Various important information about menarche (first menstruation)

When a girl grows up, she will have menstruation. The first menstruation or called menarche is a clear sign that girls have entered puberty.

Before menarche, there are various physical changes that can be felt by teenage girls. Check out a complete explanation of menarche or first menstruation below!

What happens during menarche?

Puberty is a phase that will be experienced in the stage of adolescent development. One of the characteristics of puberty in girls apart from breast growth is menstruation.

Quoted from the University of Wisconsin Health, menarche or the first period is a sign your daughter is in adolescence towards adulthood.

Before the first period, there are some changes that generally occur. These changes are breast growth, pubic hair or pubic hair, armpit hair, and also changes in the height of girls.

Changes in the body of girls and the occurrence of menarche are the beginning of the transition from children to adolescents. Here are some other changes that parents should know about, such as:

1. Whitish

Several months before menarche or first menstruation, girls usually experience vaginal discharge. This is normal to happen in preparation for menstruation.

Before ovulation or the release of an egg, a lot of mucus is produced. Therefore, the discharge will look watery and elastic. Usually normal vaginal discharge is clear and odorless.

After that, when the girl's reproductive system is completely mature, a few days later, the first menstruation or menarche will appear.

2. Emotional changes

Before a girl has menarche, she may feel tense and more emotional. He becomes more irritable or cries more easily than usual for no apparent reason.

Not only that, he may also feel the breasts become softer or sensitive, causing pain. This collection of conditions is usually referred to as premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

So in short, PMS is a set of symptoms that usually appear before menstruation, which affects emotionally, physically, and psychologically. Usually PMS tends to appear H-7 menstruation comes.

As a parent, you can tell your child that this symptom is very normal and tends to recur with every menstrual period.

But so that he doesn't worry, also tell him that the pain or discomfort and the various changes he feels can change or not always be the same.

3. Spots appear

Not only vaginal discharge, before the first menstruation comes, brown spots or blood usually appear.

For that, tell your child that the brown spots that appear at puberty could be a sign that soon he will experience menarche.

This blood comes out of the vagina at the beginning of the menarche and the amount is usually small, hence it is called spots.

As the days go by, this blood color will turn red and the number will increase in number in the following days.

At this time, girls have to wear sanitary pads to help collect the blood that comes out because their actual menstruation has actually arrived.

4. Other physical changes

Not only change mood There are several physical changes that can be experienced by teenage girls during menarche.

At this time he may also lose weight, feel bloated like gas in the stomach, pain or cramps in the abdomen, back, or legs.

However, for some teenagers there are also those who feel tired faster than usual, so they want to eat continuously.

During this first period, the child will experience pubic acne due to hormonal changes. In fact, 7 out of 10 women experience acne due to menstruation.

This occurs because the hormones in the body are in an unstable condition.

When does menarche occur?

Menarche or first menstruation normally occurs at the age of 10-14 years. However, in some conditions, the first menstruation can also occur earlier, namely at the age of 9 years.

But you also need to know that menstruation can occur later, namely at the age of 15 years or older.

If a girl has had menarche at the age of not yet 9 years old, she may be experiencing precocious puberty or symptoms of endocrine (hormone-related) disease.

This difference in the timing of menarche between girls is normal because of many factors that can affect menstruation, including diet, stress, and physical activity.

It is better if girls do not need to feel that they are not normal if they have received menarche earlier or have not received menarche compared to other peers.

Provide understanding if each child has different developments.

What can affect the first period?

Several factors, such as environmental and social factors, can influence the occurrenceearly menarche, as:

• Girls who are obese and do not get enough exercise.
• Stress, can be due to family factors or from the school environment.
• Girls born with low body weight.
• Girls who are familiar with smoking.
• The mother who experienced preeclampsia during her child's pregnancy.

Several factors can also play a rolethe late menarche, as:

• Body fat content is under 15-22% of total body weight.
• Girls with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

How to explain to children about menarche

Children's questions about their first menstruation are an opportunity for parents to provide new knowledge for them.

Not only does it provide children with information when asked, but also let them know that parents are willing and comfortable to have a discussion.

