 13 and there are no other signs of the onset of puberty;
• has not started by age 14 and she is experiencing excessive hair growth on her body;
• has not started by age 14 and you suspect that she is engaging in excessive exercise or may have an eating disorder:
• has not started by age 15;
• became regular, but then became noticeably irregular;
• occurs more frequently than every 21 days or less frequently than every 45 days;
• occurs more than 90 days apart, even for just 1 cycle;
• lasts more than 7 days;
• requires frequent pad or tampon changes (such as soaking more than one pad or tampon every 1 to 2 hours).
In many cases, even with these signs and symptoms, a doctor will conclude that an adolescent girl is just fine. But in other cases, medical treatment will be required. That’s why medical evaluations are so helpful. They’re indispensable to us as we fulfill our sacred responsibility as mothers.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
What body changes accompany menstruation?
Once your daughter’s menstrual cycle begins, she’s going to notice some other bodily changes as well. Because of a rise in estrogen levels, which stimulates the vaginal tissue and the glands in the vagina, she is going to experience more secretions and lubrication. In fact, a small amount of non-odorous vaginal discharge is normal.
During this time frame, a girl’s vagina also becomes colonized by “good” bacteria. These are known as lactobacillus bacteria, and they are essential in balancing the environment in the vagina and warding off infections.
During this time frame, a girl’s vagina also becomes colonized by “good” bacteria. These are known as lactobacillus bacteria, and they are essential in balancing the environment in the vagina and warding off infections.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Why are preventive health visits important?
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists both recommend routine preventive health visits for adolescent girls. I strongly encourage you to follow their guidance. These visits not only provide an opportunity for a doctor to evaluate your daughter’s health, but they also provide both you and your daughter with an opportunity to answer any questions you may have.
These check-ups can be part of a routine appointment with a family doctor. Similarly, a pediatrician can evaluate your daughter’s health, and they typically are an excellent source of information. As an alternative, you should feel free to schedule an appointment for your daughter with a gynecologist. I can assure you that in most cases there will be no need for the gynecologist to conduct a pelvic exam.
These check-ups can be part of a routine appointment with a family doctor. Similarly, a pediatrician can evaluate your daughter’s health, and they typically are an excellent source of information. As an alternative, you should feel free to schedule an appointment for your daughter with a gynecologist. I can assure you that in most cases there will be no need for the gynecologist to conduct a pelvic exam.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
What symptoms will my daughter experience during her periods?
Many girls and women notice a change in their bowel habits around the time of their period. This is caused by prostaglandins, which are hormones released by the uterus during a menstrual cycle. These prostaglandins can cause nausea, intestinal cramping, and diarrhea. These unpleasant symptoms can occur to such a degree that otherwise healthy women and girls find it necessary to stay home from work or school during “that time of the month.”
When my patients tell me they’re experiencing these problems, I recommend that they take ibuprofen or Naprosyn. These medications are known as antip rostaglandins. As such, they can alleviate the nausea, cramping, and diarrhea. Similarly, oral contraceptives can greatly reduce these symptoms because they, too, have an antiprostaglandin effect.
When my patients tell me they’re experiencing these problems, I recommend that they take ibuprofen or Naprosyn. These medications are known as antip rostaglandins. As such, they can alleviate the nausea, cramping, and diarrhea. Similarly, oral contraceptives can greatly reduce these symptoms because they, too, have an antiprostaglandin effect.
Monday, May 2, 2011
When will my daughter enter puberty?
Interestingly, there are a number of factors that can influence when a girl enters puberty. Of course, as we’ve seen, genetics plays a very important role. However, there are other variables as well, some of which are rather surprising. For instance, not only does nutrition have an impact on when a girl first begins menstruating, but so too does the altitude at which the girl lives, how close she lives to the equator, and how heavy she is; some researchers even claim it can be affected by whether there is a father-figure in the household.
In general, during the past few decades there has been a noticeable decrease in the age at which girls in the United States enter puberty. Some people believe that this is a direct result of the hormones that are administered to cows. Their concern is that these hormones eventually end up in the cows’ milk, and then, in turn, they end up in our daughters’ bodies when they drink this milk. This hypothesis has been hotly debated over the years, but as of now, it is not generally accepted by the medical community. The more accepted theory regarding the declining age for the onset of periods relates to the increased prevalence of childhood obesity. Simply stated, the heavier the adolescent girl, the earlier she will menstruate.
In general, during the past few decades there has been a noticeable decrease in the age at which girls in the United States enter puberty. Some people believe that this is a direct result of the hormones that are administered to cows. Their concern is that these hormones eventually end up in the cows’ milk, and then, in turn, they end up in our daughters’ bodies when they drink this milk. This hypothesis has been hotly debated over the years, but as of now, it is not generally accepted by the medical community. The more accepted theory regarding the declining age for the onset of periods relates to the increased prevalence of childhood obesity. Simply stated, the heavier the adolescent girl, the earlier she will menstruate.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
How frequently will my daughter have periods?
Once your daughter’s menstrual cycle becomes more regular, she should expect to have a period every 25 to 30 days. However, it’s not uncommon for girls to have periods as frequently as every 21 days, or as spread out as every 45 days.
The time lapse between periods is highly dependent upon genetics, stress, and weight. You should also know that there are many documented cases where girls have essentially stopped having periods during times of grueling physical exertion, such as long-term training to run in marathons, or if they are anorexic. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that adolescent females seek a medical evaluation if they have irregular menstrual cycles that occur less than every 90 days.
The time lapse between periods is highly dependent upon genetics, stress, and weight. You should also know that there are many documented cases where girls have essentially stopped having periods during times of grueling physical exertion, such as long-term training to run in marathons, or if they are anorexic. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that adolescent females seek a medical evaluation if they have irregular menstrual cycles that occur less than every 90 days.
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