How many days can teenagers menstruate?

Factors influencing the duration of menstruation

How long your period lasts depends on the following factors:

1. Heredity. For some, menstruation lasts 10 days or even more in the absence of any pathologies. This duration is typical for women of this family.
2. The presence of inflammatory and infectious diseases of the reproductive organs, benign neoplasms (fibroids, polyps, cysts), malignant tumors of the uterus and ovaries. With these diseases, the structure of the mucous membranes of organs is disrupted, damage to blood vessels and tissues occurs, as a result of which menstruation becomes more abundant and lasts longer.
3. Ovarian dysfunction. The cause of this condition can be both diseases of the genital organs and frequent abortions, the use of an intrauterine device, and uncontrolled use of hormonal drugs. With ovarian dysfunction due to insufficient production of sex hormones, menstruation lasts 2 days or less.
4. Deviations in the functioning of the thyroid, pancreas, pituitary gland, adrenal glands - organs responsible for the state of hormonal levels in the body.

In addition, the number of critical days is sharply reduced with intense physical activity (sports, weight lifting). Nervous stress, psychological trauma, and depression cause heavy menstrual bleeding that lasts for 10-14 days.

Fasting and vitamin deficiency lead to hormonal shifts, a reduction in the duration of menstruation or their complete cessation. Smoking, alcohol abuse, drug use, and exposure to an unfavorable environment lead to the same result.

Video: How long does a normal period last?

What is menstruation

Menstruation is a normal process that occurs in the female body. Menstruation indicates the body’s preparation for possible fertilization and full bearing of a child. Critical days are characterized by monthly withdrawal of blood from the genitals.

What women see on the pad is the top layer of the endometrium. It comes out along with the unfertilized egg.

With successful conception, a long delay occurs, which is also commonly called artificial menopause. The menstrual cycle will be restored only after delivery and cessation of breastfeeding, less often before breastfeeding.

Throughout the menstrual cycle, natural hormonal changes occur in a woman’s body. In the middle of the cycle, ovulation occurs - the most favorable day for fertilization, when the egg leaves the ovaries. Before her period, a girl will have to face premenstrual syndrome.

The menstrual cycle lasts 28-34 days. The indicator may be less or more depending on individual characteristics. Menstruation itself lasts up to 7 days. At this moment, the body's protective function decreases. Various pathological processes that have been asymptomatic for a long time may appear. It is advisable to rest more during menstruation and slightly reduce your usual level of physical activity.

How long do teenage girls menstruate?

At the age of 12-15, girls experience their first menstruation. During this period, hormonal changes begin in the body associated with the maturation of the ovaries. The first menstruation comes irregularly, with delays of several months. This happens within 1-2 years. The volume of menstruation can fluctuate significantly.

It is difficult to say how many days teenage girls should menstruate until their character is finally established. Their duration can vary significantly, but gradually it returns to normal and is usually 3-5 days. After this, the girl needs to have a special calendar to mark the start and end day of her period.

If any deviations appear (menstruation does not come, ends too quickly, or, conversely, lasts longer than last time), there is no need to panic. There can be many reasons: overwork, dieting, sports overload, teenage mental imbalance, change of environment. Such violations will disappear after their cause is eliminated.

But if the disturbances are persistent and menstruation is too painful, then you should definitely consult a doctor. Such symptoms indicate the presence of diseases of the reproductive organs and other body systems.

Video: Menstruation in girls and adult women

Causes of irregular menstruation cycles in girls

The path to adulthood for girls begins with their first menstruation. Menarche appears between 9 and 14 years of age and is often irregular.

Normally, menstruation should have a cycle of 21–35 days and a duration of 3–6 days. If each time blood appears unexpectedly on your panties, sometimes after 3 weeks, sometimes after 6, this indicates instability of the menstrual cycle.

Modern mothers should know what irregular periods are in a teenager and take timely measures if menstrual periods develop into pathology.

Safe Causes of Irregular Periods in Girls

Let's consider what reasons for an irregular menstrual cycle may occur in growing girls at the age of 14. Let's immediately talk about the impact of external factors.

The functioning of the reproductive system can be affected by both the unfavorable environmental conditions in the place of residence and the unhealthy atmosphere in the family.

Antisocial behavior of parents and lack of attention depresses the child’s psyche and affects his development.

Other causes of unstable periods during puberty:

1. Stress – frequent troubles and worries negatively affect the state of a young girl’s body. Psycho-emotional overload increases the likelihood of irregular periods.
2. Hereditary predisposition - if the mother has gynecological problems, most likely they will be passed on genetically to her daughter.
3. Physical activity - intense sports, improper daily routine, lack of hours of sleep create excessive stress on a fragile body. Working in enhanced mode, it does not have time to fully cope with all functions.
4. Poor nutrition - an abundance of fast foods and other unhealthy foods, as well as a deficiency of vitamins and microelements, are harmful in adolescence. In order for menstruation to stabilize as soon as possible, a girl must adhere to a proper diet, monitor her weight and avoid being excessively thin or obese.

The cause of irregular periods at the age of 13 in girls and adult women can also be climate change. Changing your place of residence, traveling abroad and spending time at sea in your own country force the body to acclimatize. Because of this, cycle failures occur.

The first menstruation in girls comes after the pubic and axillary zones become hairy and the breasts begin to grow.

Doctors say that the body becomes ready for bleeding at the moment when the volume of adipose tissue is 17%. But for a regular cycle, the body needs 22% fat tissue.

Observations have shown that in overweight girls, menstruation begins earlier than in thin girls, and is established faster.

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Irregular periods in adolescents as a sign of disease

If a teenage girl's irregular periods are not associated with physiological factors, she needs to be examined for the development of a serious disease.

First of all, the doctor should pay attention to the condition of the genital tract and ovaries.

Fistulas, injuries to the genitourinary organs, oncological changes, and a working imbalance between the pituitary gland and ovaries negatively affect the menstrual cycle.

Chlamydia and human papillomavirus – infectious diseases – can make critical days unstable. They are characterized by juvenile bleeding. This is heavy bleeding for more than 7 days, debilitating the body and leading to the development of anemia. Heavy bleeding often occurs after a missed period. New menstruation may not be observed for 2 to 6 months.

