Breast Cancer - Diagnostic Studies And Procedures

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women, and second only to lung cancer in female cancer mortality. Presently, about one in nine American women develops this disease at some time in her life, compared to one in 17 in 1950. Experts are uncertain whether this represents a true rise in the incidence of breast cancer or improved detection of it due to mam mography and better public awareness. The risk of breast cancer increases with age, especially after menopause. Risk is also higher among women who had their first child after age 30 or never had children; already have had cancer in one breast, had an early first menstrual period or a late menopause; or have a close relative, such as a sister or mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer before menopause.Some studies have linked a high-fat diet to an increased risk of breast cancer, but others have shown otherwise. Cancer specialists emphasize that about 70 percent of all cases of breast cancer arise in women with none of the above risk factors. In rare instances, men also develop breast cancer, accounting for less than five percent of occurrences.Diagnostic Studies And ProceduresEarly detection is the single most important factor in surviving breast cancer, because early, localized malignancies are more than 90 percent curable. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that all women age 20 or older perform a monthly self examination of their breasts . Although more than 80 percent of the lumps found by women during self examination are benign, women initially discover more than 85 percent of all breast cancers. Breast examination by a physician is recommended every three years between the ages of 20 and 40 and annually thereafter. The age at which a woman should begin regular screening with mammography remains controversial. Present guidelines from the National Cancer Institute recommend starting annual mammography at age 50, but many cancer experts advocate beginning at age 40. There is no doubt, however, that mammography is the most effective means of early breast cancer detection in women over 50 because it can locate suspicious areas of calcification, a common sign of cancer, long before a tumor is large enough to be felt by a woman or her doctors. Mammography is not as effective in younger women because they have denser, lumpier breasts, making it harder to discern normal from abnormal tissue. Mammography should be scheduled for the week after menstruation, when breasts are unlikely to be swollen and painful. To help assure an accurate mammogram and avoid repeats, no deodorant, powder, cream, or other substance should be applied to breasts or the underarm area that day because they can cause misleading results.If any suspicious areas are found by mammography or physical examination, a biopsy is necessary to rule out cancer. In most cases, a doctor will attempt to obtain a tissue sample by aspiration, a procedure in which a hollow needle is inserted into the lump. If fluid can be withdrawn, it will be analyzed for malignant cells, but such lumps, especially those that disappear after aspiration, are usually harmless cysts. If a lump returns rapidly, no fluid can be withdrawn, or malignant cells are detected in the fluid, another biopsy is necessary. Again, this may be done by needle. With a new procedure called stereotaxic needle aspiration, a special X-ray scanning technique is used during aspiration to locate suspicious areas too small to be felt. In some cases, a surgical biopsy is necessary. This may be excisional, in which the entire mass is removed, or incisional, in which only part of the lump is taken out. A pathologist will then determine whether the tissue is cancerous, and if so, what kind of cancer it is. Cells from a cancerous lump will also be tested to determine if they are stimulated by estrogen or proges terone, a finding that may influence the choice of anticancer drugs. If breast cancer is diagnosed, additional tests are needed to find out if it has metastasized to other parts of the body. These may include a bone scan, X-rays, and sampling of lymph nodes.

Breast cancer is a disease that can send chills up a womans spine, but men are not totally immune from it. Between the chest wall and skin lies a collection of fatty tissues and glands which compose the breast. After the birth of a baby, these glands in a womans breast produce milk to nourish the infant. Each milk gland is composed of 1520 lobes. The milk is transferred to the nipple through tubes, called ducts. As the breast fills with milk, both the ducts and glands enlarge. The size and shape of the breast is primarily determined by fatty tissue. Occasionally tumors may form in the breast and should be checked to see if they are cancerous. A malignant tumor (cancerous) is composed of an outofcontrol growth of abnormal cells. A benign (noncancerous) tumor is not capable of spreading through the body. A tumor diagnosed as malignant is cancerous and capable of spreading throughout the body. When a patient is given a diagnosis of breast cancer, it means a malignant tumor has been found. The first place cancer cells are found in the breast is in the glands or ducts; however, they have been known to develop in other areas as well. Cancer of the breast is the most common cancer diagnosis for women of North America and Europe. 200,000+ cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year. The most deadly form of cancer for American women is lung cancer, with breast cancer running a close second. Though dangerous, breast cancer does not have to be deadly. A woman has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer; however she also has a 1 in 28 chance of dying from it. The largest risk for a woman to develop breast cancer is her age. Older women have a greater chance of developing breast cancer than younger women. Having her first menstrual period at a younger than normal age can influence a womans risk. Additional factors affecting a woman include: a history of breast cancer in her family, how old she was at the time of her first pregnancy and the possibility of mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. If a woman knows breast cancer is in her lineage, she is advised to undergo genetic testing as 310% of breast cancers are related to gene mutations. A woman can reduce her chance of developing breast cancer by limiting her consumption of alcohol to no more than five drinks per week, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight. It is also believed a woman may lower her risk of breast cancer if she has her first child prior to age 30, breastfeeds the infant and when she reaches menopause, avoids the use of longterm hormone replacement. One final note, a woman at high risk of breast cancer should discuss the drug Tamoxifen with her doctor. Women who use this drug over a period of five years have been shown to reduce their risk of developing a tumor by 50%. A woman is offered a greater chance to survive breast cancer with early detection. Incorporating selfexams, clinical exams and mammograms into her healthcare routine increases a womans chances for early detection. {{{Between the ages of 2039, a woman should undergo a clinical exam every three years. | A woman between the ages of 20 and 39 is advised to undergo a clinical exam once every three years. | A clinical exam should be part of a womans health care every three years between the ages of 20 and 39. | Between the ages of 2039, women are advised to have a clinical exam once every three years Check out ecanceranswer.net for all lots of Cancer information from Cancer Symptoms to Cancer Risks and Cancer Detection.

