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Puberty in
Girls
Puberty is a time of many changes. A girl's
body starts changing after about age 8. Many girls worry that they are not
developing fast enough, or are concerned if they develop before their friends
do. Remember, each person has her own timetable. Some girls start puberty early,
and some start later.
Most
of the changes of puberty are caused by chemicals called "hormones" that the
body starts to produce. The main female hormones are estrogen and
progesterone.
Breasts start
to grow when a girl is between 9 and 13. Many girls are concerned about the size
and shape of their breasts. Breasts come in many different sizes, so girls
shouldn't worry if theirs are different from their friends'. One breast may grow
more quickly than the other; however, they will be about the same size when they
finish growing. Pubic and underarm hair will start to grow next.
Menstrual periods usually start between
the ages of 11 and 15; however, periods can begin as early as 9 and as late as
17.
This is what causes a
period: about once a month, a woman's body gets itself ready for pregnancy. The
lining of the womb, or uterus, starts to thicken. About 2 weeks later, one of
the ovaries releases an egg, or ovum. If sperm from a man's body does not join
with the egg, that is, it is not fertilized, then the thick lining of the uterus
is not needed. In about another two weeks, her body gets rid of this lining
through the vagina. This is called having a period, or
menstruation.
Many women are
uncomfortable or have cramps during their periods. Exercise, a heating pad or
hot water bottle, and a pain reliever can help. If these ideas don't work, ask a
doctor or school nurse for help.
Periods usually last between 3 and 7 days. They may be longer or
shorter, and bleeding may be heavier in some months than in others -- especially
when you first start having your period. Many things can affect your period,
such as stress or sickness or fast weight loss. After a while, most women find
that their periods become regular. Once periods are more regular, they happen
about every 21 to 35 days, or 3 to 5 weeks.
If a woman has intercourse then misses her period,
she might be pregnant. If sperm joins with an egg a pregnancy begins. The
fertilized egg attaches itself to the thick lining of her uterus and starts to
grow. Her body does not get rid of the lining and she does not have a menstrual
period.
The female hormones
also cause a woman's vagina to produce a discharge or mucus. This does not hurt
or itch or smell bad. However, if you have a discharge that does hurt or itch or
smell strong, see your doctor; you might have an infection.
Pimples or acne are a common problem. Some
suggestions are to wash with plain soap, not eat foods with lots of fat, not use
skin moisturizers, and use lotions with benzoyl peroxide which can be bought
without prescription at a drug store. A doctor may also be able to prescribe
medication.
Body odour is
caused by perspiration. Many people stop it by washing often with regular or
deodorant soap and using deodorants.
Girls usually grow quickly between 10 and 13. After their periods start,
most grow about another inch or 3 centimeters. Most reach their adult height by
age 16.
Puberty may be a
time of strong sexual feelings and fantasies. These feelings may be confusing or
a worry or very pleasant. Daydreaming about kissing or sex, developing a crush,
feeling romantic are all normal. Respect your body, respect yourself for what
you are today, and demand respect from others.
If you want more information, you can read books on
puberty. Or, talk with someone you trust. You can call a local Planned
Parenthood organization or Public Health Unit -- see
References/Resources.
Women's Sexual
Organs
A woman's sexual parts are harder to see
than a man's, so many people don't know much about them. Some women have been
taught that this area of their body is dirty or ugly, and that it is shameful to
touch it or talk about it. These parts are not dirty or shameful. Like any other
parts of your body, the more you know about how they work, the easier it is to
stay healthy.
It is useful to see what this part of your
body looks like. You will need a small mirror to do this. Second, you will need
some facts.
The whole area between your legs is called
"the vulva". You will see two sets of lips, called "labia". After puberty, the
outer lips have pubic hair growing on them. The inner lips vary in size and
shape and colour. One lip may be larger than the other.Inside the lips are the
clitoris and two openings. Starting at the front of the body, where the inner
labia meet, is the clitoris. In adult women, the clitoris is about the size of
the eraser on the end of a pencil. In some women, it is covered with skin and in
others it is uncovered.