Traumatic brain injuries also disrupt the menstrual cycle in teenage girls. The production of female hormones is assigned to the pituitary gland. After an accident or a strong blow that damages the skull, the pituitary gland is injured and begins to work incorrectly. As a result, periods are constantly delayed.

What other diseases disrupt the menstrual cycle in girls:

• Ovarian failure.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome.
• Underdevelopment of the uterus or ovaries.
• Increased levels of prolactin in the blood.
• Blood clotting disorder.
• Pathologies of the thyroid gland.

In girls, as in adult women, the causes of unstable bleeding can be endometriosis and endometritis. Both pathologies disrupt the synthesis of hormones and lead to irregular periods.

Menstruation during pregnancy

Once pregnant, most women's periods disappear, but sometimes they come at their usual time, which may cause the woman to not realize that she is pregnant. If menstruation came only during the first 30 days of pregnancy, this is explained by the fact that fertilization occurred at the very end of the menstrual cycle, when the endometrium had already partially exfoliated. Bloody discharge is scanty.

In rare cases, simultaneous maturation of eggs in both ovaries occurs. One of them is fertilized, and the second is brought out. In this case, slight bleeding occurs, which may look like scanty periods that last for 1-2 days.

If during pregnancy during the first 3-4 months menstruation is scanty and short in duration, this may be the result of an incomplete cessation of hormone production in the ovaries, which is explained by the physiological characteristics of the body. But in any case, you should not calm down, since most often the appearance of bloody discharge during pregnancy portends a miscarriage or indicates endocrine disorders in the body.

Warning: If any bleeding occurs, a pregnant woman should immediately consult a doctor. You may need to be hospitalized for several days to maintain the pregnancy.

Results

Both young ladies and their mothers are often wary of dysfunction of the reproductive system in early adolescence. Such anxiety is understandable, because many do not know how the body should normally work, and when to run to the doctor, and when to just wait until everything recovers on its own.

In this article we tried to cover all aspects of this difficult process. Let’s summarize: firstly, if a girl has not yet established her cycle, or at an age when it would seem “it’s time”, her first menstruation has not arrived, there is no need to worry. Most likely, this is one of the characteristics of the body that will return to normal over time. If the delay is significant, and the girl experiences pain or discomfort, there is a good reason to consult a doctor and undergo an examination. This will allow the cause of the deviation to be detected in time and eliminated so that the teenager does not have problems with reproductive health in the future.

How long do you miss your period after childbirth?

The timing of the first menstruation after childbirth depends on the nature of its course and general health. If a woman is breastfeeding, she does not have periods during the entire period of lactation. If for some reason the child is transferred to artificial feeding immediately after birth, then the woman’s period begins after about 12 weeks.

In the absence of complications, most often the menstrual cycle becomes more stable. If earlier your periods were too heavy and long, then after childbirth the indicators are close to normal. Menstruation becomes painless and less intense. This is due to a change in the position of the uterus, improving the outflow of blood from it. How long your period lasts depends on the nature of the hormonal changes that have occurred. They usually last from 3 to 5 days.

How many days does menstruation last during menopause?

Menopause (complete cessation of menstruation) occurs in women at approximately 48-50 years of age. After 40 years, the production of sex hormones in the ovaries begins to gradually decline, and the supply of eggs is depleted. Ovulation does not occur in every cycle. All this is reflected in the nature of menstruation. They come irregularly, the duration changes with each cycle. After heavy bleeding that does not stop for 8 days, there may be a long pause (2 months or more), followed by scanty spotting brown periods that disappear after 2 days. Then they stop altogether.

Addition: If spotting was absent for 1 year and then reappeared, this is no longer menstruation. Bleeding of any duration and intensity during the postmenopausal period is a sign of hormonal imbalance, endocrine diseases, or the occurrence of tumors of the uterus or ovaries. It is necessary to urgently contact medical specialists (gynecologist, endocrinologist, oncologist) to identify the pathology.

Menstruation while using oral contraceptives

Birth control pills contain female sex hormones, estrogens and progesterone. Their action is aimed at suppressing ovulation by changing their natural ratio in the body. Within 1-3 months after starting to take the pills, the body adapts to the new hormonal levels. In this case, the nature of menstruation may change compared to usual. How many days menstruation lasts in this case and what its intensity depends on the chosen remedy. They can become abundant and long-lasting, or, on the contrary, they can be scanty and short-lived.

If after 3 months the nature of menstruation does not return to normal, you should consult a gynecologist. You may need to choose a different drug.

Video: Gynecologist about the consequences of using hormonal drugs

The onset of menstruation is an important event in a girl’s life. By the beginning of the first critical days, the child must be mentally prepared. Many modern girls who know how to use the Internet, long before the onset of menstruation, know what this physiological process is. However, this does not free mothers from the need to tell their daughters about what menstruation is, when girls' periods begin, how they proceed and what to watch out for.

Let's discuss all the important questions: what signs can you use to guess that menstruation is about to begin, how to maintain hygiene these days, and whether you need to visit a gynecologist.

What should you be wary of?

You should consult a gynecologist if a girl’s first menstruation: Lasts for a very long time, more than 7 days or more Lasts one or two days, that is, less than 3 Appears before 11 or after 16 years Very heavy. That is, you need to change the gaskets more often than every 2 hours. They are very acute. The girl loses consciousness from pain.

In any case, if you begin to notice any deviations from the norm, do not hesitate to consult a doctor. He will check whether the processes occurring in you correspond to your physiology. He will recommend the best options for you and advise on any pressing issue you may have.

Menstruation is a physiological process familiar to every sexually mature girl. This is not just an integral part of the life of a representative of the fair sex, indicating her readiness to reproduce, but also an indicator of the health of the genital organs. Every girl is interested in the question of how long the first period lasts and when, presumably, it may occur. Such information will help you avoid shock, prepare psychologically and not get into an awkward situation, and stock up on personal hygiene products.

When do the first critical days occur?

A few decades ago, girls began menstruating at almost 18 years of age. Nowadays puberty comes earlier. The occurrence of the first menstruation at 11–16 years of age is considered normal. For some girls, their periods come earlier, and for some, later.

This depends on several factors:

• diseases that were suffered in childhood;
• heredity;
• nutrition;
• living conditions;
• physical development.

