Puberty
Puberty is the time at which the onset of sexual maturity occurs and reproductive organs become functional. Puberty usually starts between the age of 10 to 16. Every girl is different, so do not worry about when you start – your body will decide when it feels right.
Physical changes that occur during puberty are regulated by changes in the levels of hormones produced by the pituitary gland. This gland produces luteinizing hormone (hormone that stimulates ovulation) and follicle stimulating hormone (hormone that stimulates ripening of the follicles in the ovary). The increased levels of these sex hormones result in physical change – growth & maturation of breasts, ovaries, Uterus and vagina.
The first change in puberty is usually the breast development shortly after ward, pubic and under arm hair begin to grow. The interval from breast budding to the first menstrual period is usually about 21/2 years. There begins a change in the girl’s body shape and the percentage of body fat increases. The growth spurt accompanying puberty may begin even before the breasts start to develop.
Menstruation
Periods or menstruation is the shedding of the lining of Uterus (endometrium), accompanied by bleeding. It occurs in approximately monthly cycles except during pregnancy and after menopause.
Periods are natural part of every women’s life and there is nothing to be worried or embarrassed about. A period is when a woman loses some fluid, including blood from vagina. Each month a soft lining thickens inside the uterus (womb). It the woman becomes pregnant, this lining is needed to look after and nourish the growing baby. If there is no pregnancy, the lining is not needed and most of if leaves the body through vagina. Menstruation is a sign of normal healthy body.
Some facts a woman should know
- Most girls start having periods between the ages of 10 and 16. There is no right time; your periods will start when your body is ready.
- Most women have a period each month. The average time between periods is about 28 days, but for some women it can be less and for some it can be more. Anywhere between 20 and 36 days is normal.
- A period normally lasts for a few days – usually somewhere between 3 days and 7 days. Unless you become pregnant this cycle will repeat itself every month until menopause – when menstruation ends completely
- A menstrual cycle is regulated by the complex interaction of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone which are produced by the pituitary gland and the female sex hormones estrogen and progestrone, which are produced by the ovaries.
- Around the time of ovulation normally some women feel a pain in one side of the lower abdomen. The precise cause of of the pain is unknown.
Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS)
PMS is a group of physical and Psychological symptoms that occur before a menstrual period begins. A woman may experience the symptom 1 to 14 days before the period begins.
Physical symptoms:- Cramps, bloating, head ache, breast fullness and pain, Aches, Fatigue, Hot flashes etc.
Psychological symptoms:- Agitation, depression and mood swings. PMS affects 20 to 50% women. It may occur due to fluctuations in progesterone and estrogen levels. Also fatty foods and refined sugar may contribute to PMS, especially in obese women. Eating more fruits, vegetables, cereals and whole grains, drinking 6-8 glasses of water each day, may help. One may not think so, but exercises do help. Exercise increases blood and oxygen circulation, easing cramps.
Gynecological disorders (stree Rog)
Amenorrhoea is the absence of menstrual periods Menstrual periods may not start at all or may start with scanty discharge, then stop.
Causes
- Birth defect in which the Uterus and Fallopian tubes do not develop normally or by chromosomal disorder like Turner syndrome.
- Anaemia or general ill health.
- Serious illnesses like T.B. Bright’s disease or malaria of prolonged nature.
- Disorders of the hypothalamus (a part of the brain)
- Deficiency in the secretions of ovarian, Thyroid or Pituitary hormones
- Mental disorders, depression
- Thin women, with Anorexia Nervosa
- Excessive stress, exercises, eating too little.
In primary Amenorrhoea, the menstrual periods fail to appear at puberty. In secondary amenorrhoea the periods start at puberty, and then stop.
Dysmenorrhea is painful menstruation of which there are two forms. Primary (spasmodic) dysmenorrhea is characterized by lower abdominal pains starting just before or with the menstrual flow and continuing during menstruation. It is often associated with nausea, vomiting, head ache, faintness, constipation and diarrhea. Specific cause is not known but could be due to excessive prostaglandin production. Prostaglandins (hormone like substances) have many functions, one of which is to cause contraction of the Uterus. Primary dysmenorrhea may become less with age and after pregnancy.
Secondary dysmenorrhea usually affects older patients causing congested ache with lower.
Abdominal cramps, pelvic pain etc. The pain may start from a few days to up to 2 weeks before menstruation. Common causes for secondary dysmenorrhea are pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, fibroids, adenomyosis, In some cases, the pain results from passage of menstrual blood through a narrow cervix.
Pre menstrual irritablity, nervousness, depression and abdominal bloating may persist during part or all of the menstrual period.
Menorrhagia and Metrorrhagia
Menorrhagia means abnormally heavy bleeding at menstruation which may or may not be associated with abnormally long periods Hormonal imbalances, inflammation or fibroids in the pelvic cavity, anaemia and some other conditious may be the causes.
Metrorrhagia is bleeding from Uterus other than the normal menstrual period. It may indicate serious disease and should always be investigated.
According to Ayurveda, these conditions are due to imbalance of hormones, caused by aggravation of pitta in the body. Abnormal growths in the Uterus may also produce profuse bleeding. Heavy bleeding may cause giddiness, head ache, pain in the calves and restlessness.
Probably you are looking for an Ayurveda Treatment for Irregular Periods
