Menarca is the girl’s first menstruation at puberty, usually around 12 years of age, being perceived through symptoms such as light vaginal bleeding, cramps and mood swings, for example.
The menarche marks the beginning of the woman’s reproductive age, and may in some cases appear before 10 years, called early menarche, or after 15 years, known as late menarche.
Also read: Menstruation: what it is, how long it lasts (and common changes)
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It is important to consult the gynecologist when the girl has the menarche, to have adequate guidance, to answer the teenager’s questions and evaluate the general state of health.
Menarche symptoms
The main symptoms of menarche are:
- Light vaginal bleeding;
- Light body swelling;
- Increased breasts and sore or sensitive breasts;
- By pubic;
- Round of hips;
- Swollen or painful belly;
- Back or leg pain.
In addition, mood changes may also emerge, such as sadness or irritation, acne or pimples, for example.
Also read: 12 Symptoms that menstruation is near
tuasaude.com/sintomas-de-menstruacao
How to know when I first menstruate?
The girl may also notice the output of whitish or yellowish secretion of the vagina a few months before the menarche.
How to confirm menarca
The menarche is confirmed by the gynecologist through the evaluation of symptoms and age of the girl, as well as physical examination, observing breast growth, armpits and groin and abdominal swelling.
Make an appointment with the gynecologist in the region closest to you:
In the consultation, the doctor clarifies the girl’s doubts about menstruation, menstrual cycle, ovulation and pregnancy, and may also guide contraceptive methods and prevention of sexually transmitted infections.
Menarche tests
When the girl has the first menstruation before 10 years of age or after 15 years, the doctor may request tests such as LH, estrogen, TSH and T4, bone age, pelvic and adrenal ultrasound.
In some cases, the magnetic resonance imaging of the central nervous system can be requested to verify changes that may be causing the early or late menarche.
How old are the menarche?
The age of the first menstruation is usually between 10 and 15 years old.
However, it can occur before age 10 or after 15 years, as menarche can be influenced by lifestyle, hormonal factors, obesity and menstruation history of women in the same family.
Is it possible to get pregnant with the menarche?
From the descent of first menstruation, the girl can get pregnant.
This is because menstruation goes down about 12 to 16 days after ovulation, when the uterus peeling causes menstrual bleeding.
During ovulation, the egg is released by the ovaries and can be fertilized if the girl has unprotected sexual intercourse, resulting in pregnancy.
Also read: Ovulation calculator: Learn when you are ovulating
tuasaude.com/ovulacao-e-periodo-fertil
Types of menarche
The main types of menarche are:
1. Early menarca
Early menarche is when the girl has the first menstruation before 10 years.
This type of menarche can cause complications in adulthood, such as obesity, insulin resistance or high cholesterol, or increase the risk of breast cancer.
Possible causes: Family history of early puberty, which have eating rich in sugars or suffering from obesity, for example.
Also read: Early puberty: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment
tuasaude.com/puberdade-precoce
2. Late menarche
Late menarche is when the first menstruation comes after 15 years.
Possible causes: Family history of late puberty, hypogonadism, autoimmune diseases or chronic diseases, malnutrition or Klinefelter or Kallmann syndrome, for example.
Also read: Hypogonadism: what it is, main symptoms and treatment
tuasaude.com/hipogonadismo
How long does the first menstruation last?
The first menstruation (menarche) can last about 3 to 8 days, but may vary from girl to girl.
Generally, after the first menstruation, menstrual cycles are more irregular, but over time they become more regular. Understand what menstrual cycle is.
Also read: Irregular menstruation: 10 main causes (and what to do)
tuasaude.com/menstruacao-irregular
How treatment is done
Menarche treatment should be done by the gynecologist, and is usually only indicated in cases of early menarche or late menarche.
In such cases, the doctor may indicate hormone therapy with estrogen in the case of late menarche, or use of hormonal blockers, to delay menstruation in the case of early menarche.
How to relieve symptoms
To relieve the symptoms of menarche, one can:
- Take a warm bath or apply warm compresses on your belly to relieve cramps;
- Practice exercise to relieve anxiety;
- Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and reduce swelling.
In some cases, more intense menstrual cramps, the gynecologist may recommend the use of anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, for example.
Also read: How to massage to relieve menstrual colic
tuasaude.com/massagem-para-colica-menstrual
Source: www.tuasaude.com