Early puberty in girls. Puberty of girls

Under puberty This refers to the 2-year period of intense growth that precedes puberty. Puberty in girls begins with the first.

First of all, it is necessary to remember that puberty does not occur at the same age for everyone. For most girls, it begins at age 11, and the first menstrual cycle occurs two years later - at age 13. But for quite a few girls, puberty begins at age 9. It happens that it comes only at the age of 13. In exceptional cases, girls begin puberty at 7 or only at 15 years of age.

Later or earlier puberty does not mean improper functioning of the endocrine glands. This only means that they work on different schedules. This is an individual schedule, probably a hereditary trait. If parents experience puberty later than others, their children usually experience it later as well.

Let's follow the girl's puberty, which begins at 11 years old. At 7-8 years old she grew by 5-6 cm per year. By the age of 9, the growth rate had decreased by 2 cm, as if nature had hit the brakes. But suddenly, by age 11, the brakes are released. In the next 2 years, the girl will rapidly grow upward at a speed of 8-10 cm per year. She will gain weight by 4-8 kg per year instead of 2-3.5 kg, as in previous years, but she will not gain weight. She becomes “wolfish” to keep up with such rapid growth.

Other changes occur in the girl’s body. At the beginning of puberty, girls' mammary glands enlarge. First, the isola is enlarged and protrudes slightly. Then the entire mammary gland takes the appropriate shape. In the first year or one and a half years, the girl’s mammary gland has a conical shape. But closer to the beginning of the menstrual cycle, it becomes more rounded. Soon after the mammary gland begins to take shape, they grow in the area. Later, hair grows under the arms as well. The hips expand. The structure is changing.

At age 13, girls usually begin menstruating. By this time, her body becomes that of an adult woman. Since that time, its growth has slowed down significantly. A girl will probably grow 4 cm in the year after her menstrual cycle begins, but only 2 cm in the next year. Many girls have irregular periods and not every month in the first year or two. This does not mean any pathology.

If puberty begins in an 8-9 year old girl, she will naturally feel awkward and embarrassed among her classmates who see her quickly growing up and becoming a woman. But not every girl cares about this. It all depends on the degree of her peace of mind and on her desire and readiness to turn into a woman. If a girl has a good relationship with her mother and wants to be like her, then she will be pleased with her rapid growth, despite the fact that she is ahead of her peers. But if a girl is unhappy with being female or afraid of becoming an adult, she will be frightened and upset by the signs of early puberty.

A girl whose puberty is delayed is also worried. It happens that even at the age of 13 she did not show a single sign of puberty, while her other girls grew up a lot. She herself is still in the slow growth stage that precedes puberty. The girl feels like an underdeveloped little person. She thinks she is worse than others. Such a girl needs to be reassured and assured that her puberty will begin as surely as the rising and setting of the sun. If it started late in the mother or other relatives, the girl needs to be told about it.

In addition to age, there are other variations in sexual development. In some girls, hair in the genital area grows before the mammary glands develop. And very rarely, armpit hair is the very first sign (and not the last, as in most cases). It usually takes 2 years from the time the first sign of puberty appears until the first menstruation. If puberty begins at an earlier age, then it usually proceeds faster - less than 1.5 years. For those girls whose puberty begins later in life, it usually lasts more than 2 years before the first menstruation begins.

By puberty, I mean the two-year period of intense growth that precedes puberty. Puberty in girls begins with the first menstrual cycle. Boys do not have such a pronounced event, so I start talking about puberty with girls.
The first thing to remember is that puberty does not occur at the same age for everyone. For most girls, it begins at age 11 and the first menstrual cycle occurs two years later - at age 13. But for quite a few girls, puberty begins at age 9. It happens that it begins only at the age of 13. In exceptional cases, girls begin puberty as early as 7 years old or only at 15 years old. Later or earlier puberty does not mean improper functioning of the endocrine glands. This only means that they work on different schedules. This individual schedule is probably a hereditary trait; if parents experience puberty later than others, then their children usually experience it later as well.
Let's follow the girl's puberty, which begins at 11 years old. At 7-8 years old she grew by 5-6 cm per year. By the age of 9, the growth rate had decreased to 4 cm per year, as if nature had hit the brakes. But suddenly, by age 11, the brakes are released. In the next two years, the girl will rapidly grow upward at a speed of 8-10 cm per year. She will gain 4.5-9 kg per year instead of 2-3.5 kg as in previous years, but she will not become fatter. Her appetite becomes ravenous to keep up with such exuberant growth. Other changes are also taking place. At the beginning of puberty, a girl's mammary glands will enlarge. First, the isola is enlarged and protrudes slightly. Then the entire mammary gland takes the appropriate shape. In the first year or one and a half years, the girl’s mammary gland has a conical shape. But closer to the beginning of the menstrual cycle, it becomes more rounded. Soon after the mammary gland begins to develop, hair grows in the genital area. Later, hair grows under the arms as well. The hips expand. The structure of the skin changes.
At age 13, girls usually begin menstruating. By this time, her body becomes that of an adult woman. She's almost that height and weight. which stays for a long time. Since that time, its growth has slowed down. A girl will probably grow 4 cm in the year after her menstrual cycle begins, but only 2 cm in the next year. Many girls have irregular periods and not every month in the first year or two. This does not mean any pathology.

