Just the Facts: Understanding Menstruation

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Just the Facts: Understanding Menstruation JUST THE FACTS: UNDERSTANDING MENSTRUATION WHY IT MATTERS? WHAT IS MENARCHE? THE BASICS • Girls who get blood on their clothes are • Menarche is the onset of menstruation. often teased by teachers, boys or other girls. Girls generally get their first period between MENSTRUATION IS NORMAL! 11–15, although some can be younger IT IS THE MONTHLY • Social norms may lead women and girls or older. SHEDDING OF BLOOD AND to feel that menstruation is dirty, shameful or unhealthy. • The first period is generally a surprise! UTERINE TISSUE AND AN Sometimes girls are scared or worried IMPORTANT PART OF THE • Without access to good menstrual materials they are sick. They may not know who to REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE. and private toilets or washrooms for ask for advice. TYPICALLY, IT LASTS... changing, girls and women may not want to go far from home. Teachers may miss • Information about menstruation is school, health workers may miss work, and frequently passed on from mothers, friends, 2-7DAYS girls and women may not attend school, go sisters or aunts, and is often a mixture of to the market or wait in line for supplies. cultural beliefs, superstition and practical information that is sometimes helpful and sometimes not. THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD Menstruation is very personal. Women and girls often do not want • In many cultures mothers may feel IS USUALLY BETWEEN others to know they are menstruating – uncomfortable to talk to their daughters even other women and girls. about periods because it is linked to sexuality. 1AND6 TABLESPOONS EACH WHAT DO THEY NEED? MONTH AND CAN • A range of materials can be used to • Menstrual periods are irregular and can • Even when using good menstrual BE MESSY. catch the blood, including a sanitary pad catch girls and women by surprise. This materials, women and girls may be (disposable or reusable), a tampon, causes anxiety about finding a bathroom worried about blood stains on their clothes. or a piece of cloth in their underwear. and materials quickly! • Women and girls need access ABDOMINAL CRAMPS, • Menstruation can be messy! Women to a private, clean space (toilet or NAUSEA, DIARRHEA and girls need a private space with washroom) to change materials throughout AND HEADACHES water and soap to clean themselves the day and night and to hygienically and soiled materials. dispose of menstrual waste. ARE COMMON BEFORE AND DURING A PERIOD. .
Recommended publications
  • Grade 5 the Journey of an Egg
    Grade 5 The Journey of an Egg Learner Outcomes W-5.3 Identify the basic components of the human reproductive system, and describe the basic functions of the various components; e.g. fertilization, conception How To Use This lesson plan contains several activities to achieve the learner outcome above. You may choose to do some or all of the activities, based on the needs of your students and the time available. Some of the activities build on the ones that come before them, but all can be used alone. For a quick lesson, combine activities A, C, D and G. Classroom Activities & Timing A. Ground Rules (5-10 minutes) See also the B. Anatomy Vocabulary Matching Game (15-20 minutes) Differing Abilities C. Anatomy Diagrams (15-20 minutes) lesson plans on Puberty and D. The Egg’s Journey (20-30 minutes) Reproduction. E. Class Discussion (5-15 minutes) F. Eggs and Ovaries Kahoot! Quiz (15-20 minutes) G. Question Box (5-10 minutes) Required Materials POSTERS: Anatomy Definitions CARDS: Anatomy Vocabulary HANDOUT and ANSWER KEY: Reproductive System Diagrams HANDOUT: The Menstrual Cycle ©2020 2 Grade 5 The Journey of an Egg HANDOUT: The Egg’s Journey KAHOOT! QUIZ and ANSWER KEY: Eggs and Ovaries All the student handouts are also available in the Grade 5 Workbook. All the diagrams are also available as slides in Grade 5 Diagrams. Background Information for Teachers Inclusive Language Language is complex, evolving and powerful. In these lessons, inclusive language is used to be inclusive of all students, including those with diverse gender identities, gender expressions and sexual orientations.
