Menarch: the age of your first menstruation reveals a lot about your health!
At whatever age you have it, the first menstruation (or menarche, in medical terms) is not forgotten. Life, on the other hand, is made up of first times: the first word, the first day of school, the first crush, the first menstruation! In a woman's life there are first times more pleasant than others ... but the menarche is not one of these and we should live with it for quite a while ", in a more or less painful way and with increasingly innovative and eco-friendly supports.
If you are tired, for example, of using internal and external pads and you are looking for a solution that cares about the environment, think about the practical menstrual cup! You can buy it on Amazon for less than 20 €!
First menstruation: the age of menarche
At the beginning of the twentieth century the menarche appeared around the age of 16-17, while today the average age of the first menstruation has dropped to 12-13 years. For some girls the menstrual cycle appears when they have reached the ninth year of age and it has been scientifically proven that the date of the first menstruation is closely linked to family history.
Generally, menarche occurs when the threshold of 45 kilos in weight has been exceeded. If this doesn't happen, however, you don't have to worry or be in a hurry, or compare yourself to your friends or schoolmates who have already had their first menstruation ... The time will come for you too!
If, on the other hand, you have already turned 15 or more than three years have passed since your breasts began to develop and you have not yet had menarche, then it would be best to see a doctor for your peace of mind.
For more information on menarche and all menstrual cycles both for the energy side and for the biological side, look at the book "Menstruation. The healing power of the menstrual cycle from menarche to menopause." by Alexandra Pope available on Amazon for € 12.75.
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The signs that herald the first menstruation
Certain changes in the body herald the arrival of the first menstruation
- The development of secondary sexual characteristics such as the growth of the mammary glands, which occurs about a year before the menarche.
- The appearance of pubic hair and axillary hair.
- A greater production of sweat, especially in the underarm area.
Symptoms of the first menstruation
The arrival of menarche is heralded by the typical symptoms of PMS, and you will soon learn to recognize them! These are symptoms due to hormonal changes and their intensity varies greatly from person to person. These signs, consequently, could be present or not. .
- The classic symptom that precedes the arrival of the first menstruation by a few days is breast pain. It can be a simple soreness, real pain or swelling.
- You may then see pimples appear on the skin, also due to hormones, as well as any mood swings ...
- Finally, you may suffer from lower abdominal cramps, back pain, headaches or abdominal bloating.
When and how to talk about it with girls
The topic of menstruation must be addressed with girls well before menarche occurs. In reality it is never too early. In fact, children are very curious and attracted to the various parts of the body and the functions of each of them. children are spontaneous and there is no reason not to provide honest and age-appropriate answers.
Girls will need to explain well why they are menstruating and how to do it in practice. The mother will have to reassure and help the child to manage this new monthly appointment.
Early menarche: causes and consequences
An early first menstruation could be related to the quality of the relationship with our parents. If they were to be unloving, our body, convinced that no one takes care of it, would speed up the times and would do everything possible to grow up faster.
According to a British study, in addition to the medical history of the family and our relationship with the latter, the causes of an early menarche can be cigarette smoking, the absence of sport and being overweight.
The body is our greatest ally and it is thanks to it that we can understand everything about us: it is enough to know how to read it. A study has shown that those who have had a precocious puberty, and therefore an early menarche, are more likely to have heart problems and that, if this has appeared before the age of 12, it is good to make an appointment with a breast specialist and monitor all the possible symptoms of breast cancer development.
Menarche and height: after the first menstruation do you stop growing?
The arrival of the menarche marks the peak of a girl's height growth rate. With the first menstruation, there will be a slowdown in statural growth and those who have them very soon will have less time for bone growth.
Each year gained without menarche marks an average growth of 0.35 cm in height. However, those with an early menarche will tend to grow faster before their arrival, partially compensating for the subsequent arrest.
Obviously, these are very general data: each of us is a case in itself and the growth of each follows different rules.
First menstruation and sex life
As soon as the body begins to change, the first desires and the desire to get to know other people in a more intimate way appear. The problem is that often, those who have known the menstrual cycle at an early age, have to face detestable bullying against themselves: it is not easy to be the only one with large breasts when everyone in your class has a poor first.
In any case there is no need to worry because, however terrible these attitudes seem to you, there is a remedy for everything! Talk to your parents and teachers about it, and if it makes you feel better, ask for psychological support. And as for the desire to share your intimacy, think about it long enough and make it happen with someone special.
It all starts with a kiss like this ...
For more information about the menarche, you can consult the online newspaper of the Humanitas hospital.