In addition, if the grandmother and mother started their periods early, then the child will most likely do the same. If a girl is ahead of her peers in physical development, then her period will come earlier. Conversely, if the baby grows up weak and often gets sick, then she will probably lag behind in puberty. Menstruation will occur later due to poor nutrition, deficiency of vitamins and nutrients necessary for the growth and development of a young body.

There are cases where girls' first periods begin at 8–9 years old. Early sexual development can be caused by hormonal imbalance and heavy physical exertion. If menstruation has not begun by the age of 17, then this is a reason to visit a gynecologist. The reason for delayed sexual development may be insufficient functioning of the ovaries, emotional stress, nervous overload, problems with hormonal metabolism, disorders arising from the pituitary gland, grueling sports training, unfavorable environmental conditions, and dieting.

Signs preceding the first menstruation

Any mother who monitors the condition and health of her daughter can notice the signs that precede the onset of the first menstruation. It is from this moment that we need to begin preparing the child for a new period of life. About a couple of years before the onset of menstruation, a girl’s figure changes (breasts enlarge, hips become wider). Hair begins to grow under the arms and on the pubic area. In addition, girls' periods are preceded by acne on the face and back.

A few months before the first critical days, girls notice traces of atypical discharge on their underwear. They may be transparent, yellowish or whitish without an unpleasant odor. All this is normal and does not indicate any disease. If you experience symptoms such as itching in an intimate place, a strange smell inherent in the discharge, then you should visit a specialist.

A few days before the start of menstruation, a girl may show signs of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which occurs in adult women:

• frequent mood swings, tearfulness;
• apathetic or aggressive state;
• headaches that occur for no reason;
• nagging pain localized in the lower abdomen.

Menstrual irregularities in adolescents: main causes and methods of treatment

In girls, the first menstruation may appear as early as 10-11 years old and be irregular in the first few months. Instability of the menstrual cycle is manifested by a reduction in its duration or, conversely, an increase, the appearance of scanty discharge, and pain.

Irregular periods in a teenager are a common occurrence due to unstable hormonal levels. Restructuring of the functioning of the endocrine system, hormonal fluctuations are completed only 6-15 months after the first menstruation.

Features of the menstrual cycle in adolescents

A woman's sexual development occurs in several stages. During adolescence, there is a surge in all metabolic processes, ending with puberty and the ability of the female body to conceive and bear a child. The timing of the onset of menstruation varies, on average menstruation begins at 12 years of age:

• The first stage (adrenarche), a kind of preparation of the girl’s body for menstruation, is an increase in the concentration of sex hormones. This can happen as early as 8 years of age under the influence of the adrenal cortex, which produces male hormones - they are the precursors of female sex hormones;
• the second period - thelarche - is characterized by engorgement of the chest, the appearance of hair under the arms and on the pubis. About 2 years after this process, the first menstruation appears. According to research, in 90% of cases, menstrual periods begin closer to 13-14 years of age, but in some cases, periods can be observed as early as 10-11 years of age.

Irregular periods in teenage girls are not uncommon. The early onset of menstruation usually causes the appearance of anovulatory cycles during the first year after menarche - against the background of menstruation, eggs do not mature, which is considered normal.

The formation of the ovulatory cycle in teenage girls can take up to 10 years. Only by the age of 18-20 does the reproductive system work according to the physiological norm and ovulation appears in each menstrual cycle.

In the early years, menstruation in adolescents is extremely irregular.

12 months after menarche, the duration of menstruation can range from 23 to 90 days, and only by the seventh year its duration is reduced to a maximum of 38 days.

The individual cycle of each girl is established no earlier than by the age of 20. This irregularity is due to the development of hormonal levels, fluctuations in metabolic processes, and an immature reproductive system.

If a girl of 14-15 years old does not have her period, then she should consult a gynecologist. In addition, it would be a good idea to read additional information on this issue.

Formation of the menstrual cycle

The approach of menstruation can be noticed by the characteristic signs caused by puberty. After about 10 years and even earlier, girls’ mammary glands begin to become engorged, and abundant hair appears on the pubis and in the armpit. It is secondary sexual characteristics that are an indicator of a girl’s puberty.

Menarche (the first menstruation in a girl's life) is rarely the same as for an adult woman. Usually the first discharge is spotting, scanty, and its duration does not exceed 2-4 days. Only after a few years should cyclicality be established - equal periods of time between menstruation and the same average duration of critical days.

Irregular menstrual cycles in adolescents are especially common in the first year. At 12-14 years after the start of discharge, the duration of the cycle does not exceed 20-25 days, but in some cases, on the contrary, it can last up to 45 days. This is caused by low levels of the hormone estrogen in the body.

The cycle becomes almost regular at 14-15 years of age. By this time, the hormonal background has stabilized, the concentration of female sex hormones becomes almost the same as in adult women.

The timing of the onset of menarche for most girls is individual and depends on factors such as:

• genetic predisposition;
• rate of sexual development;
• living and food conditions;
• diseases suffered in childhood.

In adolescents, menstruation should occur without severe pain, the appearance of clots, or excessive bleeding. Deviations from this norm require treatment, and when the cycle is established independently, specialist supervision.

Causes of irregular periods

Menstrual irregularities in girls can occur for various reasons:

• heredity plays an important role in the functioning of the reproductive system of adolescents. In most cases, hormone levels and ovarian function in particular are determined by genetic predisposition;
• external factors. Unfavorable environmental conditions, stress, physical and mental stress negatively affect the maturation, including puberty, of a teenage girl;
• Irregular menstruation can be caused by increased physical activity, sports, lack of proper rest, abuse of gadgets, delays due to stress;
• passion for diets. A low body mass index and excessive thinness lead to delayed puberty, reduce the level of sex hormones, and delay the onset of menstruation as much as possible. Excess body weight and obesity also negatively affect a girl’s sexual health;
• some gynecological diseases, a decrease or excess of hormones in the blood due to disruption of the thyroid gland, diseases of the central nervous system also cause disruption of the menstrual cycle;
• Anomalies in the structure of the uterus and other genital organs often lead to untimely onset of menarche or cycle disruptions.

Since the girl’s reproductive system is in the process of development, any external or internal negative factor has an impact on it. Past viral and other diseases, unhealthy diet, smoking and drinking alcohol, lack of proper sleep and rest - all this negatively affects the general health and leads to menstrual cycle disorders.

