7 Characteristics of Menstruation for the First Time that Teenagers Need to Know

It is important for every young girl who has entered puberty to know the characteristics of her first menstruation. That way, various preparations can be made and you won't be surprised when you see blood coming out of the vagina.

The appearance of the characteristics of the first menstruation can vary for each teenager, but generally occurs at the age of 11-14 years. The discharge of menstrual blood for the first time or menarche is a sign of the beginning of a woman's fertile period. That is, pregnancy can occur if a woman has sexual intercourse with the opposite sex.

Characteristics of First Menstruation in Adolescents

Before the first menstrual bleeding occurs, there are several changes in a young girl's body during puberty, namely:

• Enlarged breasts
• Extended hips
• Oily and acne-prone skin
• Growth of hair in the armpits and pubic area

Menstruation or menstruation usually begins about 2 years after the signs above appear. Some women can experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in the days leading up to menstrual bleeding. However, some others may not experience any signs during their first menstruation.

The characteristics of the first menstruation are similar to the symptoms of menstruation in general, namely:

1. Leucorrhoea

Before the discharge of the first menstrual blood, clear or whitish discharge usually comes out first. This discharge can start around 6 months to 1 year before a teenage girl gets her first period. Normal vaginal discharge should be clear or white in color and not smell fishy or rotten

2. Exit red or brown spots

The characteristic of the first menstruation is also marked by the discharge of blood spots or brown spots from the vagina. When you first menstruate, the blood that comes out is usually light and not immediately heavy or a lot. The average is only about 20–90 ml or about 1–5 tablespoons.

After a few days, the volume of blood that comes out can increase a lot, then light again in the last days of the menstrual period. Menstrual periods usually last for 7 days.

3. Pain in the stomach, lower back, or groin

Ahead of menstruation day, some teenagers can also experience cramps or pain around the stomach, lower back, or groin. These complaints are normal and quite common. However, you need to be vigilant and see a doctor if you feel menstrual cramps or pain that is severe enough to make you unable to move.

4. Breast feels sore

Although not all teenagers experience it, breast pain is also a sign of the arrival of the first day of menstruation. So, don't panic and worry too much if you feel your breasts are more sensitive, especially when touched

5. Pimples appear

The appearance of pimples in the facial area normally occurs a few days before menstruation. Not only on the face, acne can also appear on the neck, shoulders or upper back. This can occur due to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle

6. Flatulence

Apart from cramps, flatulence is also one of the normal first menstruation characteristics. Not only that, some teenagers can sometimes experience constipation or diarrhea in the days before menstrual bleeding

7. Easily angry or offended

During her first menstruation, teenage girls can experience mood changes, becoming more irritable or offended. Just like the appearance of acne, this condition also occurs due to hormonal changes

There are various characteristics of the first menstruation in adolescents that must be known. Basically, every woman can experience different characteristics of her first menstruation. So, don't worry if your first menstrual symptoms are different from your peers.

You need to know that it's normal if your menstrual cycle isn't regular and consistent every month for 1 or 2 years since your first period. This happens because the hormone is still not stable.

When blood or spots come out for the first time, you don't need to panic. Just tell the adults closest to you, for example your mother or older sister, so that later you can get advice on choosing and using the right pads.

There are several types of products that can be used to collect menstrual blood, such as disposable pads, tampons, menstrual cups, and menstrual pants. All of these products can be customized according to personal needs and preferences.

If the characteristics of the first menstruation do not appear until the age of 15 or menstrual blood appears before the age of 9, you should inform your parents so that you can get an examination from a doctor. You also need to do a consultation if menstrual blood comes out too much to the point that you need to change pads every 1-2 hours.

Label : Health cat_Health