549. Puberty begins in different ways.

For many girls, puberty begins much earlier, while for others it begins much later. If it begins in an 8-9 year old girl, she will naturally feel awkward and embarrassed among her friends in the class, who see how quickly she is growing and taking shape into a woman. But not every girl cares about this. It all depends on the degree of her peace of mind and on her desire and readiness to turn into a woman. If a girl has a good relationship with her mother and wants to be like her, then she will be pleased with her rapid growth, despite the fact that she is ahead of her peers. But if a girl is unhappy about being female (for example, because she is jealous of her brother) or she is afraid of becoming an adult, she will be frightened and upset by the signs of early puberty.
A girl whose puberty is delayed is also worried. It happens that at the age of 13 a girl has not shown a single sign of puberty, while before her eyes the other girls have grown a lot. She herself is still in the slow growth stage that precedes puberty. The girl feels like an underdeveloped little person. She thinks she is worse than others. Such a girl needs to be reassured and assured that her sexual development will begin as surely as the rising and setting of the sun. If the mother or other relatives started puberty late, the girl needs to be told about it.
In addition to age, there are other variations in the onset of sexual development. In some girls, hair in the genital area grows before the mammary glands develop. And very rarely, armpit hair is the very first sign (and not the last, as in most cases). It usually takes 2 years from the time the first sign of puberty appears until the first menstruation. If puberty begins at an earlier age, it usually occurs faster - less than 1.5 years. For those girls whose pubertal development begins later in life, it usually lasts longer than 2 years before the first menstruation begins. Sometimes one breast develops earlier than the other. This is a common occurrence and does not mean anything. That chest. which developed earlier will remain enlarged compared to the second throughout the entire period of puberty.

550. Puberty of boys.

It begins on average 2 years later than in girls. If girls begin puberty on average at 11 years old, then for boys it starts at 13 years old. It can begin as early as age 11, or in rare cases even earlier, but can linger until age 15, and in very few boys, longer. The boy begins to grow at double the speed. His genitals develop intensively and hair grows around them. Later, hair begins to grow under the arms and on the face. The voice breaks and becomes lower.
Over a two-year period, the boy's body almost completes the transformation into a man. Over the next 2 years, his growth will slowly increase by 5-6 cm and then practically stop. A boy, like a girl, may go through a period of physical and emotional awkwardness as he tries to learn to manage his new body and new feelings. Just like his voice, sometimes high, sometimes low, he himself is both a boy and a man, but no longer one or the other.
It is appropriate here to talk about the difficulties of relationships between boys and girls at school during puberty and adulthood. Boys and girls of the same age study in the same class, but between the ages of 11 and 15, girls are almost 2 years older than a boy of the same age.
She is ahead of the boy in development, she is taller, she has more “adult” interests. She wants to go to dances and accept advances, but he is still a little savage who considers it shameful to pay attention to girls. During this period, when organizing extracurricular activities, it is better to combine different age groups to make it more interesting for children.
A boy whose puberty is delayed, who is still smaller in stature while his companions are growing into men, is even more in need of consolation than a girl who is delayed in puberty. Height, build and strength play a huge role in the eyes of children of this age. But in some families, instead of reassuring the boy that over time he will grow by 24-27 cm, the parents take the boy to the doctor, begging for a course of special treatment. This further convinces the boy that there is indeed something wrong with him. It is wiser and safer to allow a normal boy to develop in accordance with his individual, innate “plan”.

551. Skin diseases in a teenager.

Puberty changes the structure of the skin. Pores become larger and produce more oil. Blackheads form from the accumulation of oil, dust and dirt. Blackheads further enlarge the pores, making it easier for bacteria to penetrate the skin and cause a minor infection or pimple. Teenagers are prone to shyness. They are bothered by the slightest defect in their appearance. They feel embarrassed about pimples, constantly touching them with their hands and squeezing them out. This causes bacteria to spread to nearby areas of the skin and to fingers, which the child touches and introduces bacteria into new acne, causing new pimples. Squeezing pimples often makes them bigger and deeper, which can leave a scar. Some teenagers interested in gender issues imagine that their acne is caused by immodest thoughts or masturbation.
Almost all parents accept their children's acne as a necessary evil, believing that only time will cure it. This is the wrong approach. Modern medications can provide improvement in most cases. The child, of course, needs to be shown to the attending physician or a skin specialist, who will take all measures to improve the teenager (which in turn will improve the mood) and to prevent the scars that acne sometimes leaves.
There are also general measures that are considered very useful. Vigorous exercise, fresh air and direct sunlight improve the complexion of many people. Excessive consumption of chocolate, sweets and other high-calorie sweets contributes to the formation of acne. It is reasonable to exclude these foods from the teenager’s diet, at least during this trial period. Typically, the skin is thoroughly but lightly cleaned with a hot, soapy sponge, followed by rinsing with hot and cold water. It is very important to explain to your child why he should not touch his face with his hands or squeeze out pimples.
Teens also experience increased armpit sweat and odor. Some children and even parents do not notice this, but the smell will be unpleasant to classmates, which will cause hostility towards the child himself. All teenagers should thoroughly wash their armpits with soap every day and regularly use special anti-sweat products.