When to worry

In addition to physiological reasons, disruption of the menstrual cycle in girls can be caused by the following factors:

• increased concentration of prolactin;
• polycystic ovary syndrome;
• decreased blood clotting;
• pathological structure of the uterus, ovaries;
• thyroid diseases;
• polyps, endometritis, cysts;
• infectious and inflammatory processes in the genital organs.

Menstrual irregularities in adolescents require consultation with a doctor in the following cases:

• no menstruation for more than 3-4 months in a row;
• the cycle has been 45 days or more in recent months;
• critical days twice a month with an interval between them of 14 to 20 days;
• the duration of bleeding is 7 days or more;
• excessive bleeding, when the tampon and pad should be changed more often than once every 2 hours;
• absence of menstruation at 16 years old.

Pathology is also indicated by symptoms such as excessive hair growth on the body and face, sudden weight loss or gain, changes in skin condition (acne, increased oiliness), and the appearance of oily seborrhea on the scalp. All these signs indicate a hormonal imbalance and require correction.

In addition, if a girl is sexually active, pregnancy, including ectopic pregnancy, and the development of various STDs cannot be ruled out.

Treatment approaches

Before prescribing therapy, diagnostics are carried out to identify the cause of the girl’s irregular menstrual cycle. Diagnostic measures include:

• determination of body mass index;
• examination by a gynecologist;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
• general urine and blood tests (if necessary, biochemistry can be prescribed), determination of hormonal status.

The choice of drug therapy depends on what caused the failure:

• In case of thyroid dysfunction, hormone therapy may be prescribed. In addition to regular medications, monthly monitoring of hormone concentrations in the blood is carried out;
• prescription of multivitamins, selection of proper nutrition. Vitamins B and E are of particular importance for a growing organism;
• homeopathic medicines for correction of the menstrual cycle.

You should immediately consult a doctor if, in addition to menstrual cycle disorders, there is sudden weight loss, a significant increase in blood discharge during menstruation, intense pain, and the appearance of bleeding between critical days.

Source: https://TopGinekolog.ru/menstruation/menstrual-cycle/neregulyarnye-mesyachnye-u-podrostka

How is the first menstruation, and how to prepare the child?

The first signs of menstruation in girls are spotting . They can be moderate or very scanty. During the first menstruation, about 50–150 ml of blood leaves the body (depending on the individual characteristics of the girl and hereditary factors). On the very first day, a small amount of menstrual blood is lost. The most abundant discharge is observed on the second day. Then their volume gradually decreases. The duration of menstruation can range from 3 to 7 days.

The first time a girl's period may be accompanied by weakness and discomfort in the lower abdomen . They can also be observed during the next menstruation. These symptoms occur in most adult women, so there is no need to worry about them.

Menstruation has a characteristic smell. It is explained by the fact that during menstruation the mucous glands of the vulva actively function, producing secretions.

The first spotting and mild nagging pain can frighten the child. The mother’s task is to explain to her girl that menstruation is a normal physiological process that occurs in the body of every girl and adult woman. The conversation should be friendly, not didactic.

The mother should tell her daughter:

1. About the menstrual cycle. Critical days occur every month. It is imperative to say how long girls' periods last. It should also be noted that the average duration of the menstrual cycle is 28 days, but during the first two years it may fluctuate.
2. The need to follow hygiene rules. Blood is a very favorable environment for the growth and reproduction of microorganisms. They can lead to the development of serious inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system.
3. About the risks of sexual relations. With the onset of menstruation, every girl enters childbearing age, and intimate relationships with the opposite sex can lead to pregnancy, which is extremely undesirable at this age. Childbirth can be harmful to both the new mother and her baby. That is why a girl should know about what promiscuity and unprotected sex can lead to.

Features of the menstrual cycle

In teenage girls, the menstrual cycle (the period from the first day of the previous menstruation to the first day of the next menstruation) is 21–35 days. However, during the first two years, not everyone experiences it regularly . For some it fluctuates constantly. For example, one menstrual cycle may be 25 days and the next 32 days. This is normal. It does not indicate that the girl has any pathology. If you have any suspicions, you can visit a doctor. The specialist will tell you exactly whether this is normal or an illness.

It is worth noting that the intervals between menstruation can range from one and a half months to six months . Don't worry if your period doesn't come on time. At a young age, menstrual function is not yet fully formed. This is why some girls experience long breaks. If your period does not come after several months, then you need to seek help from a doctor. A long pause between the first and second periods in girls may indicate a serious malfunction in the young body.

With the onset of her first menstruation, your daughter should be taught to keep a calendar in which she can mark when her periods began and ended. This information may not be useful in the first 1–2 years from the start of your period, because at this time the menstrual cycle has not yet fully established itself. But then the calendar will come in handy when consulting with a specialist if the cycle remains irregular. Too short or long periods, a small or large gap between menstruation may be a sign of some disease.

Hygiene and diet during menstruation

Hygiene is an important issue that mothers should cover when teaching their daughters about menstruation. During menstruation, all girls and adult women use pads and tampons. For girls, pads are the most preferred. Tampons interfere with the natural flow of blood. Gaskets are much more convenient to use. It is best for girls to buy these intimate hygiene products with a cotton layer. Pads with a mesh coating (“plastic” layer) are less hygienic and cause sweating and irritation of delicate skin.

What causes irregular periods in a teenager?

The onset of the first menstruation indicates the physiological maturation of the girl, but on an emotional level the young lady still remains an unformed child. After all, the first menstruation occurs at a young age - from 11 years. There are exceptions that may cause problems such as irregular periods in a teenager or delay. What should be done in this situation?

Age of onset of menstruation

Girls are approximately 2–3 years ahead of boys in development. Puberty begins earlier: the precursors of menstruation appear from 8 to 10 years, and the process itself lasts from 2 to 5 years.

This period is characterized by enlargement of the breasts and adipose tissue, hair growth in the pubic area and in the armpits. The production of hormones responsible for reproductive function - estradiol, progesterone.

Menarche should also occur at the designated time.

The approximate age for girls to begin their menstrual cycle is from 12 to 14 years. The girl’s body is gradually preparing to reproduce the reproductive function; all phases of the cycle begin to develop in a timely manner.

