Menstruation
Menstruation usually begins at 12 to 14
years of age but may start as early as 10 or as late .1<; 18. Maturing early
or late often runs in a family, however, if a girl's menstrual periods begin at
10 or earlier, or if they have not started by 17, a doctor should be consulted.
A doctor also should be consulted if the characteristic changes of
puberty-development of breasts, pubic hair, and so on-occur unusually early or
late. This may be due to a glandular disorder that can be corrected, and the
child usually needs help with the emotional problems which are apt to arise
under such circumstances. In the average woman, menstruation occurs every 28
days, but the cycle varies considerably in different women.
However, each woman has a fairly definite
cycle, which should be reasonably well established by the end of the first year
after onset of menstruation, or the menarche, as this is called. Although
menstruation is a normal physiological event, many people, consciously or unconsciously,
regard it as an illness, and instill fears about it into young girls. In other
instances, girls reach puberty without knowing there is such a thing, so their
first menstrual period is a severe emotional shock. All girls, and boys as
well, should be told about menstruation before they and their friends reach the
age of puberty-preferably by their mothers. Exactly when children should be
told about menstruation is not simple to define. Parents, as we have already
indicated, should not give children information they cannot understand nor have
no interest in. On the other hand, children should not get the impression that
menstruation is, as they often put it, "a dirty secret" which has
been kept from them.
The opportunities for privacy, the
possibility of a child's learning about menstruation in other ways, and similar
factors must help determine the age at which each child should be told. The
important thing is the mother's attitude. Mothers should realize that
menstruation is not a sickness, not some- thing to be ashamed of, not to be
called "the curse" or to be made to seem mysterious or shameful. They
should explain to adolescent daughters that some women experience discomfort or
"cramps" in the lower abdomen, usually at the onset of a period, and that
menstruation may be a "nuisance" for the first day or so, especially
if flow is profuse. How- ever, it should cause no real difficulty. Girls should
be able to go to school, walk, and dance, play ordinary games and, if the
weather is warm and the flow not profuse, go swimming. If a girl tires or
chills easily, she should avoid swimming and the more strenuous sports during
her menstrual period. She should not be goaded into overdoing things by a
mother who is overly anxious to emphasize that menstruation is normal.
Girls should be told that menstrual
disorders do occur but are usually of a minor nature, and that a doctor can
almost always cure them, or at least help them a great deal. Should a pad or
tampon be used? Either is safe from a health stand point. The choice depends on
the individual. If flow is profuse, pads may be required to absorb it. Most
virgins can use small-size tampons, and certainly no mother should imply that a
girl who uses a tampon is not "nice." Abnormalities of menstruation
are described later. Feminine Hygiene Aside from ordinary washing and bathing,
there is no necessity for "feminine hygiene." Baths or showers may be
taken during menstruation, although very hot or very cold ones should be
avoided. Women who prefer not to bathe during their periods should wash the
outer genital area with warm water and soap at least once a day. If strong
odors occur, or if there is a discharge from the vagina between periods, be
sure to see a doctor or consult a hospital clinic. These odors and discharges
usually stem from an infection, which should be attended to. Douching is seldom
necessary. If you believe you need vaginal douches, ask your doctor about it.
