Menstruation Disorders In Adolescents
During the first years in which girls “become women” (as it is popularly said), there are usually certain imbalances in the period. This is because the body is getting used to this new condition. In this article we will tell you everything you need to know about menstruation disorders in adolescents.
I have irregular periods: is it normal?
Irregular menstruation is one of the main consultations with the gynecologist, and in most cases it does not represent any particular disease or health problem.
The duration of the period is between 3 and 8 days, with an average of 5 days. The interval between each cycle is 28 days. This is in theory, as only 15% of adult women have regular or typical cycles.
What is called irregular or abnormal menstruation? Those who do not appear every 28 days or whose bleeding is for a single day or more than seven. Also when there are months when you do not menstruate or where there is more than one bleeding.
Irregular menstruation can be caused by anemia, hormonal problems, stress, excessive weight loss, eating disorders, postpartum or a serious illness, such as cervical cancer.
It can also be caused by organic lesions, alterations in the genital tract or endocrinological diseases. We cannot forget either the time before menopause, where the periods become more spaced.
We should consult with the gynecologist if we have doubts, so that he can perform different tests and determine if the irregularity is harmless or not. We can also ask about the amount of bleeding, which can be irregular even in a regular woman.
It is considered abnormal when you need more than 8 pads or tampons in the same day. And, be careful, since it can cause anemia due to the great loss of blood.
Are menstruation alterations common in adolescents?
The answer is a resounding yes. An adolescent may have a menstrual period every two months, twice the same month, or go through amenorrhea (lack of bleeding) for several months without the possibility of pregnancy.
It can also happen that your period lasts for as long as two days or a week. The first periods are usually more than irregular and, in most cases, the cycles normalize from the first or second year. Although it may happen that the irregularity continues throughout life.
What influences the menstruation of adolescents?
Menstrual cycles in adolescent girls are influenced by overall growth and development. Therefore, the irregularity is more present than we think. In addition, we cannot ignore the fact that the hormonal levels in this stage are fluctuating and that this directly affects the periodicity and duration of menstruation … Even with the amount of bleeding!
Other reasons for menstruation alterations in adolescents have to do with their habits. There is no doubt that this is a stage of many changes and that sometimes they are accompanied by not so healthy habits.
For example, if you exercise excessively, adhere to very strict diets, take diet pills, use drugs, or are continually pressured and stressed, you may also experience these changes in your periods.
Just as there is no rule about age or when you first menstruate, you cannot determine how long irregular cycles will normalize (if they do).
It is estimated that up to the age of 20 the woman is irregular and that at that stage amenorrhea is completely normal, since the body and hormones are adjusting to allow the woman to be a mother.
In conclusion…
It is normal that during the first years since the period appears, it is irregular, therefore, you should not worry. However, to remove all doubts, it is always better to consult with the gynecologist, especially if the bleeding is accompanied by very intense pain in the lower abdomen and back, weakness, nausea, headaches, fatigue, severe cramps or excessive sweating. .