Among the standardized criteria for determining the age norm, the external characteristics of girls are distinguished:

1. Low stature and slow development provoke a delay in menstruation.
2. Tall growth and excessive body weight accelerate the onset of the first cycle.

Find out in one of our articles what the menstrual cycle is.

What should the menstrual cycle be like in teenagers?

Features of menstruation are considered in terms of duration, regularity, and volume of discharge.

The formed menstrual cycle lasts 21–36 days. For teenage girls, the numbers range from 20 to 45 days. The cycle takes a long time to establish – formation over two years.

Read about how long girls' first periods last in the article at the link.

Estrogen is produced regularly in young women, which cannot be said about LH (luteinizing hormone), which is responsible for the conception phase. A slight secretion of the substance blocks the onset of ovulation - the number of days in the cycle is halved, explaining the reason why there are no periods at 13, 14, 15 years old.

Although it is difficult to determine when an egg is released, it is possible to get pregnant at a young age.

Ovulation either does not occur at all or occurs prematurely - before or during menstruation. This happens until a regular cycle is established.

The discharge itself lasts from 3 to 7 days. A doctor is consulted when the difference in the duration of the regula is significant: in one month it is short (3 days), in another it is long (10 days), etc.

There is definitely no need to worry about blood volume. For a mature woman, such a symptom is a sign of a disorder of the genitourinary and reproductive system.

Scanty and irregular periods in a teenager 13 years of age and older are the norm. The first menstruation (menarche) is insignificant, since the reproductive function does not work fully.

A more serious cause for concern is late periods that do not come on time.

Why is a teenager's first period delayed?

When answering this question, it is important to consider genetics. The hereditary factor determines the approximate age when the first discharge appears. If a mother's period began at age 14, it is possible that her daughter's period will occur at that age. A genetic factor regulates the cyclicity of discharge.

When a fifteen-year-old girl showing signs of puberty (swelling of the mammary glands, feminine contours of the figure) does not start bleeding, they talk about amenorrhea.

Primary and secondary amenorrhea are divided:

1. Primary - absence of discharge with general signs of puberty.
2. Secondary - the discharge stops and disappears in previously menstruating girls (after 6 months).

The cause of primary amenorrhea is often uterine pathology and inflammatory processes in the uterus.

Why teenagers don't have periods: reasons other than pregnancy

When menstruation was present, but for some reason does not return, they speak of secondary amenorrhea. The concept of a “regular cycle” is generally not characteristic of representatives of the puberty period.

The first two years are a formative stage, so critical days are very unpredictable:

1. The younger the girl, the more the delay tends toward the norm.
2. The older you are, the greater the risk for developing pathologies.

That is why in a 13- or 14-year-old girl, a delay in menstruation does not indicate pathology. However, regular irregularities in the menstrual cycle in 16-year-old girls are a sign of complications in establishing a cycle.

To eliminate the problem, it is necessary to determine the cause of the cycle failure in a teenager.

The reasons described above rarely provoke painful symptoms. But, if a girl, in the absence of menstruation, feels pain in the abdomen or lower back, lethargy and apathy are observed, she should consult a gynecologist for timely detection of complications.

Read about why periods sometimes start 2 weeks after your period ends in the article at the link.

Possible complications

What are pathological disorders of the menstrual cycle in girls? After all, as it turned out, adolescence does not have norms for determining regularity and cyclicality. But having periods that are too early or too late is already a reason to visit a gynecologist during the first year of regulation.

Any form of amenorrhea impairs reproductive function. The symptom of delay often signals an infection and the development of an inflammatory process.

There is a common teenage pathology that destroys the flora of not just one location, but several at once. This is polycystic ovary syndrome. The problem affects the female body in stages:

1. Failure of the ovaries, pituitary gland, adrenal glands.
2. Irregular secretion of progesterone, estradiol.
3. Termination of the cycle (may not return).
4. Lack of ovulatory phase.
5. Inability to fertilize an egg.

Menstruation in adolescents is regulated not only by pathologies of the genitourinary organs. Common causes include traumatic brain injury. The resulting damage disrupts the functioning of the reproductive system - the impossibility of conceiving or bearing a fetus.

Recommendations

The main advice from medical sites is based on lifestyle changes. An understanding of what to do will come as soon as the negative impact factor can be identified.

To get rid of some problems, only medical diagnostics will be required. If symptoms such as pain, psychological disorders, increased body temperature, frequent urge to urinate, nausea, unnatural vaginal discharge, or a delay in menstruation in a 16- or 17-year-old teenager are observed, only a doctor is able to establish a diagnosis after a full examination.

When the discharge stops for three months, it is important to sign up for a comprehensive examination for the third cycle.

After receiving the results of the ultrasound and tests, the gynecologist prescribes therapy.

Monitoring the girl’s general health, lifestyle, prevention of infectious diseases and inflammatory processes will eliminate the problem of primary or secondary amenorrhea.

But it is important to remember that a delay in menstruation in a teenager is not necessarily a sign of pathology, because the girl’s body is too sensitive to any external manifestations. An irregular cycle in the first years after the start of menstruation is a natural process.

If painful symptoms appear or late menarche, regular visits to the gynecologist are required to prevent the problem of infertility.

Source: https://MesyachnyeDni.ru/menstruaciya/neregulyarnye-mesyachnye-u-podrostka.html

When will your first period start?

Gynecologists, based on statistics, agree that girls of the 21st century first encounter “critical days” between the ages of 11 and 16 years. The time of the first menstruation, otherwise known as “menarche,” has become significantly “younger.” Even our grandmothers and great-grandmothers learned about a similar physiological phenomenon by the age of 15–19 years. Although residents of the southern regions always entered puberty quite early. This is due to climatic conditions, nutrition and genetic predisposition.

You can take an online test for the date of your first period by clicking on the link.

The timing of your period may depend on the factors listed below.

Hereditary predisposition

The intensity and amount of discharge on the days of menstruation, as well as their beginning and the period of menopause, has a hereditary “shade” and is transmitted through the female line. Gynecologists, answering the question: “How long do girls’ periods last,” conduct a “birth history.” Most often, the mother of the young patient is interviewed. Based on the data obtained, the doctor can determine as accurately as possible the age at which the girl will become a girl.

Nutrition

As you know, a person is what he is. A girl’s nutrition during the development of her body directly affects the first menarche. Those girls whose diet contained a large amount of meat, mainly beef, and fresh vegetables and fruits, can experience menstruation as early as 9–12 years old.