When compared to other migraines, menstrual migraines last longer, are more severe, occur more often with nausea and vomiting and are more difficult to treat. Read on to know what should be done to alleviate the pain if you experience menstrual migraines.

A migraine attack can occur once in a month, once a week or even once every day and hence it is episodic. It occurs in the brain and nerves and so is neurological and therefore, migraine is defined as an episodic neurological disorder.The migraine attack may occur for the first time for boys at about 10 years of age and for girls, the peak age for experiencing a migraine is near 14 years, during their first menstrual period. So, it is sensible to conclude that migraines may be hormonally related and is often referred to as a menstrual migraine.When compared to other migraines, menstrual migraines last longer, are more severe, occur more often with nausea and vomiting and are more difficult to treat. Migraines are related to changes in the level of estrogen during a woman’s menstrual cycle, which drops immediately before the start of menstrual flow.Premenstrual migraines regularly occur during or after the time when the female hormones estrogen and progesterone decrease to their lowest levels. But generally, migraine attacks disappear during pregnancy. Women who undergo hormone replacement therapy for menopause and those who take birth control pills experience change in the frequency or severity of migraine headaches.Strictly, a menstrual migraine is the one, which starts from two days before to three days after the first day of period and occurs around most of the periods. There are two types of migraine; pure m

enstrual migraine is the one, which occurs only around periods and not at other times and menstrual associated migraine is the other that occurs around the periods and at other times too.Migraines become more frequent while a woman approaches the menopause, since the level of estrogen tends to fluctuate at this stage. However, once past the menopause, the number of migraines tends to reduce. A migraine diary maintained for three months or so helps to see the pattern of migraines and confirm it as a menstrual migraine.For women, who have a severe menstrual migraine, it is better to prevent them before the attack -at least to make it less frequent and less severe. It is good to maintain a dairy to compare before and after treatment. Once the migraine attack takes place, the treatment for it is the same as for other causes of migraine, such as anti-inflammatory painkillers and taking estrogen supplements. Anti inflammatory painkillers can be used to treat migraine attacks and a short course can be used to treat as soon as the period starts, until the end of the menstrual period. But people who have duodenal ulcer or asthma cannot take such medications. A few days use of anti-inflammatory pill will have no side effects. Another option for treatment of menstrual migraine is to enhance the level of estrogen just before and during the periods, which is like hormone replacement therapy just for seven days each month.

Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/

Did You Know This About Breast Cancer?
by Robert Bell

Breast cancer is a disease that can send chills up a womans spine, but men are not totally immune from it. Between the chest wall and skin lies a collection of fatty tissues and glands which compose the breast. Inside a womans breast, these glands produce milk after the birth of a baby. 1520 lobes compose each gland. Tubes (also known as ducts) transfer milk from the glands to the nipple. The size of the ducts and glands enlarge as the breast fills with milk. The size and shape of the breast is primarily determined by fatty tissue. Tumors, which can sometimes grow in the breast, have the potential of being cancerous.