*Psychological changes*

552. Shyness and touchiness.

As a result of all the physiological and emotional changes, the teenager’s attention turns to himself. He becomes more sensitive and shy. He gets upset over the slightest defect, exaggerating its significance (a girl with freckles may think that they disfigure her). A small feature of the structure of his body or the functioning of his body immediately convinces the boy that he is not like everyone else, that he is worse than others. A teenager changes so quickly that it is difficult for him to figure out what he is. His movements become angular because he cannot yet control his new body as easily as before; similarly, at first it is difficult for him to manage his new feelings. The teenager is easily offended by comments. At some moments he feels like an adult, wise from life experience and wants others to treat him accordingly. But the next minute he feels like a child and feels the need for protection and maternal affection. He may be worried about increased sexual desires. He still doesn’t have a very clear idea of where they come from and how to act. Boys and especially girls fall in love with different people. For example, a boy may admire his teacher, a girl may fall madly in love with her teacher or a literary heroine. This is because for many years, girls and boys stuck to the company of their own sex and considered members of the opposite sex to be their natural enemies. This is an old antagonism and barriers are being overcome very slowly. When a teenager first dares to entertain tender thoughts about a person of the opposite sex, it usually turns out to be a movie star. After some time, boys and girls studying in the same school begin to dream about each other, but even then it will still be a long time before the shy ones find the courage to express their affection in person.

553. The demand for freedom often means fear of it.

Almost all teenagers complain that their parents restrict their freedom. It is natural for a rapidly maturing teenager to insist on his rights and dignity, befitting his stage of development. He has to remind his parents that he is no longer a child. But parents should not literally understand every child’s demand and give in without talking. The fact is that the teenager is frightened by his rapid growth. He is completely unsure of his ability to be as knowledgeable, skillful, sophisticated and charming as he would like to be. But he never admits his doubts to himself, much less to his parents. The teenager is afraid of his freedom and at the same time protests against parental care.

554. Teenagers need guidance.

Teachers, psychiatrists and other professionals who have worked with teenagers say that some of them admit that they wish their parents were a little stricter with them, just like the parents of some of their friends, and taught them what is right and what is wrong. . This does not mean that parents should become judges of their children. Parents should talk to teachers and other teens' parents to find out the customs and rules of the area where they live. They should certainly discuss these rules with the child. But in the end, they must decide for themselves what they think is right and insist on their own, although this is quite difficult. If the parents' decision is reasonable, the teenager accepts it and is grateful deep down. On the one hand, parents have the right to say: “We know better,” but, on the other hand, they must feel and show deep trust in their child, in his judgment and his morals. What keeps a child on the right path is mainly his healthy upbringing and the confidence that his parents trust him, not the rules they teach him. But a teenager needs both rules and the knowledge that his parents pay enough attention to him to teach him these rules that fill the gaps in his life experience.

555. Rivalry with parents.

The tension that sometimes arises between teenagers and their parents is partly due to natural rivalry. The teenager realizes that it is his turn to conquer the world, attract the opposite sex, and be a father or mother. He seems to be trying to oust his parents and push them from the heights of power. Parents subconsciously feel this and, of course, are not very happy.
There may even be friction between father and daughter, between mother and son. Between 3 and 6 years of age, a boy is deeply infatuated with his mother, and a girl with her father. After 6 years, the child tries to forget about this hobby and denies it. But when, during adolescence, he experiences a strong pressure of feelings, they first rush, like a spring mountain stream, along an old dry riverbed, that is, again towards his parents. However, the teenager subconsciously feels that this is not good. At this age, his first big task is to change the direction of his feelings from his parents to someone outside the family. He tries to destroy his love for his parents with hostile feelings towards them. This at least partly explains why boys are rude to their mothers and why girls can be inexplicably antagonistic towards their fathers.
Parents are certainly attached to their teenage children, and this helps us understand why a mother privately or openly disapproves of the girls her son likes, and why a father may vehemently object to young men courting his daughter.

Girls' development begins at the age of 10-12 years and continues until adulthood. Moms and dads need to be attentive to their child’s behavior in order to provide psychological assistance in a timely manner.

Puberty in girls occurs 2 years earlier than in boys. This period is an important stage in the development of the human body. Parents need to be prepared for the beginning of a difficult period in their daughter’s life.

Signs of puberty in girls

Sexual development in girls can begin at the age of ten and will continue until they are eighteen. In some cases, girls' sexual development begins at 8-9 years or 11-12. If your daughter is fifteen years old and there are no signs of puberty, you should consult a doctor. During adolescence, changes occur that will affect not only the appearance, but also the psychological mood of the child. Signs of puberty include:

The girl begins to grow rapidly;
Changes occur in the child’s figure: initially, the length of the body will be disproportionate to the length of the limbs. Over time, the waist will become thinner, the hips will increase;
There is an enlargement of the mammary glands;
Hair begins to grow on the pubic and armpit areas. The structure of pubic hair will change over time: it will become wavy;
The labia begin to increase in size;
The first menstruation appears;
The hair on the arms and legs increases, and the hair becomes darker;
Acne and pimples appear on the skin of the face and body, and the active work of the sebaceous glands begins. Hair and skin become oily;
There may be a general increase in fat layers in the abdomen, hips, pelvis, and in some cases in the legs and calves.

The appearance of sexual characteristics means that the child turns from a girl into a girl. After some time, the body will be ready to reproduce.

To what age do girls grow?

Active body growth in girls is noticed at the age of 9-10 years. From now on, your daughter can grow several centimeters in a month. Parents often ask the question “how old do girls grow?” Statistics show that girls stop growing by the age of 18. But it is important to remember that each child’s body is individual. And some girls may stop growing earlier or later than this age.

When do breasts start to grow?

Enlargement of the gonads in girls begins during puberty. When your girl’s mammary glands begin to grow, no doctor can give you an exact answer.

Recently, it has been noticed that children are starting puberty earlier than it was a few years ago.

Nowadays, many girls' breasts can begin to grow at age eight. But this is more of an exception to the rule. In most cases, breast enlargement in girls begins at the age of 10-11 years. But it is also possible that this phenomenon will begin later.