Girl's lifestyle

Gynecologists have long noticed a direct relationship between menstruation and the lifestyle followed by a teenager. The presence of a sufficient amount of physical activity in life and an addiction to a balanced diet reduce the pain of menarche and speed up its onset. The presence of excess weight and the predominance of fats, carcinogens and fast carbohydrates in a girl’s diet will negatively affect the beginning of the menstrual cycle. It will be characterized by pain, late onset and long-term instability.

Terrain

The climatic features of the girl’s area of ​​residence also leaves an imprint on the beginning and end of menstruation. The length of daylight hours, the amount of natural vitamin B received, and the predominance of a certain time of year directly affect menarche.

The presence of pathological processes in the body

Dysfunction of the thyroid system, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, congenital malformations associated with atypical functioning of the kidneys, adrenal glands, and reproductive organs can significantly delay the onset of the first menstruation. If there are such deviations, specialized specialists: nephrologists, gynecologists or endocrinologists, prescribe girls a course of maintenance therapy, including hormonal drugs.

At what age do menstruation appear?

The age at which menstrual days appear and the factors influencing their onset are presented in the table.

Having your period come sooner or later is not always a deviation. Body weight plays an important role. If you are overweight, your critical days will most likely come later than required. Hereditary predisposition also influences.

If you don't have your period

The absence of menstruation before the age of 18–20 is a serious reason to consult a specialist. If such a long delay is not associated with a hereditary predisposition, the gynecologist may prescribe a number of diagnostic procedures aimed at identifying the cause. Among the main manipulations necessary for taking an anamnesis are:

• gynecological examination;
• general blood analysis;
• general urine analysis;
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
• analysis of hormones from a vein.

No periods for more than two months

If you are concerned about a sudden cessation of your periods or their delay, the first thing you need to do is find out exactly how many months ago they stopped coming. Sometimes this can be attributed to heredity or an unsettled cycle, but later it can become a serious problem. Doctors often associate the absence of menstruation with diseases of the endocrine system, which is “responsible” for the production of hormones necessary for the development of the reproductive system. However, the best option is to undergo a full medical examination.

Harbingers of the first menstruation

Menarche does not occur suddenly. The body prepares for them for a long time. By carefully observing herself, every girl can know approximately when to expect her first menstruation. There are several main precursors that signal the imminent onset of regulation. Signs of the first menstruation:

1. Changing your figure. A few months before the expected menstruation, the figure of a young woman begins to change. It "rounds up". The waist and hips line stands out. The chest is “rounded”. The glands of the breast actively react to the approach of menarche. Changes occur gradually, but not long before spotting appears, the breasts may swell, as during pregnancy.
2. Skin change. Many girls note that before or with the arrival of the first menstruation, the structure of the skin changes. The sebaceous glands begin to work more actively. The oiliness of the skin increases, and acne may appear.
3. Painful sensations. The first, as well as subsequent, menstruation may be accompanied by painful sensations in the back and abdomen. Frequent migraines are also frequent accompaniments of menstruation.
4. Sudden change of mood. The restructuring of hormonal levels directly affects the emotional background of a girl before and during her critical days.

By listening to her body, every girl can understand when her period will begin.

How many days do girls have their first periods at 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 years old?

As mentioned earlier, gynecologists assume the appearance of the first menstruation in the period from 9 to 17 years, depending on the factors during which the girl’s body developed. Answering the question about how long menstruation lasts for girls aged 12–14 years , we can confidently say that in terms of duration and abundance at this age, the first menstruation is no different from menarche at 12–16 years. The first period will most likely last no more than 2-3 days. Experts note that the normal duration of the first menstruation is up to 5 days.

At the beginning of the cycle, as during menopause, blood discharge is scanty, richly dark on all days of menstruation. This is due to changes in the girl’s hormonal background. The appearance of menstruation does not at all indicate the end of the process of puberty. It will take several more years from the onset of menarche until the reproductive system is ready to reproduce offspring. During this period, it is especially important to closely monitor the condition of the pelvic organs. Even a common cold during puberty can put an end to the possibility of motherhood and bring many problems and painful sensations into the life of a teenager.

The first physiological discharge will look more like a spot than a full-fledged period. The duration and abundance of menstruation will increase as the phases of puberty change.

By the duration of critical days, you can not only identify the presence of uterine tumors, ovarian dysfunction or the appearance of sexually transmitted diseases, but also assess the state of the central nervous system, the “quality” of the endocrine system and the presence of blood diseases.

Frequent periods

Frequent periods are menstrual bleeding with an abnormally short interval. Frequent periods are not a disease, but just a symptom indicating the presence of trouble in the body.

Changes in the nature of menstruation sometimes occur due to serious gynecological pathology.

Absolutely all women, regardless of age and state of health, encounter disturbances in their usual menstrual rhythm at least once in their lives, and 70% of them consult doctors.

The menstrual cycle is not always modified due to any illness; serious causes are diagnosed only in 35% of those who apply.

Menstruation can be disrupted in different ways: become shorter or last too long, come less often or more often, be accompanied by large blood loss or be very scanty. And for each menstrual cycle disorder there is a separate term, and more often – several.

Therefore, when a doctor uses several synonyms for one pathology, it seems to the patient that she has been diagnosed with many diseases, and the doctor does not always have the opportunity to tell her in detail about what is actually hidden behind numerous incomprehensible diagnoses.

To avoid unnecessary worries, there is no need to delve into medical subtleties. It is necessary to understand what the menstrual cycle is, how and why it is formed, and also to know which periods can be taken as normal and which as pathology.

The menstrual cycle is a cyclically repeating monthly structural and physiological processes in the body aimed at ensuring reproductive function. Menstrual cycles are separated by the first day of menstrual bleeding.

As soon as a girl has her first period (menarche), she should mark the first day of menstrual bleeding on the calendar, and then mark all subsequent first days of menstruation until the onset of menopause. This way she will know about the length of her menstrual cycle.

The number of days from one marked date in such a calendar to another will be its individual “norm”. It is also necessary to pay attention to the regularity of menstrual bleeding; the number of days between menstruation should always be the same with a slight tolerance.

A personal menstrual calendar can always inform you that your period has begun to come “wrongly.”