It's a good idea to have this discussion before your child has her first period, so that when she experiences that period, she won't be surprised.

Here's how to explain about menarche or first menstruation in children:

1. Talk to the child as early as possible

Actually explaining this to the child does not need to wait for his questions about puberty. Nor do you need to wait for puberty to arrive around the age of 12-13 years.

Six year olds are usually old enough to understand natural bodily functions. If at that age you think your child is too young to understand, please explain around the age of 10.

Ideally, when a child is close to puberty, both girls and boys should have knowledge of the changes that will occur in their bodies.

Children often conclude and think that menstruation is a scary thing. Mostly, this assumption is formed as a result of hearing wrong information.

Another reason that your child needs to know about menstruation at an early age is to prevent unwanted things.

This is because girls who are sexually active can get pregnant before they start menstruating.

Sometimes, ovulation can occur before a teenage girl will have her first period.

Therefore, if at the age of 10 the child can be invited to discuss, tell him about menarche and various other changes in his body.

2. Tell me in a positive way

It is also important for parents to tell the menstrual process in a positive way.

If you have trouble answering, avoid lying just to provide answers for her.

Avoid mentioning that menstruation is a disease or a curse, because children will think that menstruation is a negative thing.

On the other hand, mothers can explain that menstruation is a natural and extraordinary process. Build positive things in children when explaining menstruation.

Also tell the child that all children have different body changes after menstruation, it can be faster or slower.

3. Recommend women's hygiene kits

Girls also need to know and know how to use women's hygiene kits, such as pads or tampons.

Provide an understanding if used sanitary napkins need to be cleaned before disposal. Make sure that the child also knows if a disposable sanitary napkin is being used.

Also tell him how to clean his female parts properly and properly. Tell him how many times he needs to change his sanitary napkin in a day.

Also explain to the child that sometimes menstruation can cause stomach cramps, and other common complaints that are very normal.

Another thing to note about menarche

Apart from menarche itself, here are some things parents need to understand about first menstruation:

1. Range of menstrual periods

In the first period, menstruation usually occurs irregularly. Menstruation will start regularly entering the second year.

Menstruation that occurs in the early years is also usually longer in one period and more.

But normally, menarche or the first menstruation will usually last for 3-7 days every month.

Don't worry, menstruation every month will not prevent your child from doing their daily activities. In addition, because it is only the beginning of menstruation, usually the cycle every month is not regular.

2. Blood circulation that comes out

It is normal for children to feel shocked when they see blood at menarche. Explain to him that that looks like a lot.

In fact, the blood that came out was only about a few tablespoons. However, he still needs to change the sanitary napkin about 3 to 5 times a day.

Also, explain to him that the blood that comes out will not make him deprived or even bleed out.

3. Cramps during menstruation

Most people will experience cramps in the stomach that can also be felt in the legs during menstruation. Likewise in adolescents who have just experienced menarche.

Give tips to children to straighten their legs, rest, and compress the stomach with a warm towel on the stomach.

You can also make traditional ingredients such as tamarind turmeric to help relieve cramps and abdominal pain during menstruation.

Can girls get pregnant after menarche?

Yes, menarche or first menstruation also means that girls can get pregnant if they have had sexual intercourse.

If someone says that having sexual intercourse for the first time will not lead to pregnancy, this is of course wrong.

Pregnancy is not related to the number of times you have had sexual intercourse.

However, pregnancy can occur when an egg from a woman released by the ovary meets the sperm from the man.

Therefore, if the teenager has sexual intercourse near the time the egg is released, the possibility of pregnancy can occur.

Some people may think that girls who have just had menarche cannot get pregnant because their bodies are not ready to get pregnant. This assumption is wrong!

Regardless of the age of a girl, 11 years, 12 years, 13 years, younger, or older than this, if she has experienced menarche, then she is able to get pregnant.

Girls who have menarche, every month he will release an egg.

If you meet sperm, pregnancy can occur. However, if this egg is not fertilized by sperm, menstruation will occur.

Therefore, it is very important to provide education about sex to your daughter.

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