First signs of menstruation

Many mothers are concerned about the question of at what age do girls start menstruating? Puberty of the female body begins at 10-11 years. The first menstruation, menarche, begins in girls between the ages of 10 and 13 years. But we must not forget about the individual developmental characteristics of the child. In some cases, this event will occur earlier or later. The appearance of menstruation in girls can be determined by certain signs. A few months before menarche, the child may notice vaginal discharge. With normal puberty and the absence of diseases, the discharge will be without a strong odor, transparent in color and will not cause itching and burning of the genitals. The closer the first menstruation, the more abundant the discharge will be. Pay attention to your daughter's behavior. If her mood changes sharply, she often feels tearful, has a tugging stomach or has a headache, this indicates premenstrual syndrome. Be prepared for the fact that your girl will turn into a girl in the near future.

Puberty (puberty) of girls is a process of changes in the body, affecting their physical, psychological and emotional state. All girls who do not have developmental anomalies go through this period. In this article we will consider only those changes that occur in the body, and not the cultural and social aspects of girls growing up.

Most people remember puberty as a period of unpleasant changes: acne, dark hair growing in certain places, weight gain, frequent mood swings, etc. The process of growing up is largely the same for every girl, but there are also unique characteristics.

For example, some people experience puberty very early and occur at a rapid rate, while others begin to show signs of puberty relatively late and occur very slowly.

But, despite such differences, every girl is faced with the fact that her body begins to change and prepare for procreation.

At what age does puberty begin in girls?

One of the differences between girls and boys is that the age at which puberty begins is very different. Girls enter puberty first and the first signs of maturation appear in them already in the period from 8 to 13 years.

Not long ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics conducted research that found that the average age of puberty in girls is constantly decreasing. For example, in 1860 the average age at which puberty began was 16.5 years, in 1920 - 14.5 years, in 1950 - 13 years, in 1980 - 12.5 years, and in 2010 year decreased to 10.5 years. Nowadays, more and more often, signs of maturation begin to appear before the age of 10 years.

What changes do girls experience during puberty?

Hormones are responsible for visible and invisible changes in girls during puberty. And the most important of them is estrogen, which causes dramatic changes in the female body.

Here are the changes most characteristic of puberty in girls:

Breast growth.

The process of breast growth in girls begins with the appearance of swelling under the nipples. During this period, there may be slight itching and an unpleasant feeling in the chest, but this is normal. In addition, very often.

The breast growth process can continue for up to 5 years until the breasts reach their final shape and size. The shape and size of the breast is very often influenced by a hereditary factor, for example, if a mother or grandmother has large breasts, then in most cases the girl will also have large breasts. It is worth noting the fact that in the premenstrual period, even already formed breasts will swell a little and are especially sensitive to external irritants.

The appearance of hairs in intimate and other parts of the body.

Girls' pubic hair begins to grow shortly after their breasts begin to grow. At first, the hairs are sparse and almost invisible, but over time they become darker, thicker and begin to occupy the entire pubic triangle. Then, after several months, hair growth begins on other parts of the body (armpits, legs, arms, etc.). If a girl has noticeable growth of dark hair on her chest or chin, then in this case it is worth consulting a doctor for advice. Perhaps this is a manifestation of a rare disease -.

Excessive sweating

Increased sweating and changes in the smell of sweat are normal manifestations of puberty in girls. This is all due to changes in hormonal levels.

Start of menstruation

Menarche, or the first menstruation, marks the beginning of the reproductive period in every girl's life. This usually occurs two years after the onset of puberty. During the first two years, the day of the appearance of menstruation is unpredictable and very often young.

Along with menstruation, girls begin to experience symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Pimples on the skin

- This is one of the visible symptoms of the onset of puberty. The skin becomes very oily, which leads to the appearance of pimples, whiteheads and blackheads. Most acne appears on the face, but besides the face, acne also appears on the upper back and chest. The good news is that in most cases, acne goes away with puberty.

Changes in mood

A teenager who is in puberty may feel happy and energetic at one moment, but after a while there may be a feeling of sadness and a desire to be alone. Very often, girls at an early stage of puberty have low self-esteem and are not happy with their appearance.

Characteristic of the puberty period is the hypersensitivity of girls to emotional factors. Sometimes even a harmless joke directed at them can drive them into deep depression.

On average, girls emerge from puberty between the ages of 15 and 17.

Puberty is the time when complex endocrine processes occur in a girl’s body, shaping her somatic and sexual development. During this period, the girl’s body reaches biological and sexual maturity and the girl is anatomically and functionally ready for procreation.

There are two phases of puberty. The first - prepubertal - is characterized by a growth spurt, the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics (mammary glands and sexual hair growth) and ends with menarche - the first menstruation. In the second phase, the formation of secondary sexual characteristics is completed and a regular menstrual cycle is established.

Late or early onset of puberty is not always associated with a pathological process, and careful questioning often reveals that the mother or grandmother also began menstruation earlier or later compared to their peers. If this worries the girl or her mother, then it is necessary to consult a pediatric (teenage) gynecologist.

Acceleration of growth rates is observed at the age of 9 - 11 years, enlargement of the mammary glands - at 10 - 11 years, sexual hair growth - from 11 - 12 years. Menarche is usually observed at 12 - 13 years of age, and a regular menstrual cycle is established within 1.5 - 2 years from menarche. During this time, the break between menstruation can be up to 1 - 3 months or more. And a regular ovulatory cycle appears in girls five years after menarche.

