Period Advice For Teen Girls

When a young girl starts her period, she may be given the "birds & bees" run down of why it happens, but there's a lot more to menstruation than just suddenly being able to have babies.


If you are a teenage girl, then this post is written for you. Whether or not you've begun your period, there are some things you need to know.  First of all, I hope you have the okay from your parents, in case there's still stuff they haven't told you.
At the same time, some parents are really uneasy about these kinds of talks and may not feel comfortable sharing everything that you have a right to know about your own body.


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Cramps

• I'm sorry to say this, but you will have pain in your lower belly, back, vagina (yes it can happen), and sometimes thighs.
• They vary for every female, but some can be extreme enough to cause chills, fever and even digestive disturbances - you may get nauseated & feel like throwing up.
• Thankfully, there's a variety of pain relief options. If you do NOT have a heavy flow (if you're not filling a pad or tampon in an hour), you can use a heating pad or even a stick-on heat relief patch, which rests on your skin for up to 8 hours.
• If you are producing a large amount of fluid, then opt for medicinal relief (no heat), with Tylenol, Midol, Aleve, Advil or whatever you find works the best! Personally, I find Aleve works very well. 
• Don't be embarrassed to ask your doctor about pain relief options - extreme cramps (like ones that make you miss school) can be a sign of something more serious (see next section).
• Stay hydrated, well-rested and get light exercise, as all of that can help ease your cramps. Also make sure to eat healthy and limit stress.

Menstrual Disorders

• As said above, sometimes cramps can be a sign of something more serious. If your periods are very painful, ask to make an appointment with your doctor.  Remember - if you have strict parents, you can also go to a local clinic and most of them will respect your privacy and not "report" your visit to your parents.Your body is your own.
• Even though you are young and having your first periods, your cramps may be caused by a condition called endometriosis, which is when the lining of your uterus (what sheds during your period), may have ended up forming on surrounding organs outside of your uterus.
• Strange as it sounds, you might also be beginning to develop fibroids - they are NOT cancerous, but they are small tumors that develop within the uterus and can cause a lot of pain and heavy bleeding. Left untreated, the bleeding can lead to anemia (an iron deficiency). 
• If you are 15 years of age or older, and haven't begun your period yet, it is worth getting that checked out by a doctor to make sure everything is okay. 

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Menstrual Flow (the actual period)

• Even if you do not have any menstrual disorders, you will notice that menstrual fluid & 'flow' is different for everyone. It can even differ vastly for you each month, especially as your body establishes it's own rhythm. 
• As you begin, your flow may be fairly light the first few times. You may also find the first 2-3 days of your period seem heavy, but it will (should) taper off and slow down as you get to the last day.
• BTW, though it's often red blood you see, your menstrual fluid is also made of endometrial tissue (lining of your uterus that forms each month), cervical and vaginal mucus. You may sometimes feel & see 'chunks' in it, which can just be blood clots or tissue, and nothing to worry about. 
• Your mother may not have told you what it "feels like" to menstruate; that is, the sensation of blood leaving through your vagina.  Well, it's not like peeing - it does not come from your urethra. There's no way to contract your muscles & stop the flow.  However, it often just trickles out - similar to the speed and consistency of a nose bleed (did you also think of El from Stranger Things?)
• If you have a heavier flow, it will sometimes feel more like "gushing" - just for a few seconds at a time, not continuously. When you awake and sit up in the morning, you will often feel a gush of fluid leave your vagina, and likely in your bum crack.  Funny as it may sound, menstrual fluid often finds it's way into your bum and this may occasionally lead to an embarrassing stain on the back of your pants if you've been sitting. 
• This can be alleviated if you're comfortable wearing tampons. If your flow is heavy already, try wearing tampons and pads together. Remember to change them every 4 hours or so, since Toxic Shock Syndrome, though rare, is a serious possibility. 
• If your flow is light, you only need to wear pads, unless you're planning to go swimming. Yes, you can safely wear tampons for swimming or having baths. Just be careful to not go into overly hot water if your flow is heavy, as heat can increase it. 
• You'll be happy to know that, as confusing as the feminine hygiene aisle looks, that the items are color-coded based on your needs. 
• Yellow means regular flow. 
• Purple means light flow.
• Green means super flow.
• Orange means super+ (the maximum). 
• You can buy "overnight" pads which offer more coverage, and pads with wings, which help prevent embarrassing leaks.  
• Another thing to note about your flow, is that it can sometimes come out in colors other than red. If it is brown, that often just means that blood has been in your vagina for awhile and oxygen has gotten to it. If it is light/pink, it's got more mucus than blood in it. Any time you feel concerned about whether it's normal, talk to your doctor.  At your age, you should already be seeing a gynecologist.  

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PMS symptoms

• Some people - especially boys - may tease you about "having PMS" to imply that you're acting overly hormonal. However, Premenstrual Syndrome (the week or so leading up to each period) can affect you in many ways, not just mood.
• You may be bloated and starting to cramp already, as your uterus prepares to shed it's lining. 
• You may also be feeling emotionally-sensitive, such as crying more easily, and feeling angry or at least more easily annoyed.  This is all normal. 
• Food cravings may occur, especially sweet food, and meaty food (high in iron). Try to eat lots of fruit & veggies when possible, and try to limit beverages like pop (soda). If you eat meat, try to get seafood and poultry in higher amounts during this time. 
• Also, keep yourself hydrated - your body will be losing fluid for a week.
• Your breasts will feel swollen & painful during PMS. This is normal and often goes away about halfway through your period. 
• It's possible you may feel nauseated, gassy, constipated, having diarrhea, or frequent urination during this week. It's caused by both hormonal changes and pressure on your other organs from an expanding uterus. 
• You may also suddenly feel very sleepy and want to nap. This is normal and if you have time after school, by all means, get some extra rest. Your body will thank you.

Don't let all of the above information overwhelm you - just come back to this post any time you want to re-read something.  You're a woman now, and you can expect to menstruate for *approximately 35 years (*it varies for everyone) before you come to menopause.

You can always ask your mother, aunt, other trusted relative, your family doctor, or even a friend's mother when you have any questions. Remember that having a period is NOT shameful and you should never feel embarrassed to talk about it.