    [Show full text]
  • Women's Menstrual Cycles
    1 Women’s Menstrual Cycles About once each month during her reproductive years, a woman has a few days when a bloody fluid leaves her womb and passes through her vagina and out of her body. This normal monthly bleeding is called menstruation, or a menstrual period. Because the same pattern happens each month, it is called the menstrual cycle. Most women bleed every 28 days. But some bleed as often as every 20 days or as seldom as every 45 days. Uterus (womb) A woman’s ovaries release an egg once a month. If it is Ovary fertilized she may become pregnant. If not, her monthly bleeding will happen. Vagina Menstruation is a normal part of women’s lives. Knowing how the menstrual cycle affects the body and the ways menstruation changes over a woman’s lifetime can let you know when you are pregnant, and help you detect and prevent health problems. Also, many family planning methods work best when women and men know more about the menstrual cycle (see Family Planning). 17 December 2015 NEW WHERE THERE IS NO DOCTOR: ADVANCE CHAPTERS 2 CHAPTER 24: WOMEN’S MENSTRUAL CYCLES Hormones and the menstrual cycle In women, the hormones estrogen and progesterone are produced mostly in the ovaries, and the amount of each one changes throughout the monthly cycle. During the first half of the cycle, the ovaries make mostly estrogen, which causes the lining of the womb to thicken with blood and tissue. The body makes the lining so a baby would have a soft nest to grow in if the woman became pregnant that month.
    [Show full text]
  • Variability in the Length of Menstrual Cycles Within and Between Women - a Review of the Evidence Key Points
    Variability in the Length of Menstrual Cycles Within and Between Women - A Review of the Evidence Key Points • Mean cycle length ranges from 27.3 to 30.1 days between ages 20 and 40 years, follicular phase length is 13-15 days, and luteal phase length is less variable and averages 13-14 days1-3 • Menstrual cycle lengths vary most widely just after menarche and just before menopause primarily as cycles are anovulatory 1 • Mean length of follicular phase declines with age3,11 while luteal phase remains constant to menopause8 • The variability in menstrual cycle length is attributable to follicular phase length1,11 Introduction Follicular and luteal phase lengths Menstrual cycles are the re-occurring physiological – variability of menstrual cycle changes that happen in women of reproductive age. Menstrual cycles are counted from the first day of attributable to follicular phase menstrual flow and last until the day before the next onset of menses. It is generally assumed that the menstrual cycle lasts for 28 days, and this assumption Key Points is typically applied when dating pregnancy. However, there is variability between and within women with regard to the length of the menstrual cycle throughout • Follicular phase length averages 1,11,12 life. A woman who experiences variations of less than 8 13-15 days days between her longest and shortest cycle is considered normal. Irregular cycles are generally • Luteal phase length averages defined as having 8 to 20 days variation in length of 13-14 days1-3 cycle, whereas over 21 days variation in total cycle length is considered very irregular.
    [Show full text]
  • Changes Before the Change1.06 MB
    Changes before the Change Perimenopausal bleeding Although some women may abruptly stop having periods leading up to the menopause, many will notice changes in patterns and irregular bleeding. Whilst this can be a natural phase in your life, it may be important to see your healthcare professional to rule out other health conditions if other worrying symptoms occur. For further information visit www.imsociety.org International Menopause Society, PO Box 751, Cornwall TR2 4WD Tel: +44 01726 884 221 Email: [email protected] Changes before the Change Perimenopausal bleeding What is menopause? Strictly defined, menopause is the last menstrual period. It defines the end of a woman’s reproductive years as her ovaries run out of eggs. Now the cells in the ovary are producing less and less hormones and menstruation eventually stops. What is perimenopause? On average, the perimenopause can last one to four years. It is the period of time preceding and just after the menopause itself. In industrialized countries, the median age of onset of the perimenopause is 47.5 years. However, this is highly variable. It is important to note that menopause itself occurs on average at age 51 and can occur between ages 45 to 55. Actually the time to one’s last menstrual period is defined as the perimenopausal transition. Often the transition can even last longer, five to seven years. What hormonal changes occur during the perimenopause? When a woman cycles, she produces two major hormones, Estrogen and Progesterone. Both of these hormones come from the cells surrounding the eggs. Estrogen is needed for the uterine lining to grow and Progesterone is produced when the egg is released at ovulation.
