First Menstruation (Menarch)
Menarche refers to the beginning of menstruation, that is, menstrual bleeding in young girls who have entered puberty. Adolescence (puberty) is the period in which some changes are in question, provided that the appropriate conditions for fertility are prepared. Menarche, just one of the symptoms of this period, occurs approximately one year after the start of the period and lasts for one to three years.
Menarche is an important step in which a woman's reproductive system becomes active. For this reason, some changes cause young girls to be unconsciously set up with their prejudices. He needs to know his own body and understand that everything is a natural process. For this reason, it is important for young girls entering the menarche period to be informed by their mothers, aunts or female relatives in a necessary and accurate way in order to enter and maintain this period in a psychologically healthy way.
As menarche progresses gradually, there is an increase in the amount of FSH and LH, which take on the role of follicle stimulating hormone, for the first time in girls at the age of 10. Parallel to the effect of these hormones, the level of estrogen hormone increases and changes in the puberty period begin. Although these periods vary from person to person, in general, the first menstruation, menarche, occurs 1 or 2 years after the appearance of these symptoms. The average age of menarche is between 11-14 years.
The first menstruation can only begin after the body weight and body fat ratio in young girls reaches a certain level. When 20% of body weight reaches body fat, a suitable ground for menarche is prepared. In our country, the interval for young girls to enter the menarche period is 14 years old. However, with age, nutrition, environmental and genetic factors have a directing effect. In particular, the age of the mother's menarche plays a decisive role in the age of menarche in her young daughters.
What is delayed menarche?
On average in our country, a young girl should have her first menstruation between the ages of 11 and 14. But if the age of first menarche has passed, reached the age of 16 and still has not experienced menarche, this situation is called delayed menarche. In contrast, girls who experience menarche before the age of 9 show signs of precocious puberty as a sign of early maturation. If a young girl has not had her first period even though she is 16 years old, this condition is called primary amenorrhea. In both of these situations, a specialist should be consulted and necessary hormonal tests should be done. In the first months of the first menstrual bleeding of young girls, menstruation continues without ovulation. This period is called the anovulatory period. Following this period, within 1 to 3 years, the body system will be settled.
What is chronology?
Chronology is the gradual realization of a young girl's stages of entering puberty. Chronologically, before a young girl enters puberty, she grows taller and has slight budding in the breasts. Later, hair growth is observed in the genital area and armpits. Together with these developments, the body signals that the young girl is approaching the menarche period.
If all these developments occur before the age of 9, hormonal values should be followed because early menarche is in question. For this reason, it is recommended to consult a gynecologist.
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