Menstruation Hygiene FOR Young Girls'

Menstruation is not really something our parents want to discuss with us and even if they do, it is always in whispers so that others don't hear of it, and we hear all kinds of myths about it, while some just see the topic as female related and so shouldn't concern them. These misconceptions are what will be tackled in this short write up, so dear readers fasten your seat belt as we are about to drive into the world of' whispers. Menstruation generally also called period is simply when blood and tissue from your uterus comes out of your vagina. It happens every month.

Facts about menstrual cycle.
Menstrual cycle helps the body prepare for pregnancy every month. It also makes you have a period if you are not pregnant. Menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones like estrogen and progesterone.

How it works;
You have two ovaries and each one holds a bunch of eggs (enough to make one million babies!!!) Eggs are super tiny. During the menstrual cycle hormones make the eggs in the ovaries mature, which means it's ready to be fertilized by a sperm cell. This hormones also make the lining of the uterus thick and spongy. So if your egg does get fertilized, it is an ice crush place to land and start a pregnancy. About half way through your menstrual cycle, your hormones tell one of your ovaries to release a
Mature egg, this is called OVULATION.
Most people don't feel it when they ovulate, but some OVULATION symptoms are bloating, spotting, or a little pain in your lower belly that you may only feel on one side. Once the egg leaves the ovary, it travels through the fallopian tube toward the uterus.
If pregnancy doesn't happen, the body doesn't need the thick lining in the uterus. The lining breaks down and the blood nutrients and tissue flow out of the body through vagina. Voila, it's your period!
If pregnancy is not involved, the body needs the lining- that's why menstrual cycle stops during pregnancy. The first period usually begins between 12-15 years of age, appoint in time called menarche. Though it can start as young as 8 years old. The usual length of time between the first day of one's period and the first day of the next is 21-45 days in young women and 21-31 days in adult. Bleeding last for 2-7days.
Menstruation stops occurring after menopause occurs between 45-55 years of age. Also stops during pregnancy and typically doesn't resume during the initial months of breastfeeding. Signs and symptoms include: acne, tender breast, bloating, feeling tired, irritability and mood changes. A lack of period called AMENORRHEA is when periods don't occur by age 15 years or have not occurred in 40days. Some women experience emotional disturbance stating one or two weeks before their period and
Stop on or after the period has started.

MENSTRUAL CRAMPS
Many women experience painful cramps also called DYSMENORRHEA during MENSTRUATION. Painful menstrual cramps that results from an excess of prostaglandins in release called Primary DYSMENORRHEA.
Primary DYSMENORRHEA usually begins within a year or two of menarche, typically with the onset of OVULATION cycles.
For many women primary DYSMENORRHEA gradually subsides in late 2nd generation. Pregnancy also lessen the severity of DYSMENORRHEA when MENSTRUATION resumes. However it can continue until menopause. 5-15% women experience symptoms severe enough to interfere with daily activities.
Secondary DYSMENORRHEA is the diagnosis given when MENSTRUATION pain is secondary cause to another disorder example certain cancer, pelvic infections, etc

MENSTRUAL HEALTH/HYGIENE
This stage is a very vulnerable stage for every woman and so one cannot afford not to keep a good hygiene. Things to do during MENSTRUATION to keep you healthy include; using a good pad. There are several kinds of sanitary pads in Nigeria and so one has to be careful to choose the right kind. However, you can go for the more affordable ones. Also you need to engage in exercise in which case it even serve as pain reliever to some girls especially when done before menstrual cycle ,you can jug, do some body swings e.t.c
Eat good food containing Iron, Folate and vitamin B-12, you need to know that lots of nutrients are contained in the menses and your body need regain them back.You can do this by eating lots of fruits, balanced diets and drink enough water. Keep your environment clean. Be HEALTHY!!!!

MYTH/MISCONCEPTION ABOUT MENSTRUATION
Nigeria as a case study is a country clothed in superstition, which transcends even the educated individuals, so you must have heard of many myth about Menstruation such as; don't let any boy touch you else you will get pregnant, menstrual cramps happens to virgins alone, for menstrual cramp to end for virgins, one must have sex as sex happens to be the pills to take for relief.
At this point you need to be cleared that these things aren't real. So beautiful ladies, if you want to know anything about your health and Menstruation, please do make use of Google, or read your biology textbook for those in senior secondary while the juniors can read basic science or other rich subjects that talk about health. But remember to stay healthy and happy because it is a beautiful thing to experience.

SELF ESTEEM FOR YOUR HEALTH
Menstruation isn't something you should be afraid of or be sad about, it is part of your experience as a woman and is something you should be proud of, so I will leave you with something to live with. Dr Nathaniel Braden, a Psychotherapist and a writer known for his work in the psychology of self-esteem summed it up well, he said Self-esteem has two interrelated components: One is the sense of basic confidence in the face of life's challenges. Second is a sense of being worthy of happiness: self-respect. Self-esteem is therefore the disposition to believe oneself components to cope with the basic challenges of life and to be worthy of happiness.