MY PERIOD: MY VALENTINE

Many cultures have beliefs, myths and taboos relating to menstruation. Almost always, there are social norms or unwritten rules and practices about managing menstruation and interacting with menstruating women. Some of these are helpful but others have potentially harmful implications.
Periods are a natural, healthy part of a girl's life. They shouldn't get in the way of exercising, having fun, and enjoying life.

Menstruation, or period, is normal vaginal bleeding that occurs as part of a woman's monthly cycle. Every month, your body prepares for pregnancy. If no pregnancy occurs, the uterus, or womb, sheds its lining. The menstrual blood is partly blood and partly tissue from inside the uterus. It passes out of the body through the vagina. It usually last about 5 days. But a period can be shorter (2 days) or last longer (14 days).

Periods usually start between age 11 and 14 and continue until menopause at about age 51. They usually last from three to five days. Besides bleeding from the vagina, you may have
* Abdominal or pelvic cramping pain
* Lower back pain
* Bloating and sore breasts
* Food cravings
* Mood swings and irritability
* Headache and fatigue

Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, is a group of symptoms that start before the period. It can include emotional and physical symptoms.

How Often Does a Period Happen?
Periods usually happen about once every 21-40 days,  average 28 days.

Should I Use a Pad, Tampon, or Menstrual Cup?
You have many choices about how to deal with period blood. You may need to experiment a bit to find which works best for you. Some girls use only one method and others switch between different methods.

access to menstrual hygiene products to absorb or collect menstrual blood, privacy to change the materials, and access to facilities to dispose of used menstrual management materials. Menstrual hygiene management can be particularly challenging for girls and women in most local communities, where clean water and toilet facilities are often inadequate.

Should I Watch for Any Problems?
Most girls don't have any problems with their periods. But make an appointment  with your doctor if you:

^ are 15 and haven't started your period
^ have had your period for more than 2 years and it still doesn't come regularly (about every 21–40 days)
^ have bleeding between periodshave severe cramps that don't get better with ibuprofen or paracetamol
^ have very heavy bleeding (bleeding that goes through a pad or tampon faster than every 1 hour)
^ have periods that last more than 14 days
^ have severe PMS that gets in the way of your everyday activities



Reference
HOUSE et al. 2012
kidshealth.org
medlineplus.gov




By Lewis Rosemary

Rosemary is a certified Registered Nurse who is now volunteering her time and clinical knowledge at Tadankro CHPS of the Ghana Health Service in the Akuapem North Municipal to ensuring Universal Health Coverage. She enjoys listening to music and watching movies.
Rosemary is available for health promotion
You can reach her via Email: lewisrosemary93@gmail.com