A collection of cells prone to abnormal growth tendencies, creating an out of control population comprise a tumor. A benign (noncancerous) tumor is not capable of spreading through the body. A tumor diagnosed as malignant is cancerous and capable of spreading throughout the body. When a malignant tumor is discovered in the breast, the patient is told she has breast cancer. The first place cancer cells are found in the breast is in the glands or ducts; however, they have been known to develop in other areas as well. European and North American women receive a diagnosis of breast cancer more than any other form of cancer. Each year, more than 200,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed. Though second in death rates among American women (lung cancer being first), a diagnosis of breast cancer is still very dangerous.

A diagnosis of breast cancer does not necessarily mean a woman will die from the disease. Women have a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer, but a 1 in 28 chance of dying from it. A womans great risk factor for breast cancer is her age. Women who are older have a higher risk for breast cancer. Having her first menstrual period at a younger than normal age can influence a womans risk. Other factors also figure in, such as her age at the time of her first pregnancy; a history of breast cancer in her family and BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations Gene mutations can be tied to 310% of breast cancers, so a woman with breast cancer in her family lineage should undergo genetic testing as a precaution. A woman can reduce her chance of developing breast cancer by limiting her consumption of alcohol to no more than five drinks per week, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight. It is believed a woman can also lower her risks if she bears her first child before the age of 30, breastfeeds the baby and avoids longterm hormone replacement. One final note, a woman at high risk of breast cancer should discuss the drug Tamoxifen with her doctor. The use of this drug for five years has shown to help a woman reduce her risk of developing a tumor by 50%.

With early detection, a woman stands a greater chance of surviving and curing breast cancer. Incorporating selfexams, clinical exams and mammograms into her healthcare routine increases a womans chances for early detection. {{{Between the ages of 2039, a woman should undergo a clinical exam every three years. | A woman between the ages of 20 and 39 is advised to undergo a clinical exam once every three years. | A clinical exam should be part of a womans health care every three years between the ages of 20 and 39. | Between the ages of 2039, women are advised to have a clinical exam once every three years

When compared to other migraines, menstrual migraines last longer, are more severe, occur more often with nausea and vomiting and are more difficult to treat. Read on to know what should be done to alleviate the pain if you experience menstrual migraines.

A migraine attack can occur once in a month, once a week or even once every day and hence it is episodic. It occurs in the brain and nerves and so is neurological and therefore, migraine is defined as an episodic neurological disorder.The migraine attack may occur for the first time for boys at about 10 years of age and for girls, the peak age for experiencing a migraine is near 14 years, during their first menstrual period. So, it is sensible to conclude that migraines may be hormonally related and is often referred to as a menstrual migraine.When compared to other migraines, menstrual migraines last longer, are more severe, occur more often with nausea and vomiting and are more difficult to treat. Migraines are related to changes in the level of estrogen during a woman’s menstrual cycle, which drops immediately before the start of menstrual flow.Premenstrual migraines regularly occur during or after the time when the female hormones estrogen and progesterone decrease to their lowest levels. But generally, migraine attacks disappear during pregnancy. Women who undergo hormone replacement therapy for menopause and those who take birth control pills experience change in the frequency or severity of migraine headaches.Strictly, a menstrual migraine is the one, which starts from two days before to three days after the first day of period and occurs around most of the periods. There are two types of migraine; pure m

enstrual migraine is the one, which occurs only around periods and not at other times and menstrual associated migraine is the other that occurs around the periods and at other times too.Migraines become more frequent while a woman approaches the menopause, since the level of estrogen tends to fluctuate at this stage. However, once past the menopause, the number of migraines tends to reduce. A migraine diary maintained for three months or so helps to see the pattern of migraines and confirm it as a menstrual migraine.For women, who have a severe menstrual migraine, it is better to prevent them before the attack -at least to make it less frequent and less severe. It is good to maintain a dairy to compare before and after treatment. Once the migraine attack takes place, the treatment for it is the same as for other causes of migraine, such as anti-inflammatory painkillers and taking estrogen supplements. Anti inflammatory painkillers can be used to treat migraine attacks and a short course can be used to treat as soon as the period starts, until the end of the menstrual period. But people who have duodenal ulcer or asthma cannot take such medications. A few days use of anti-inflammatory pill will have no side effects. Another option for treatment of menstrual migraine is to enhance the level of estrogen just before and during the periods, which is like hormone replacement therapy just for seven days each month.