Although menstruation occurs and proceeds differently for every woman, there are generally accepted indicators that are conventionally accepted as the physiological norm. It is believed that menstruation should repeat once every 25-35 days. For most, this period is 28 days. The volume of blood lost is maximum in the first 2-3 days, and then should gradually decrease.

The “norm” is conventionally accepted as such menstrual blood loss that does not require changing more than four sanitary pads per day, provided they are used correctly. The duration of menstrual bleeding should not be shorter than three and longer than seven days.

Normal periods should not be painful or disrupt the usual rhythm of life.

When a woman says she has frequent periods, she means the number of days between two periods is less than her “normal.”

The term “frequent periods” used by patients can hide several menstrual irregularities:

– reducing the interval between two menstruation while maintaining the remaining parameters of normal menstruation;

– scanty, frequent periods: periods not only began to come more often, blood loss also decreased;

– frequent and heavy periods: a decrease in the intermenstrual interval in combination with large blood loss;

– frequent periods after 45 years, that is, during the approaching menopause;

– frequent periods in adolescents, indicating the period of formation of menstrual function.

If your periods have become more frequent, you need to pay attention to the nature of menstrual bleeding and the appearance of other negative symptoms: pain, fever, deterioration in health, and so on.

It is very difficult to independently understand the nature of cycle disorders; only a doctor can help to understand why frequent periods come without an obvious reason.

Causes of frequent periods

Irregularities in menstrual rhythm can have completely harmless causes. Sometimes, under the influence of external unfavorable factors, the next menstruation comes much earlier than expected.

For example, sometimes patients are interested in why menstruation occurs more often after stress, excessive physical activity, or against the background of colds.

If menstrual dysfunction has obvious physiological causes, the menstrual cycle usually returns without external intervention once the known triggers are eliminated.

Frequent periods are often caused by an artificial hormonal cause. Sometimes taking drugs based on sex steroids provokes a change in the rhythm of menstruation. This is why menstruation occurs more often during hormonal contraception.

Sometimes COCs slightly shorten the intermenstrual interval; this happens if a woman’s own cycle was long (more than 30 days). It is acceptable to shorten the cycle by 4-5 days if menstruation remains regular and is not accompanied by other disturbances.

Also, sometimes while taking such drugs, periods become less abundant, but they should not become scanty. If the hormonal drug is chosen correctly, after its discontinuation the cycle returns to its previous natural rhythm.

Frequent periods in adolescents are associated with instability of hormonal regulation, when the young female body has not yet fully adapted to changes in the functioning of the ovaries and the hypothalamic-pituitary system. Frequent periods after 45 years are also associated with the body’s adaptation to conditions of declining hormonal function.

Frequent periods after childbirth are not uncommon.

During pregnancy, the hormonal system functions differently, and it takes time for it to return to its previous rhythm after childbirth, so your periods may come more often or less often at first.

Breastfeeding women experience frequent periods less frequently after childbirth. To maintain proper lactation, the female body synthesizes the hormone prolactin, which suppresses menstrual function.

If your periods have become more frequent and maintain their “abnormal” rhythm for three consecutive cycles, this should not be ignored. It should be emphasized that early bleeding of any intensity is not always the next menstruation. Often, frequent, heavy periods are bleeding, and scanty, frequent periods mask an ectopic pregnancy.

Among the pathological causes of frequent menstruation, the leading ones are infectious and inflammatory diseases (endometritis, salpingoophoritis), endometriosis, fibroids and uterine polyps, and ovarian dysfunction.

Extragenital pathology can also change menstrual rhythm: diabetes mellitus, diseases of the thyroid gland and liver.

Very frequent periods

“Very frequent” can be considered periods that come in 21 days or less. At the same time, menstruation itself can be heavy and prolonged.

All changes occurring in the endometrium depend on the work of the central nervous system (pituitary-hypothalamus) and the ovaries. If their functioning fails, the menstrual cycle is also disrupted.

More often, very frequent heavy periods occur due to functional insufficiency of the corpus luteum, when, after normal maturation of the follicle, it is destroyed ahead of schedule.

Frequent periods after 40 years are also more often associated with changes in the hormonal function of the ovaries.

Inflammatory processes in the ovaries negatively affect the menstrual cycle. In addition to very frequent periods, patients experience pain in the projection of the appendages and/or uterus, fever, and poor general health.

Menstrual bleeding is the result of rejection of the overgrown mucous layer (endometrium). If the rejection process does not occur correctly, your periods may change their normal rhythm. Single large or multiple myomatous nodes in the uterus significantly deform its cavity and disrupt the functioning of the uterine muscles, so menstruation may become frequent.

Distinguishing frequent periods from other types of bleeding is not easy. With endometriosis, during the intermenstrual period, scanty discharge may appear, reminiscent of menstruation, and with an inflammatory process in the endometrium, such discharge can be very abundant.

To understand why frequent periods occur without an obvious reason, you need to get tested. A woman can bring a menstrual calendar to her appointment so that the doctor can see how her menstrual function has changed.

To find the cause of menstrual dysfunction, it is necessary to assess the patient's hormonal status. Laboratory diagnostics involves determining the level of hormones (FSH, LH, prolactin, estrogens, thyroid hormones, and so on).

It is also necessary to conduct an ultrasound scan, which can detect inflammation, fibroids, endometriosis and polyps.

Unfortunately, patients with frequent periods do not always seek professional help, especially if frequent periods do not cause inconvenience, that is, they pass without pain and significant blood loss. Meanwhile, sometimes disturbances in menstrual rhythm can lead to serious negative consequences, for example, infertility.

Treatment of frequent periods

Since frequent periods are not an independent disease, before starting treatment it is necessary to find out what ailment provokes them.

Therapeutic tactics, first of all, depend on how long ago menstruation came too often. If menstruation is disrupted for the first time, and the woman has no signs of gynecological pathology, it is permissible to wait for the next menstruation. If it arrives at the usual time, we can assume that the body has coped with such a violation on its own.

Frequent menstruation repeated over several cycles requires detailed examination and treatment.

Frequent periods after 40 years usually signal the imminent approach of menopause and are accompanied by other pathological signs of hormonal dysfunction.

It is impossible to cure a woman from menopause, but you can relieve her of the negative symptoms that accompany this transition.

