A Step into the World of Adults

In every young girl’s life there is a moment after which things will never be the same, the moment that symbolizes the end of childhood – the first period. Apart from the physiological importance of the menarche, the first occurrence of menstruation, it also has a psychological and emotional significance. It is manifested with a mixture of feelings, on the one hand the pride about entering the new age, becoming more mature, and on the other, a subconscious realization that everything changes irrevocably and that the childhood is over. There is also concern about the pain and bleeding.

The first menstruation usually occurs around the age of 12, but it can also appear a year before or 3-4 years later. It depends on the body weight which should be 48 kg (105 lbs.) or more. Body fat percentage is important for normal menstrual cycle. It is also what makes women different from men, and being too skinny can lead to irregular periods and even complete loss of menstruation. On the other hand, obesity and excessive junk food can lead to early menstruation in girls.

Irregular periods are normal during the first two years from the occurrence of menarche, however, they should not be less than 21 days apart and the bleeding should not last longer than 7 days. Following the third year, the periods should be more regular, with 12-13 menstruations in a year. An ideal menstruation occurs every 28 days, however anything from 26 to 32 is considered normal. It can be followed by mild to moderate pain in the lower abdomen, breast pain, PMS, mood swings, headaches… The hormones are doing their work and slowly the ovulation steps in, causing a mild feeling of pressure or pain in the lower abdomen in the middle of the cycle.

Prior to menarche, series of changes begin, marking the beginning of puberty: pubic hair shows up, breasts start to develop, and the hormones cause changes of mood, interests, and the well-known teen rebellion. Being a parent is not easy then, but neither is being a teen girl. Parent support and good preparation for the first menstruation are particularly important for normal psychological development.

If a girl gets her menarche without being given necessary information and advice first, it could cause a mental trauma. The role of an older female is, therefore, very important: mother, elder sister, aunt, teacher… anyone close and trusted by the girl should tell her what to expect and answer all her questions. It is of vital importance to explain the menarche to a girl as something normal and natural, a sign that she is healthy.

But what are the problems that could be expected during the first years from the occurrence of the menarche?

• ·         Moderately painful periods are normal, as no pain means no ovulation. However, dysmenorrhea, very painful periods that can incapacitate a girl, make her skip school or even be unable to walk, hits about a quarter of girls.
• ·         If the bleeding lasts for longer than 7 days and the cycle is shorter than 21 days, it could lead to serious anemia.
• ·         Periods can be irregular during the first two years, which is normal. Irregular bleeding is a consequence of lack of ovulation, as ovaries need time to adapt and harmonize with the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. It is good for a girl to learn to make notes about her periods in a calendar. Should the periods remain irregular after the age of 15, a gynecologist should be consulted.
• ·         Menstruation is normally preceded by mild pain and swelling of the breasts and abdomen. If the pain is too strong, a doctor should be consulted before taking pain relievers.
• ·         As we are witnesses today of increasing numbers of cases of uterine and ovary disorders, general checkups should be introduced from an early age.

• ·         Hormones stimulate sebaceous glands and cause increased sebum secretion, which can lead to acne and skin inflammation. Sweat glands also get more active, and some extra advice is needed on how to do proper hygiene and apply deodorants.
• ·         Puberty is the time when a girl gets excessively conscious about her body, and especially nowadays when she is surrounded with false representations of ‘an ideal body’. It is important to make her understand that starving herself and doing anything drastic to her body in order to make herself ‘fit into the fashion mold’ could lead to series of disorders, including the loss of period and hormone imbalance.

There is natural aid that can be used safely from the very first menstruation – Femisan A. It is a medicinal herb-based preparation without synthetic hormones or additives that can contribute to regular periods, alleviating of pre-menstrual symptoms and period pain. It can also act preventatively by balancing hormones, and warding off disorders caused by hormone imbalance, from acne to ovary and uterine disorders.

Femisan A is the friend every woman needs, from puberty to menopause.

Period pain

We, women are all familiar with the moment when all we want is to curl up, press a cushion or a hot water bottle on our tummy and find occasional comfort in a piece of chocolate. Period pain is normal, and probably most women got more or less accustomed to it. The pain is usually accompanied with cramps, bloating, dizziness, headache, digestion problems, nausea, and mood changes. But why is it so?

Several days before the onset of menstruation we begin to experience mild cramps, which increase on the day of menstruation and continue for the following couple of days. The pain can radiate to the thighs and lower back, while the cramps are the strongest in the lower abdomen. The cramps are caused by prostaglandins, hormones secreted by the endometrium - the uterus lining, with the intention to cause contractions, its shedding and regeneration, which is exactly the purpose of menstruation. The prostaglandins are also the ones to cause birth contractions and help the birth by pushing the baby out of the uterus. During the contractions, the uterine blood supply is cut off, leaving the organ without oxygen. The uterus is a muscle with the ability to contract and relax, and the contraction is experienced as pain.

Unusually strong menstrual cramps and pain can occur in young girls at the beginning of puberty, and when they are not due to other disorder, they are called primary dysmenorrhea. At later age, in mid-thirties, women can experience secondary dysmenorrhea – pain caused by a disorder, such as endometriosis, fibroids or an infection. Endometriosis is a condition that usually affects women in their thirties and forties, and occurs when the endometrial tissue travels into the pelvic area and begins growing on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowel and the tissues lining the pelvis. Unfortunately, this tissue ’remembers’ that it is supposed to peel off once the menstruation begins, causing unbearable pain.

Uterine fibroids can also cause severe period pain, but also excessive bleeding. They are benign tumors which can inhabit and grow inside or on the outside of the uterine wall. Similarly, various infections can intensify period pain, as bacteria can lead to severe inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

How can we relieve period pain?

•         There are indications that women who often drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes suffer from incrased period pain. Alcohol reduces the liver’s capacity to detoxify estrogen and toxins. Therefore, it should be cut down, or even better, cut out completely.
•         Heat can help. A hot water bottle or a blanket wrapped around the waist can cause the muscles to relax, and consequently, the cramps to be less intense.
•         Exercising regularly will generally increase the blood flow, help balance the hormones and the menstrual cycle, and also reduce period pain.
•         A well-balanced diet is important, and it is well known and proven that unhealthy food definitely affects the hormones. Fresh, organic fruit and vegetables, food rich in omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium can relieve menstrual pain. The fact that dark chocolate is rich in magnesium can explain our cravings. 
•        If the pain is unbearable, a doctor can prescribe a pain killer, but it is more important to determine the cause of pain. In case of disorders such as endometriosis or fibroids, it is important to react immediately to prevent them from spreading. 

      Doctors usually prescribe contraceptives in order to regulate the menstrual cycle, which can help while the pill is being taken. However, there is a natural solution that has been helping women since the ancient times: medicinal herbs. Lady’s mantle is famous for relieving pre-menstrual symptoms, painful periods and disorders such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids and infections. It is excellent when combined with yarrow, the famous spasmolytic. The unpleasant bloating before and at the beginning of the period is relieved by marigold, as it can eliminate water retention. Herb Robert can also reduce swelling and soothe the symptoms of PMS, but it also works as a mild sedative. Crane’s bill can reduce excessive bleeding, while golden maca is the mother of all medicinal herbs. Maca fortifies immunity, elevates energy levels and balances hormones, but can also soothe period symptoms, boost fertility and even help at the onset of menopause. If we add zinc to this super-herbal blend, which regulates metabolism, gene activity, normal cell division, boosts immunity, hormone balance and fertility, we get Femisan A plus Maca Capsules. Traditional knowledge is enhanced by modern science in this all-natural herbal preparation designed to help women overcome female disorders.