Menarche

The first menstruation is one of the signs of the maturity of a girl’s body, which symbolizes the transition from childhood to becoming an adult woman. However, the growth and development of a girl with the onset of menarche is not yet complete, and therefore pregnancy is still unlikely, but possible - in the first year after menarche, 25% of girls have ovulatory cycles. There is even less chance of carrying and giving birth to a healthy child, in particular, due to the anatomical structure of the pelvic organs, which are not yet formed, and the girl’s body is not yet ready to bear a pregnancy.

The first menstruation usually occurs two to three years after the onset of puberty. In this regard, it is necessary to talk about the so-called premature and delayed puberty. In the first case, signs such as enlarged mammary glands and pubertal hair appear in girls before the age of eight, and the appearance of menstruation before the age of 9. As a rule, this indicates early activation of the activity of the ovaries, pituitary gland and hypothalamus and can be either the norm (for example, a consequence of genetic predisposition) or a medical pathology. In case of premature puberty, it is recommended to consult a doctor, pediatric gynecologist, or endocrinologist to rule out any pathological process.

Delayed puberty is considered to be those cases when by the age of 14 the girl’s mammary glands have not yet begun to develop and hair growth has not appeared, and by the age of 16 menstruation has not occurred. Most often this is a signal of some deviation in the development of the reproductive and endocrine systems. In this situation, the sooner you see a doctor, the easier it will be to determine the cause of the disorder and promptly prescribe treatment.

Gynecologists and endocrinologists recommend that parents not neglect preventive examinations. After all, your girl is a future woman, a mother, so it is better to identify any pathologies immediately and prevent their development.

Menstruation

According to the encyclopedic definition, menstruation is the cyclic shedding of the thickened layer of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) and the release of blood from the uterus, occurring monthly in women of reproductive age.

Menstruation comes monthly - a very conventional concept. The normal length of the menstrual cycle (the period from the first day of one menstruation to the first day of the next) ranges from 21 to 35 days. In healthy women and girls with an established menstrual cycle, there are almost no deviations in its duration or they do not exceed 3-4 days. If the duration of the cycle is more than 35 days or less than 21, this is a reason to contact a gynecologist to find out the reasons and prescribe treatment. However, often with climate change, in the spring months, and stress (for example, passing exams, especially graduation and entrance exams), the duration of the menstrual cycle can change significantly. You should definitely consult a doctor if your menstruation is delayed by three months or more.

All processes in a woman’s life occur cyclically, that is, with a certain periodicity, and menstruation is the most striking manifestation of the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. And it indicates that fertilization of the egg has not occurred and the reproductive system begins a new cycle of preparing the woman’s body for pregnancy.

Hygiene features

One of the main points during menstrual bleeding is basic adherence to personal hygiene rules. It is necessary to wash yourself at least twice a day, morning and evening, and even better, every time you change a pad or tampon, since menstrual blood acquires an unpleasant odor from contact with air. In addition, it is an ideal environment for bacteria. Tampons or pads should be changed as they become soaked, but at least every four hours. The reason for such frequent changes is always written in the insert of the tampon package: toxic shock syndrome (TSS). You can guess that it’s time to change by the slight feeling of discomfort.

What hygiene product to use during menstruation, pads or tampons, a woman is free to decide for herself, but for a girl, explanations from her mother and a conversation with a gynecologist will be necessary.

Tampons can be used from the start of menstruation, provided:

- choosing the right size and absorbency of the tampon;

Correct insertion of the tampon;

- if the girl does not have certain medical contraindications.

Girls whose hymen is not broken can use tampons specially designed for this purpose. If you cannot insert a tampon even after several attempts, you should consult a gynecologist. The hymen (hymen) may be too small to allow a tampon to be inserted. At least 2% of teenage girls have difficulty inserting a tampon precisely for this reason. In such cases, gynecologists recommend using other hygiene products.

In the last days of menstruation, when a woman begins to lead a more active lifestyle compared to the first days of menstruation, it is much more convenient to use a tampon. At night, it is better to prefer pads, especially since there are special ones - “night ones”, longer and wider in size. In general, there are no strict rules for choosing hygiene products; this largely depends on the individual characteristics of the woman’s development and lifestyle.

An important point during menstruation is nutrition. During this period, it is necessary to provide the body with all the necessary elements: vitamins, minerals, calcium, magnesium, fiber. It is also necessary to balance the combination of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It is worth limiting the girl’s consumption of sweet, salty and overly spicy seasonings.

Many girls complain that in the period preceding menstruation, their skin becomes covered with small pimples. Sex hormones are to blame for this. Don’t worry, they will disappear on their own with the end of your critical days. But if they do not go away on their own, then you can seek advice from an endocrinologist or gynecologist to rule out serious disorders in the body, and, preferably, a dermatologist who will prescribe external medications aimed at improving the condition of the skin. At home, we can recommend using light antibacterial masks and, of course, following a non-strict diet.

In addition, during menstruation it is better to avoid sports competitions, lifting weights, hypothermia, monitor timely emptying of the bladder.

When your stomach hurts

In healthy girls, menstruation is usually regular; for them, menstrual irregularities are quite rare. Such disorders are manifested by a reduction or lengthening of the time interval between menstruation, an increase in the duration of menstruation itself, the amount of blood lost and pain.

Dysmenorrhea is pain before and during menstruation, resulting from contractions of the uterus under the influence of prostaglandins. A high level of prostaglandins leads to increased contractile activity of the uterus, vasospasm, and ischemia, which causes pain. A similar mechanism of action of prostaglandins is also triggered during childbirth. Therefore, girls suffering from severe dysmenorrhea need serious attention, since they go through a mini-birth during menstruation.