The
clitoris is extremely sensitive and is the source of much sexual pleasure. Some
women like to have it touched directly, when they are ready. However, others
find this painful and prefer to have the area around the clitoris
rubbed.
The opening closest to the clitoris is the
urethra, where urine comes out. It is small and hard to see.
Next is the opening to the vagina. This is
where menstrual blood and vaginal discharge come out, and where the penis goes
during vaginal intercourse. Sperm travel up the vagina, through what's called
the cervix, into the womb (or uterus). If it meets and fertilizes an egg, or
ovum, a pregnancy begins. When a baby is born, it moves out of the uterus, down
the vagina and out the same opening.
Inside the vagina there is usually a thin tissue called the "hymen".
Other names for it are "cherry" and "maidenhead". The hymen can become stretched
or torn by things like using tampons and having sexual intercourse for the first
time. For some women, this can be uncomfortable and cause a bit of bleeding;
others don't even notice it.
The opening further back is the anus. It is
where bowel movements come out.
From puberty, girls will notice a vaginal discharge or mucus on their
underwear. It is perfectly normal. It may be yellow or milky-white, watery or
thick. The appearance and amount of this change at different times in a woman's
cycle. These changes can help tell when she is most likely to get
pregnant.
If the discharge
has a strong or bad smell, if it itches, or if it is a strange colour, it could
be a sign of an infection or a sexually transmitted disease. This should be
checked by a doctor, as some of these are serious and spread
easily.
To find out more about a woman's body, get
books on the subject. Talk to someone: a parent, counsellor, or health care
worker. Or, you can call a local Planned Parenthood organization or Public
Health Unit .
Menstruation
Menstruation is natural. It is a sign of
good health and fertility, or the ability to get pregnant.
Normally, a woman has a menstrual period
about once a month, unless she is pregnant. This starts at puberty, between 9
and 14, and ends at menopause, between 45 and 55. The time from one period to
the next is called a menstrual cycle.
During a menstrual cycle, the woman's uterus, or
womb, builds up a thick lining of blood and nutrients to protect and feed a
fetus. At the same time, a few of her eggs begin to ripen. Usually, one egg
moves from an ovary into her uterus. This is called ovulation. If the egg is not
fertilized by sperm, she doesn't get pregnant. In that case, she doesn't need
the thick lining in her uterus. About 2 weeks later, the lining flows out
through her vagina. This is called "a menstrual period".
A period usually lasts from 3 to 7 days. The
heaviest bleeding is in the first days. You may feel tired during your period.
This may be because your body is losing iron. To stop your body from losing too
much iron, called "anemia", you can take a vitamin with iron.
To absorb menstrual blood, you can wear
sanitary pads outside the body or tampons inside the vagina. If the bleeding is
light, you can wear panty liners. These can all be bought at grocery or drug
stores.
It is O.K. for both
women and girls to wear tampons. They come in different sizes, so if you decide
to wear them, you can find a size that is comfortable for your body. If they are
inserted correctly, they can't be felt. They also can't get "lost" inside your
vagina. A string attached to the bottom of a tampon makes it easy to take it
out.
Tampons should be
changed every four to six hours. Leaving a tampon in longer than that can allow
bacteria to grow, andd lead to an infection called Toxic Shock Syndrome. This is
very rare, but is very serious when it does happen.
Some women have a very regular menstrual cycle,
every 27 days, for instance, or every 33 days; others have an irregular cycle.
The cycle may be longer one month than another. This is also normal. Most cycles
are from 21 to 34 days. The average is 28.
It is common for periods to be very irregular for
the first year or so. Emotional upsets, illness, stress, gaining or losing a lot
of weight, all can cause a woman's period to be late or even missed. A woman
just starting the birth control pill may skip a period, or have spotting between
periods for the first few months. Periods may change after pregnancy, or just
with time.
A woman is as
healthy during her period as she is at any time. She can shower or bathe, swim
or exercise, have sexual intercourse, or do anything she would normally do. Most
women have some cramping or pain the first day or two of a period. This can be
relieved by exercise, a heating pad, or taking a pain reliever.
