The medical term for the beginning of menstruation is menarche. The advent of menarche (usually about the age of 12 in developed countries) signals that a girl is entering her fertile life. Cyclical female hormone production starts and ovulation each month is a possibility, although few girls ovulate consistently in their first year or two of menstruation.

After ovulation, progesterone begins to show its effects. Vaginal secretions become thicker, opaque, more rubbery, and definitely have a fishy odor. The breasts enlarge, become heavy and tender, and toward menstruation the nipples may tingle and feel sore. This is perfectly normal and the effects subside on or before the beginning of bleeding. Progesterone can cause acne like spots on the face at this time of the month, and very few of us escape without having one or two of these at some point in our lives. They should disappear when the menstrual period starts.

Harmonal Effects

Hormone production is not smooth in the beginning and may result in peaks and valleys, explaining why a teenage girl can become rebellious, moody, confused, and mixed up. It also leads to the maturing of a girl’s body and the appearance of adult characteristics, such as breasts and pubic hair.

The regular production of female hormones results in various changes in our bodies throughout the month. In the first half of the cycle, estrogen is produced, which makes the skin bloom and raises our mood so that we feel that we can tackle anything. It also affects the appearance of vaginal discharge prior to ovulation; at this time of the month it is thin, clear, and runny, with very little odor.

Menstrual Problems

Most of the time, monthly periods follow a predictable pattern. For most women some of the time, however, problems can and do occur, particularly during the early years of menstruation and in the premenopausal years, as the body prepares itself for menstruation to cease. Disorders can range from premenstrual syndrome (which about 75 percent of us suffer from at one time or another in our lives) to painful periods (dysmenorrhea).

Menstrual Hygiene

Menstruation is no longer the taboo subject it once was. When I was young, it was said that young girls shouldn’t wash their hair or bathe during menstruation because the blood might go to the brain. This is nonsense, and the general rule should be to bathe as often as you want to, or at least shower or spongebathe, so that you feel comfortable. Wash yourself with ordinary soap and water.

For protection, some girls prefer to use sanitary napkins and these are ideal to begin with, but you might also want to consider tampons, which can be more comfortable, hygienic, and discreet. One good way to experiment with tampons is to try them at the same time as a friend. I remember doing so with one of my college friends as we stood in adjacent toilets and gave running commentaries to each other on our progress. If you do use tampons, don’t forget about them; they should be changed every four to six hours.

Menstruation And Sex

To protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases, it is best to use a condom when having intercourse with any new partner, but it is even more important during menstruation. This is because blood-borne viruses such as HN, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are transmitted more easily by unprotected sex during menstruation than at any other time of the month.

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