In some cases, dysmenorrhea occurs when the uterus is in an incorrect position, when a bend in the cervical canal is formed. In this case, the uterine muscle has to make strong contractions to expel the contents from the cavity in order to push the blood through. Other causes of dysmenorrhea may be pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids. Therefore, if you have dysmenorrhea, you should consult a doctor, which will allow you to establish the true cause of this suffering and eliminate it.

By the way, there is an opinion that several decades ago women saved themselves from pain in the lower abdomen... by washing the floor with a rag in their hands, without a mop...

Opinion

* Age at menarche in girls is known to be highly heritable, and women who get their periods earlier have a higher risk of developing obesity later in life. Research shows that mothers who got their period before age 11 were five times more likely to develop obesity than those who got their first period after age 15. Children from such mothers by the age of 9 were taller and weighed more, girls matured earlier and, like their mothers, were more likely to start their periods earlier than 11 years. Children grew faster, but growth stopped earlier and weight gain began. Scientists recognized this “growth pattern” as the basis for the development of obesity, which has become a real problem in modern society.

* During puberty, girls should undergo regular health checks to learn more about women's reproductive health in a confidential environment and prepare for their first menstruation.

* Keeping a menstrual diary will help identify menstrual irregularities or women's health problems.

* Girls now experience puberty earlier. If our grandmothers began menstruation at the age of 15 - 16 years, now the norm is from the age of 12.

Consultant:Eleonora Berseneva, pediatric gynecologist at Regional Children's Clinical Hospital No. 1

The period of puberty in girls is quite long - about ten years. It is characterized by the presence of several stages in the development of a girl’s puberty.

The onset of puberty occurs at the age of eight to nine years, which is characterized by accelerated growth in girls.

The appearance of further signs of puberty - enlargement of the mammary glands, growth of pubic hair - begins at approximately ten to twelve years of age.

On average, two years after the above external transformations, the first menstruation appears.

The final stage of puberty in girls is considered to be the age that occurs four to six years after the onset of the first menstrual bleeding. Typically, this occurs between the ages of seventeen and eighteen.

However, there are groups of girls who, due to their developmental characteristics, may begin puberty at the age of nine years. This means not only the accelerated growth of the body and its limbs, but the formation of secondary sexual characteristics - the development of mammary glands and so on. It happens that absolutely healthy girls begin to enter puberty at the age of seven or eight years, which is associated with the genetic characteristics of their development.

Also, the onset of puberty in some categories of girls may be delayed until thirteen to fifteen years of age. At the same time, girls are healthy and developing normally, and such delays in maturation are caused by hereditary factors.

Onset of puberty in girls

The onset of puberty occurs at the age of eight to nine years. This stage is characterized by a strong jump in the growth of girls, which can reach about ten centimeters per year. It happens that girls at this time are ahead of their male peers in height.

During this period of puberty, the skeletal system, muscular system and nerve endings grow at different rates. Therefore, outwardly, girls who have entered puberty may appear clumsy and awkward, somewhat angular.

Often, such changes in the figure cause girls suffering and fear that they will remain forever like funny grasshoppers. Parents need to reassure girls by telling them that their figures will soon undergo positive transformations.

Later, around the age of eleven to thirteen, secondary sexual characteristics begin to change rapidly - the mammary glands grow, the waist decreases, body shapes become rounded, and so on.

Age of puberty in girls

The age of puberty in girls is as follows:

The onset of puberty occurs around eleven to thirteen years of age.
The end of puberty occurs at the age of seventeen to eighteen years.

There are several categories of teenagers who do not mature at the same rate. Some girls begin to enter puberty earlier and, accordingly, end puberty earlier. Such teenagers are called accelerators. In them, the onset of puberty in the form of enlarged mammary glands is observed at the age of nine – ten to eleven years. And the growth spurt occurs approximately a year before. Accordingly, the appearance of the first menstruation in the above girls occurs at ten to eleven years.

In another category of adolescents, the onset of puberty is delayed until thirteen - fourteen - fifteen years. This manifests itself in growth retardation and the formation of secondary sexual characteristics. The first menstruation appears in these categories of girls at thirteen, fourteen or fifteen years. Accordingly, puberty ends at a later age, at eighteen years. Such teenagers are called retardants, that is, they are slow in their development, which is absolutely normal and genetically determined.

However, certain developmental anomalies and hormonal disorders occur in girls, which cause delayed puberty and the appearance of menstruation. Therefore, if there are no signs of puberty at fourteen to fifteen years of age and menstruation has not begun by the age of fifteen, it is recommended to show the girl to a gynecologist and endocrinologist.

Signs of puberty in girls

Signs of puberty in girls include the following:

A sharp growth spurt - a girl can grow up to ten centimeters per year. At the same time, girls grow faster than their male peers. Differences in height are equalized at the age of seventeen to eighteen years, that is, by the end of puberty in girls. At this time, girls stop growing, while boys continue to grow.
Changes in the figure of a teenage girl in the initial stage of puberty - an increase in the length of the limbs compared to the length of the body. Because of this, a change in the proportions of the body occurs, which leads to a visual impression of its awkwardness.
Subsequently, secondary female sexual characteristics begin to form. First of all, the mammary glands begin to enlarge. Then, after some time, smooth pubic hair appears on the pubic area. After a short time, pubic hair begins to change in structure - it becomes wavy. The next changes in the girl’s body concern the appearance of axillary hair.
The labia minora and labia majora increase in size.
Soon the first menstruation occurs - menarche.
Changes in the girl's appearance continue - the volume of her hips increases, her waist becomes thinner, her shoulders narrower, and her figure acquires rounded, smooth outlines characteristic of the female body.
The amount of hair on the girl’s arms and legs increases, and they become darker.
Hormonal changes occur in the girl’s body, as a result of which the appearance of her skin and hair changes. The activation of the sebaceous glands located in the skin begins. Therefore, the skin and hair take on an oilier appearance; The girl's face, neck and back begin to become covered with red pimples and blackheads.
The overall percentage of body fat in a girl increases, and fat deposits are noticed mainly in the pelvic area, on the abdomen and thighs.

