| Menstruation
is the hallmark of puberty for girls. Menarche, the
first menstrual cycle, can occur anytime from age
nine until as late as age sixteen. Menstruation is
also referred to as having your period. It is called
a period because it occurs periodically, at specific
time intervals. Most girls, when first told about
their menstrual cycles, show some degree of disgust
and/or preoccupation. It is important, therefore,
for the parent to present information in a supportive
and positive light, since the menstrual cycle is an
intrinsic aspect of the female’s body. A girl’s first
exposure to the topic of her first
menstrual period can leave a lasting impression
on the way she views her own body in the future.
The onset of menstruation varies greatly from girl
to girl. For the majority, menarche occurs once there
is some breast development and after the appearance
of pubic hair. A growth spurt will have preceded or
accompanied these changes. No one can predict exactly
when a girl’s menstrual cycle will start.
The
onset of menstruation is regulated by a gland in the
brain called the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland
acts as an internal clock that awakens and signals
the beginning of puberty at precisely the right time
for each person. This gland sends messages in the
form of hormones to the rest of the body. Hormones
are substances within the body that are responsible
for the changes associated with puberty, including
growth and the development of reproductive/sex organs.
The
ovaries are the female’s sex organs, and they produce
one of the body’s hormones, estrogen. Estrogen affects
many organs and, at the same time, sends feedback
to the brain until the appropriate balance among the
circulating hormones in the body is reached. This
very delicate and precise chemical balance is part
of the wonder of the human body.
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