Adequate hormonal therapy and symptomatic treatment of concomitant disorders of the nervous, metabolic-endocrine and psycho-emotional systems come to the rescue.

The presence of infectious inflammation in the uterus and/or appendages requires antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy.

The most popular cause of frequent periods remains hormonal dysfunction, so most often they resort to hormonal therapy to treat them.

Hormonal drugs are selected only after a laboratory study of the level of basic hormones and an ultrasound examination of the pelvic cavity.

According to the results of the examination, a suitable combination of estrogens and gestagens is selected for each patient so that it corresponds as closely as possible to the physiological one.

The determination of ovulation is of decisive importance in treatment, since sometimes frequent periods are a consequence of the anovulatory cycle, when the egg does not leave the follicle, but remains inside it longer than expected.

As a result, menstruation sometimes becomes not only frequent, but also abundant. With anovulation, the menstrual cycle becomes single-phase, which leads to infertility.

In such a situation, treating frequent periods involves restoring a two-phase cycle and stimulating ovulation.

Any young woman should remember that sometimes frequent periods after unprotected intimate relations can be associated with the threat of miscarriage at a short term or with the presence of an ectopic pregnancy, especially if they were preceded by a slight delay, if they came with pain or deterioration in well-being.

The information presented in this article is intended for informational purposes only and cannot replace professional advice and qualified medical care. If you have the slightest suspicion that you have this disease, be sure to consult your doctor!

Source: https://vlanamed.com/chastye-mesyachnye/

Scanty and prolonged menarche

When asking the question of how long menstruation lasts for girls under 16 years of age and what determines their abundance, you need to clearly understand that no matter how meager the regulations are, they cannot last one day.

Periodic blood “spotting” instead of scanty, but bloody discharge is an alarming sign.

In most cases, such behavior of the organs of the reproductive system occurs due to problems in the production of sex hormones. Too long and scanty discharge can be a signal of underdevelopment of the uterus, namely, impaired contractility. Some young users of thematic forums noted that their first periods lasted up to 35 days. Such deviations are a clear sign of advanced bleeding.

When to see a doctor

They talk about the properties of the first menarche, it is worth touching on the question of what they should not be:

Excessively abundant

Let us repeat: the normal duration of the first discharge should not exceed 7 days. Typically this period ranges from 2 to 5 days;

Have a pungent odor

Menarche. like critical days during a woman’s life, they have a characteristic faint aroma. The presence of a sharp, putrid odor is a signal to immediately visit a doctor;

There is severe pain

Menstruation may be accompanied by moderate pain in the tailbone and abdomen in the first days. You should worry if the pain is sharp and intolerable. This phenomenon may indicate not only pathology in the organs of the reproductive system. But also about untreated cystitis or other diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract.

Presence of foreign inclusions

The debut discharge is homogeneous. A minimum amount of mucous blood cells familiar to women is allowed. Splashes of yellow, green or dark brown color should alert the girl and serve as a reason to visit a specialist;

The spot should not appear several times a month.

Opinion of gynecologists

Most experts agree that “late” critical days, in general, do not at all indicate health problems if they occur regularly in the future. An unsettled menstrual cycle, which is accompanied by pain and any other discomfort, is already a significant reason to visit the gynecologist’s office. Also, do not forget about tests, which in any case help to quickly identify diseases. It is also worth considering that maturation begins at approximately 11 years of age. Doctors say that if a girl at thirteen years old has a delay in her periods, then there is no cause for concern, since cycle instability in the first months after the start of menstruation is a natural phenomenon.

When and how will your second period come?

Many girls who have already experienced menstrual bleeding are interested in the question of why, after the first period, the second does not begin and whether there may be delays. This phenomenon does not refer to evidence of the presence of diseases or pathologies. The onset of the second period is extremely individual and is determined by heredity and the general condition of the body. Almost all girls can and do have delays.

Girls may get their second period a few months after their first. Such a delay in menstruation in a teenager is due to the formation of the organs of the reproductive system. Its formation will be completely completed a year or two after the onset of menarche.

Please note that gynecologists recommend using exclusively sanitary pads as personal hygiene products during puberty. Tampons and menstrual cups are not suitable for young bodies, despite the assurances of marketers.

The absence of “these days” for more than 6 months is an alarming sign. Such a phenomenon may be a sign of pathologies and indicate the following:

1. Excessive loads.
2. At the stage of puberty, a hormonal imbalance occurred.
3. Very frequent stress.
4. Carrying out hormone therapy.
5. Changing the girl’s lifestyle or moving to a different climate zone.
6. Development of pathological processes in the reproductive organs.
7. Dysfunction of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands.
8. Ovarian disease.

To establish the true cause of what is happening, you need to consult a doctor.

What hygiene products to use

Today there is a large selection of personal care products. It is important to choose them responsibly so as not to provoke an allergy or cause an infection. Gynecologists recommend that teenage girls give preference to pads.

Pads are safer than tampons. They should be changed regularly so as not to provoke the creation of favorable conditions for the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.

Age should be taken into account when choosing pads. There is no need to take personal hygiene products designed for heavy discharge. The girl will be uncomfortable in them.

It is better to take two-drop pads. At the same time, the girl should be comfortable. It is better if the product is ultra-thin.

It is important to choose the right gaskets

Late menstruation

As mentioned earlier, the absence of menstruation before the age of 18 is an alarming sign. But now it is not uncommon for the first period to start very late. Some girls experience menarche in their twenties. What causes such an anomaly?

This is often associated with disorders in various body systems, which were mentioned earlier. Serious illnesses suffered in early childhood can also make their own adjustments. Gynecologists note that among those who have had mumps, measles, rubella or scarlet fever, late first critical days are more often diagnosed. There are also a number of factors that can “delay” the onset of menarche. These include:

1. Strong emotional excitability.
2. Diseases of the central nervous system.
3. Addiction to strict diets and sudden weight changes.
4. Heavy study load.
5. Poor nutrition.
6. Unfavorable climate in the family.

How long do girls' periods last at 20? What are their features? Despite its late appearance, menarche is no different from the classic ones. The duration of the debut critical days also varies from two to three days. But a girl should carefully monitor her body during her period. A late onset of menarche indicates that the organs of the reproductive system are a weak point for this representative of the fair sex.

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