Stages of puberty in girls

The stages of puberty in girls are correlated with the appearance of each sign of puberty.

A sharp jump in growth - in a normally developing girl, this increase in height occurs at approximately eleven years of age. If before this period, at approximately seven to eight years old, girls gain in height by five to six centimeters per year, then the entry into puberty is marked by a growth of eight to ten centimeters per year. At this time, the child grows out of recently purchased clothes and shoes so quickly that it surprises not only his parents, but also the girl herself.

At this time, the annual weight gain reaches four to nine kilograms, although before this period the usual weight gain averaged two and a half to three and a half kilograms.

An increase in growth affects the child’s appetite and the amount of food eaten, because such transformations require an increased flow of energy and building materials.

Such changes can appear earlier, at about nine years of age in girls who develop earlier than their peers.
Subsequently, the size of the pelvis and hips increases, which refers to the formation of secondary sexual characteristics. It happens that such changes occur at the age of nine years.
Further changes in the girl’s body are manifested in the enlargement of the mammary glands. First of all, the nipple and areola around the nipple are enlarged. After six months to a year, the mammary glands become like small cones. At this time, it is not recommended to use a bra, which can stop the formation of mammary glands.
Approximately, around the beginning of the first menstruation, the entire mammary gland increases in size and becomes round in shape, like the mammary glands of adult women. This usually occurs during the first period. It is at this time that it is worth putting on the first bras, which will facilitate the girl’s movement.
At the age of twelve to thirteen, the formation of secondary sexual characteristics continues: hair grows in the pubic area and a waist is formed, characteristic of the structure of the female body. Primary sexual characteristics also develop - an increase in the external genitalia (labia minora and majora) occurs.
Various skin changes occur due to the activation of sebum secretion. Such “innovations” are due to the process of hormonal and physical changes in the girl’s body. An increase in the amount of sebum provokes the appearance of red pimples on a girl’s skin and blackheads, and also causes increased oiliness in the hair.

Such changes do not at all please older girls, who are very worried about the deterioration in appearance that has occurred. Parents need to consult with hairdressers and cosmetologists about purchasing special shampoos and cosmetics for the skin, with the help of which they can maintain good condition of the skin of the body and hair, as well as maintain the external attractiveness of the girl. It would be a good idea to undergo special skin cleansing cosmetic procedures in a cosmetologist’s office. In addition, an older girl must be taught the rules of careful personal hygiene so as not to provoke deterioration of the condition of her skin and hair.

The appearance of the first menstruation, called menarche. This fact means that the girl is already sexually mature, that is, capable of reproductive function. At first - for two years - the menstrual cycle is most often unsteady. This is manifested in an unknown rhythm of bleeding, as well as in its strength and duration. After menstruation becomes cyclical, we can say that the girl is ready to conceive and give birth to a child (but only from a physiological point of view, and not psychological and social).

As noted above, in the first two years, menstruation in girls has an undefined cycle, that is, deviations of a different nature appear. These features are not a violation of the girl’s normal development, but are considered fluctuations that do not go beyond the normal physiological stages of puberty. First of all, this concerns irregularities in the regularity of the menstrual cycle, which has two phases. During the period when menstrual bleeding has just begun, the primary eggs may not mature to the end, and therefore the separation of mature eggs from the ovaries does not occur. In this case, the formation of the corpus luteum either does not occur at all, or is underdeveloped, which does not stimulate the production of increased levels of progesterone in the girl’s blood.

The first phase of the menstrual cycle leads to increased growth of the uterine mucosa (endometrium), which occurs under the influence of estrogens. This provokes the appearance of uncomfortable and prolonged uterine bleeding, called juvenile. Approximately five to ten percent of girls experience similar manifestations.

Sometimes, periods may not occur every month, but at intervals of two to three months. Other disturbances in the cyclicity of menstruation may also occur, but such deviations, as already mentioned, disappear after a couple of years.

It is very important to prepare the girl for periodic bleeding before her period appears. It is necessary to tell the girl about hormonal changes in her body, that her body is already ready for reproductive functions. Such a conversation can be conducted by the girl’s mother and/or gynecologist. It is worth preparing the girl to accept the fact that menstruation is a common occurrence in a woman’s life. But if the bleeding is accompanied by pain and other unpleasant sensations that can disturb the girl and cause her inconvenience, you should definitely consult with a gynecologist.

It is also necessary to have a conversation with the girl about the dangers of early sexual activity and possible pregnancy in this case, which leads to tragic consequences at this age.

Since the onset of menstruation, a girl’s height does not increase at an accelerated pace. At this age, on average, by the age of thirteen, the growth rate is reduced to one and a half to two and a half centimeters per year.
At the age of fourteen to sixteen, a girl’s figure begins to take on feminine contours - in addition to the already grown breasts and thinning waist, the hips begin to round, the pelvis begins to grow, the shape of the legs changes, and so on. Hair appears in the armpit area. Menstruation becomes rhythmic. The development of the skeletal system and bone growth stops.