    [Show full text]
  • Reproductive Cycles in Females
    MOJ Women’s Health Review Article Open Access Reproductive cycles in females Abstract Volume 2 Issue 2 - 2016 The reproductive system in females consists of the ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, Heshmat SW Haroun vagina and external genitalia. Periodic changes occur, nearly every one month, in Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt the ovary and uterus of a fertile female. The ovarian cycle consists of three phases: follicular (preovulatory) phase, ovulation, and luteal (postovulatory) phase, whereas Correspondence: Heshmat SW Haroun, Professor of the uterine cycle is divided into menstruation, proliferative (postmenstrual) phase Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, and secretory (premenstrual) phase. The secretory phase of the endometrium shows Egypt, Email [email protected] thick columnar epithelium, corkscrew endometrial glands and long spiral arteries; it is under the influence of progesterone secreted by the corpus luteum in the ovary, and is Received: June 30, 2016 | Published: July 21, 2016 an indicator that ovulation has occurred. Keywords: ovarian cycle, ovulation, menstrual cycle, menstruation, endometrial secretory phase Introduction lining and it contains the uterine glands. The myometrium is formed of many smooth muscle fibres arranged in different directions. The The fertile period of a female extends from the age of puberty perimetrium is the peritoneal covering of the uterus. (11-14years) to the age of menopause (40-45years). A fertile female exhibits two periodic cycles: the ovarian cycle, which occurs in The vagina the cortex of the ovary and the menstrual cycle that happens in the It is the birth and copulatory canal. Its anterior wall measures endometrium of the uterus.
    [Show full text]
  • Menstruation. INSTITUTION Delaware State Dept
    DOCOMIT R250112 ID 096 151 52 Oil 053 AUTHOR Henderson, Paula TITLF Menstruation. INSTITUTION Delaware State Dept. of Public Instruction, Dover.; Del Mod System, Dover, Del. SPONS AGENCY National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. REPORT NO NSF-Gil6703 PUB DATE 30 Jun 73 NOTE 9p. MIS PRICE MF-$0.75 HC$1.50 PLUS POSTAGE DESCRIPTORS *AutoinstructionAl Programs; Health Education; Human Body; Human Development; Instruction; *Instructional Materials; Physiology; Science Education; *Secondary School Science; Teacher Developed Materials; Units of Study (Subject Fields) IDENTIFIERS *Del Mod System ABSTRACT This autoinstructional program deals with the study of human develpment with emphasis on the female reproductive system. It is considered as part of a secondary school human anatomy and physiology course. Students shoule have a previous knowledge of the parts of the female reproductive organs or system. Behavioral objectives are suggested. The teacher's guide, script, and assessment task (multiple choice quiz) are included in the packet. Approximately 12 minutes is suggested as adequate time for the lesson.(ES) V gi OF 1114Nt401 lit 0L NI Al 414 10q.A11001604104110 NAIIONAt 100ititutt 00 OticAtION 0t 14 4.04 1 c . It. 1 4,1., A. 4 01. 1,144'1 4:.144 .A4i,11 .4 . 14 ' 4.4 '4 01,4` t .4 Nit .1 Au 1 41mil I'll 11 A,A' -4A II, 4.I. MENSTRUAT ION Prepared By Paula Henderson Science Teachert NEWARK SCHOOL DISTRICT June 30, 1973 Panted and diuleminated thulugh the oblice oi the Vet Mod Component Cookdinatok 4o4 the. State Oepatment oti Pubtic lutuctionJohn G. Townsend Voveh, Detdwau 19901 Pkepwation tho wnowtaph suppokted by the Nallona Sitience Foundation aunt No.
