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.