To maintain a girl's hygiene, it is necessary to teach her how to use a razor for women to shave hair in the armpit area. Pubic hair should not be removed, since at this age it is not at all necessary.

Early puberty in girls

Early sexual development is considered to be the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics and the appearance of menstruation (in some cases) in girls around ten years of age. Such manifestations in development, which are slightly ahead of the norm, are not considered a deviation or violation. Therefore, we can say that for some girls a slight advance in development is a variant of the norm. Such developmental features are observed in accelerated girls, who differ from their peers in early physical, sexual, psychological and emotional development.

Early puberty in girls should not worry parents. But in these cases, it is recommended to conduct special conversations that can explain to the girl the changes in her own body and teach her personal hygiene skills.

Premature puberty in girls

Precocious puberty is characterized by the appearance of a full set of secondary sexual characteristics (or some of them) in girls under eight years of age. Sometimes at this age the appearance of menarche - the first menstruation - is observed. There are several forms of premature puberty in girls:

True premature sexual development. This form of premature development is considered cerebral, that is, arising due to processes occurring in the brain. The early onset of puberty is caused by the early onset of activity of the hypothalamus or adenohypophysis, which are responsible for reproductive functions. The activity of these glands stimulates the production of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

Activation of LH leads to the production of estrogen in the girl’s body, which leads to changes in her body due to puberty. The activity of FSH leads to the onset of growth and maturation of follicles in the ovaries.

True premature puberty has a number of features:

isosexual in nature, that is, correlated with the female sex genetically and by gonadal characteristics;
complete in its manifestations, that is, it is characterized by the presence of thelarche (growth of the mammary glands), adrenarche (appearance of pubic and axillary hair) and an acceleration in the rate of body growth.
completed, that is, characterized by the premature appearance of menarche.

The causes of the cerebral form of true precocious puberty can be infections that were suffered by a girl under the age of one year. Such manifestations are also caused by organic damage to the brain, which puts pressure on the hypothalamus, as well as certain problems that arose during maternal pregnancy.

There is not only a cerebral form of true precocious puberty, but also a constitutional form. The latter form of deviation in puberty is more rare and is hereditary.

False precocious puberty

This type of premature maturation occurs due to the increased secretion of estrogens in the adrenal glands or ovaries. The use of drugs containing estrogens or gonadotropic hormones in the treatment of girls also provokes the appearance of false puberty.

The false type of premature development is characterized, like the true one, by the accelerated rate of growth of the girl. But false development is always incomplete, which is manifested in the absence of premature menarche. Also, false development can occur in both isosexual and heterosexual types.

Characteristics of the false isosexual type of development (female type):

fast growth rate;
mammary glands enlarge;
hair growth occurs in the pubis, groin areas and armpits.

Characteristics of the false heterosexual type of development (male type):

up to the age of eight, the clitoris enlarges, which begins to resemble the shape of a penis;
hair shafts appear in the area of the upper lip and chin;
bones grow faster than in girls developing according to the isosexual type;
the fat layer is distributed according to the male type.

It should be noted that the heterosexual type of development is quite rare and is caused by hormonal disorders in the body of girls who were administered androgen hormone drugs. If a timely visit to specialists occurs, deviations in the girl’s development can be reversed into a feminine direction. The use of the correct treatment method, which is carried out over a long period of time, can completely restore the correct sexual development of the girl. The mammary glands will form in due time, the menstrual cycle will be established on time. In the future, the reproductive functions of the cured girl will be preserved, she will be able to conceive and bear a child well, and also give birth normally. If treatment is neglected, then female-type development in such girls will not occur at all.

Incomplete precocious sexual development

This type of premature puberty is caused by the appearance of an excess of gonadotropic hormones in the girl’s body. A strong increase in estrogen can also lead to similar deviations in sexual development.

Characteristics of incomplete precocious puberty:

not accompanied by accelerated growth rates;
only the mammary glands are formed, without the appearance of other secondary sexual characteristics;
Only hair growth appears in the groin, pubic and armpit areas without the formation of other secondary sexual characteristics.

Diseases of various types that provoke the appearance of premature sexual development. Such diseases include:

the occurrence of follicular ovarian cysts,
presence of ovarian tumors,
the appearance of primary hypothyroidism,
McCune-Albright syndrome,
Russell-Silver syndrome.

Such diseases are characterized by the appearance of bloody discharge that resembles menstrual bleeding. But secondary sexual characteristics do not develop.

Movies about girls' puberty

It is recommended to watch films about girls’ puberty together with their mother or another adult woman who can explain to the girl any incomprehensible or confusing moments. Parents are recommended to watch the film themselves before watching it together with their child to make sure it is beneficial and does not contain footage or information that, in the opinion of mom or dad, is premature for their daughter. You should start watching such films at the age when the first signs of puberty appear in a girl, as well as when she develops an interest in such issues.

Films about girls' puberty are represented by the following documentaries and cartoons:

A film about the formation and protection of the reproductive functions of girls “When a girl grows up...”, which won the main prize in the “Applied Animation” category at the Open Suzdal Festival in the city of Suzdal in 2003. The film was created with the support of the Russian Ministry of Health and the pharmaceutical company Gedeon-Richter.
Documentary "Girl Power" from the Discovery Channel.
Documentary film produced in Great Britain in 1998 “The Human Body. Puberty."
Documentary film created in 2008, “About Sex - Puberty.”