Menstruation Health Article

Definition

Menstruation is the vaginal bleeding that occurs in adolescent girls and women as a result of hormonal changes. It normally happens in a predictable pattern, once a month.

Description

Menstruation is part of the menstrual cycle, which helps a woman's body prepare for the possibility of pregnancy each month. The parts of the body involved in the menstrual cycle include the uterus and cervix, the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the brain and pituitary gland, and the vagina. Certain body chemicals known as hormones rise and fall during the month, causing the menstrual cycle to occur.

In the first half of the menstrual cycle, estrogen levels rise, causing the lining of the uterus to grow and thicken. This lining is called the endometrium. The two small, grape-shaped organs inside the abdomen on either side of the uterus, known as the ovaries, are filled with hundreds of thousands of eggs and are the organs that allow pregnancy to occur. When a girl reaches puberty, the ovaries respond to a rise in follicle-stimulating hormone and cause one of the eggs to mature. About half way through the menstrual cycle, a surge of luteinizing hormone takes place, and the egg is released. This mature egg is called an ovum, and its release is called ovulation. When the egg is released it travels through one of the two fallopian tubes and down towards the uterus. If the ovum is fertilized by a sperm at this time, pregnancy occurs. However, if a sperm does not fertilize the egg, the body no longer needs the uterine lining to support the fertilized egg. Estrogen and progesterone levels then drop, triggering the uterine lining to gently fall away from the wall of the uterus, and to be shed through the vagina. The discharge of this lining is the menstrual flow. The entire process is called menstruation.

A "normal" menstrual period usually occurs every 28 days, from the first day of a period to the first day of the next. However, this can vary from 22 to 36 days. Each period usually lasts from three to seven days, with the average being five. It may take several years from the start of menstruation for periods to settle into a pattern. Irregular periods are common in early adolescence. Even after adolescence, many factors can throw off the timing of menstruation. These include weight changes, starting a new job or school, and relationship problems.

Menstrual hygiene products

Once a girl begins menstruating, she needs to choose from the various menstrual hygiene products which are available. Menstrual hygiene products can be divided into two basic categories: sanitary pads and tampons. Absorbency and a comfortable fit are the main features girls need to look for when purchasing menstrual products. Because a girl's menstrual flow may vary from day to day during the cycle, she may want to use different types of products during her period.

Sanitary pads are worn inside the underwear where they collect the menstrual flow. They come in different sizes, thicknesses, and styles. Some pads have flaps or "wings" that wrap around and attach to the underside of underwear. Others have deodorant and contain perfume. Some girls find that the perfume irritates their skin.

Tampons are the another option for absorbing menstrual flow. Tampons come in various absorbency categories and should be chosen based on the amount of flow experienced. The absorbency of a tampon can be determined by how often it needs to be changed. Girls should use the tampon with the least absorbency necessary to absorb the flow. Tampons should be changed every four to six hours. Tampons also come with a variety of applicators, including plastic and cardboard. Tampons are comfortable to wear and may be a good choice for active girls. They should be inserted carefully to avoid any irritation. A rare, but serious, condition called toxic shock syndrome (TSS) can be connected to tampon use. The higher the absorbency of tampons used, the higher the risk for TSS. To decrease the risk of TSS, girls should choose the lowest absorbency necessary.