However, some women do need help for
problems with their periods. Women may go to a doctor or clinic if they have
such serious cramps that they can't go to school or work, or if the period is
very heavy, requiring 10 to 12 pads a day for more than 5 days. Bleeding,
spotting or cramping when she is not menstruating should also be checked out.
And, if she misses a period and there is any possibility of pregnancy she should
have a pregnancy test right away.
Remember, once you start having your period, you can get pregnant. So,
if you have sexual intercourse and don't want to get pregnant, you'll need to
use some form of birth control.
There are books which can tell you more about menstruation. You can talk
to your mother, a school nurse or doctor. Or, you can call your local Public
Health Unit .
Pre-Menstrual Syndrome or
PMS
Pre-Menstrual
Syndrome, or PMS, is what some people call the changes that women may experience
during the days before their menstrual period begins.
The most common physical changes are headaches,
feeling tired, craving certain foods, being unable to sleep, feeling bloating or
heavy, and tender breasts. Some women also find that they might feel more
depressed or sad, anxious, or irritable, that their moods just change more
easily, or that it's more difficult to concentrate.
Not all women get PMS. Some women find that they
have much more energy in the days before their period. They feel well and,
sometimes, more creative.
Some women who do get PMS notice only some of these changes. For some,
however, the symptoms are so severe that their ability to function is affected.
But, there are some ways a woman might be able to make life easier during this
time. Learn what brings on the symptoms. Stress and diet can be very
important.
Try to avoid
stressful activities as much as possible during this time of the month. Let
family and co-workers know what PMS is like and you might make them more
supportive and understanding. Some women have found yoga, meditation or other
relaxation methods helpful. Avoiding foods high in sugar, salt and caffeine as
much as possible, especially 10 days before the next period, is also helpful for
some women.
Eating several
small meals a day rather than three large ones helps keep a steady amount of
sugar in your blood. Eating foods high in potassium, such as bananas, nuts, milk
and spinach, and plenty of carbohydrates, such as whole grain bread, cereal,
pasta, potatoes and fruits, helps replace vitamins and minerals that your body
needs.
Regular exercise
throughout the month is helpful, and may also release stress and tension. Get
plenty of rest.
You can try
keeping a record or chart of your menstrual cycle, and physical or emotional
changes. This may help you predict how you will feel, and see if doing anything
differently affects the PMS. It may help you have more control, and may be
useful when you talk to a doctor about your pre-menstrual changes.
Some women have even started support
groups. Do you know other women who might be interested in this idea? Is there a
women's centre in your area that could help you start up a group?
For more information, you can call your
local Public Health Unit -- see References/Resources.
Menopause
Menopause, or sometimes called the Change
of Life, is a normal part of a woman's life. It usually starts between the ages
of 45 and 55, and means the end of fertility, or the ability to get
pregnant.
Menopause brings a
woman new freedom, freedom from menstrual periods, needing to use
contraceptives, or fear of pregnancy.
The last periods of a woman's life may be irregular
and gradually taper off or just stop. But unusual bleeding or cramps should be
reported to a doctor right away. Menopause may take a while to complete. Until
it is complete, a woman can still become pregnant. If she is sexually active and
doesn't want to start a pregnancy, she should use birth control until at least a
year without a period.
Menopause occurs because the ovaries
produce less of the female hormones. It may take a while for the body to adjust
to this. Most women notice some changes in their bodies, but aren't bothered by
them. Some women have physical or emotional changes that seem
uncomfortable.
A common
discomfort of menopause is having hot flashes or flushes. These are caused by an
overreaction of blood vessels in the skin. A short sensation of intense heat
travels from the chest to the head. The woman may sweat heavily, and feel cold
afterwards. This can occur when she is awake or asleep.
The vagina gradually becomes drier and thinner, and
sexual intercourse may therefore become uncomfortable. Lubricating jelly bought
at a drug store or a vaginal cream with estrogen, prescribed by a doctor and
used before intercourse, can help prevent discomfort.
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