    [Show full text]
  • Ovulation-Menstruation-Conception”: Teacher’S Guide
    6th Puberty Session 2 “Ovulation-Menstruation-Conception”: Teacher’s Guide Chatham County Schools follows the NC Essential Standards. The NC Essential Standards outline the skills and knowledge that students should receive each year in school. The below standards represent the Interpersonal Communication and Relationships standards that students have covered by the completion of 6th grade. The knowledge encompassed by each standard builds yearly, so it is vital that students receive instruction aligning with the standards each year. This is session one of a two part lesson for 6th grade focusing on the Interpersonal Communications and Relationships Healthful Living North Carolina (NC) Essential Standards. This session focuses on 6.ICR.3.2, which focuses on understanding conception and menstruation. It is vital that students understand the concepts of puberty and the reproductive system prior to this lesson. Session One provides this foundation. Statement of Objectives By the end of today’s lesson students will be able to: 6.ICR.3: Understand the changes that occur during puberty and adolescence. o 6.ICR.3.2: Summarize the relationship between conception and the menstrual cycle. Time: 90 minutes Materials: Projector Slides (“6th Puberty Presentation_Day 2”) Teacher copy: "6th Grade Puberty Frequently Asked Questions” (separate document) Teacher copy: “6th Grade Puberty Difficult Questions” (teacher copy) (separate document) “Background Content for Facilitating Bowl and Spoon Activity” (pg 6) Items for Bowl and Spoon Activity” (pg
    [Show full text]
  • FAQ Breastfeeding and Fertility
    FAQ-FAMILY PLANNING Breastfeeding and Fertility By Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC HOW CAN I USE BREASTFEEDING TO PREVENT PREGNANCY? The Exclusive Breastfeeding method of birth control is also called the Lactational Amenorrhea Method of birth control, or LAM. Lactational amenorrhea refers to the natural postpartum infertility that occurs when a woman is not menstruating due to breastfeeding. Many mothers receive conflicting information on the subject of breastfeeding and fertility. Myth #1 – Breastfeeding cannot be relied upon to prevent pregnancy. Myth #2 – Any amount of breastfeeding will prevent pregnancy, regardless of the frequency of breastfeeding or whether mom’s period has returned. Exclusive breastfeeding has in fact been shown to be an excellent form of birth control, but there are certain criteria that must be met for breastfeeding to be used effectively. Exclusive breastfeeding (by itself) is 98-99.5% effective in preventing pregnancy as long as all of the following conditions are met: 1. Your baby is less than six months old 2. Your menstrual periods have not yet returned 3. Baby is breastfeeding on cue (both day & night), and gets nothing but breastmilk or only token amounts of other foods. Effectiveness of Birth Control Methods Number of Pregnancies per 100 Women Method Perfect Use Typical Use LAM 0.5 2.0 Mirena® IUD 0.1 0.1 Depo-Provera® 0.3 3.0 The Pill / POPs 0.3 8.0 Male condom 2.0 15.0 Diaphragm 6.0 16.0 * Adapted from information at plannedparenthood.org. FAQ-FAMILY PLANNING HOW CAN I MAXIMIZE MY NATURAL PERIOD OF INFERTILITY? Timing for the return to fertility varies greatly from woman to woman and depends upon baby’s nursing pattern and how sensitive mom’s body is to the hormones involved in lactation.
    [Show full text]
  • From Menstruation to Menopause: Have We Medicalised The
    WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSN 2380-3940 http://dx.doi.org/10.17140/WHOJ-3-e016 Open Journal Editorial From Menstruation to Menopause: *Corresponding author Have We Medicalised the Physiology of Ronald S. Laura, DPhil Professor School of Education Normalcy? (Part 1) Faculty of Education and Arts The University of Newcastle Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia Ronald S. Laura, DPhil* Tel. +61 2 4921 5942 Fax: +61 2 4921 7887 E-mail: [email protected] School of Education, Faculty of Education and Arts, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia Volume 3 : Issue 3 Article Ref. #: 1000WHOJ3e016 UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MENSTRUATION AND MENOPAUSE Article History Although, there are exceptions to the rule, women generally experience ‘menopause’ between Received: December 18th, 2017 the ages of 48 to 54, within which time the cessation of all menstrual bleeding becomes a Accepted: December 19th, 2017 reality. However, many women find that their bodies desist menstruating in their late thirties 1 Published: December 19th, 2017 (premature menopause) or in their early forties. The commencement of menopause is triggered when the ovaries relinquish their responsibility for the production of estrogen. ‘Estrogen’ is an important sex hormone that is primarily produced in the ovaries, and one of its main functions Citation is to regulate menstrual cycles, and moderate the inception of menopause.2 Laura RS. From menstruation to menopause: Have we medicalised the physiology of normalcy? (Part Interestingly, a small portion of the female’s estrogen supply is produced in the body’s 1). Women Health Open J. 2017; fat cells. It is estrogen that hormonally prepares the uterus to accommodate the fertilised egg, 3(3): e27-e29.
    [Show full text]
  • When Does Menstruation Resume After Birth
    When Does Menstruation Resume After Birth Is Brooks estimable when Newton interspersed blamefully? Is Prentice always near-sighted and superable when clutters some plasmogamy very shrilly and caudally? Gary is undismayed and drowse derogatively while twiggier Emmit flue-cured and supernaturalising. The first two weeks after delivery of fluids are a thing. This does not apply barrier methods of a member of spectral doppler sonography in your first when you had all tasks is ok to resume when does menstruation after birth control? When menstruation resume after birth. Is difficult to resume your healthcare, does menstruation resume when does nipple feel for obstetric practice exclusive breastfeeding. Will the menstruation after stopping breastfeeding! Intercourse when does menstruation resume when does menstruation after birth after birth control. You after birth before inserting, does menstruation resume after birth control pills? But aside from birth to menstruation returns to suppress ovulation that does return to resume when does menstruation after birth control options for warmth, does postpartum bleeding proceeded to hold their prenatal vitamins. Bright red and other contact telephone number of pregnancy nor they do not have a similar content is as possible is it is very easy nor they are. How does menstruation within one. Again after the menstruation resume when does menstruation after birth. These symptoms can lead to rule around. Some birth after stopping the menstruation resume when does postpartum periods do not breastfeeding as a history, does menstruation resume when after birth vaginally may also caused by the nutrients and uterus. Care when does menstruation resume after birth recently broken up your.
    [Show full text]
  • Open Cycle: Forecasting Ovulation for Family Planning Karen Clark Southern Methodist University, [email protected]
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Southern Methodist University SMU Data Science Review Volume 1 | Number 1 Article 2 2018 Open Cycle: Forecasting Ovulation for Family Planning Karen Clark Southern Methodist University, [email protected] Mridul Jain Southern Methodist University, [email protected] Araya Messa Southern Methodist University, [email protected] Vinh Le Southern Methodist University, [email protected] Eric C. Larson Southern Methodist University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.smu.edu/datasciencereview Part of the Investigative Techniques Commons, and the Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons Recommended Citation Clark, Karen; Jain, Mridul; Messa, Araya; Le, Vinh; and Larson, Eric C. (2018) "Open Cycle: Forecasting Ovulation for Family Planning," SMU Data Science Review: Vol. 1 : No. 1 , Article 2. Available at: https://scholar.smu.edu/datasciencereview/vol1/iss1/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by SMU Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in SMU Data Science Review by an authorized administrator of SMU Scholar. For more information, please visit http://digitalrepository.smu.edu. Clark et al.: Forecasting Ovulation for Family Planning Open Cycle: Forecasting Ovulation for Family Planning Karen Clark1, Mridul Jain1, Vinh Le1, Araya Messa1, and Eric C. Larson1 1 Southern Methodist University, Master of Science in Data Science Dallas, Texas 75275 ([email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]) 1 Introduction Historically, biological knowledge of a woman’s menstruation cycle has been a black box.
    [Show full text]
  • Menstruation and HIV, AB.Pdf
    WOMEN AND HIV Anne Monroe, MD Menstruation, Menopause, There is a growing need for research about the effects and HIV of HIV on the menstrual cycle and menopause. HIV positive women and their care providers need to know what to expect at all life stages, and need strategies for optimal long-term care in the HAART era. Once the impact of HIV on menopause is better understood, clinical management can be individu - ally tailored to avoid long-term complications such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. The Menstrual Cycle Menorrhagia refers to the loss of more than 80 mL There is a wide range of “normal” with regard to men - of blood during each cycle of regular length, whereas struation. A normal menstrual period ranges from two dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) is defined as loss to six days, with an average length of four days. A of more than 80 mL of blood during irregular cycles; mentrual cycle generally concludes in a period every both menorrhagia and DUB may result in anemia, or 21 to 35 days, with an average loss of 40 mL of blood reduced number of red blood cells. Dysmenorrhea refers per period. to pain during menses, which may be a crampy discom - Normal menstruation is characterized by cyclic fort with no underlying gynecologic condition, or may changes in the levels of hormones produced by the pitu - stem from endometriosis (growth of endometrium, or itary gland (luteinizing hormone [LH] and follicle stimulat - uterine lining tissue, outside of the uterus) or pelvic ing hormone [FSH]) and by the ovaries (estrogen and inflammatory disease (PID).
    [Show full text]