Article Source: http://www.BestToRead.com/

This is a true story about a woman who endured 20 years of terrible menstrual periods. She had painful cramps, PMS symptoms like mood swings, anxiety, and the resulting disruption they caused in her life.This story is also about the various treatments she tried and how she discovered a new birth control pill called Lybrel that suspends menstrual periods indefinitely.(Women readers: Cheryl’s story might seem familiar if you have ever suffered from severe PMS or cramps and wished there was a way to get rid of them. Men: pass this article on to the women in your life – girlfriend, wife, daughters – they all need to know.)Cheryl’s StoryFrom the day of her first menstrual period at age 13, Cheryl experienced debilitating cramps with every monthly cycle. The first 3 or 4 days of her period would see her doubled over in bed, unable to sleep, eat or even move. She stopped swimming, quit the gymnastics team and started getting poorer grades because she missed so many classes.Her family doctor prescribed Midol. When that didn’t work, the strongest medication he could offer was ibuprofen / Advil. But the sheer amount of the drug Cheryl had to take just to control her pain eventually began irritating her gastro-intestinal system. Her mother feared she would get an ulcer, but there didn’t seem to be any other choice.By 17, Cheryl was dating and had met a wonderful guy that her family and friends all loved. Imagine the luck… her first serious boyfriend and it looked like he was a keeper! Cheryl had never been so happy.She went on the birth control pill and was hoping some of the positive side effects she’d been told about, like less painful cramps, would result. But the cramps arrived on schedule with her periods. And her emotions went on a wild roller coaster ride that she didn’t understand.Naming The Culprit: PMSCheryl’s moods were unpredictable: one day up, the next down. One moment happy, the next in tears. Her boyfriend was patient but after a few years, the relationship broke down because of her unexplained mood swings. Cheryl was destroyed.When she was in her 20s, Cheryl learned about PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a more severe form of PMS). She learned that hormonal changes before a woman’s period can lead to mood instability, which explained her crazy emotional swings. At least now she knew that PMS was the culprit that had wreaked havoc with her life ever since puberty.Then her friend’s older sister told her about Depo Provera.”It’s incredible, Cher… one injection every 3 months and you get not only birth control just as good as the pill but most girls’ periods stop completely. I haven’t had one in 18 months,” she raved. “And without a period, you don’t get PMS!”So Cheryl went back to the doctor and got her first Depo shot. As her periods stopped, so did the cramps and her emotional ups and downs. She was elated. Until she started gaining weight. And started feeling depressed for no reason.After two years on Depo Provera, she was diagnosed with depression, possibly triggered or aggravated by the Depo (a fairly common side effect). She stopped the injections and returned to her painful, unhappy periods.And that’s when the nurse at the Women’s Clinic dropped a bombshell on her.”Cheryl”, the nurse said, “your cramps and PMS are so severe, they seem to be controlling your life. Did you know that women like you don’t have to go through this every month? That there’s a way to limit the number of periods you have… or you can stop them completely, without Depo Provera injections?” Cheryl was floored. “No! Tell me more!”The nurse told her about Lybrel, a new type of birth control pill. Lybrel actually stops women’s menstrual periods completely. It’s especially helpful for women like Cheryl whose PMS is severe and whose menstrual periods are painful, irregular or difficult. Plus the nurse said Lybrel works just as well as traditional birth control pills to prevent pregnancy.How Lybrel WorksLybrel contains the hormones ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, common ingredients in other birth control pills. Only instead of taking 21 pills and stopping for 7 days to have a period, as you would with regular birth control pills, you take Lybrel every day without a break, meaning most women don’t get a period at all or just experience minor spotting or breakthrough bleeding.”But if it’s just a glorified birth control pill, how come nobody told me about it before?” Cheryl asked. “I’ve been suffering for 20 years and now I find out it’s as simple as tweaking my hormone levels???”In fact, women in the know have been controlling or ending their menstrual periods with birth control pills for many years. Doctors who are familiar with the method have been advising them on how to do it.But there is still a misconception in some circles that having a period each month is necessary, and that skipping your period is somehow wrong or unhealthy.The nurse gave Cheryl three different contraceptive options as treatment for her PMS, cramps, and unpleasant menstrual periods:Yasmin: (aka Yaz) Yasmin is a 21-day on, 7-day off birth control pill. It’s the first birth control pill approved to treat the physical and emotional symptoms of PMDD. Yasmin, in most women, results in shorter, lighter periods (3 days or less), reduced cramps and a more regular cycle — great advantages for women like Cheryl who suffer from heavy, painful menstrual periods.Lybrel: The newest birth control pill on the market (approved by the FDA in May 2007), Lybrel is also the first birth control pill meant for continuous use, although other birth control pills have been prescribed off-label to be used this way. In one test, nearly 60% of the women taking Lybrel had no bleeding or spotting at all by the 12th month of taking it.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women, and second only to lung cancer in female cancer mortality. Presently, about one in nine American women develops this disease at some time in her life, compared to one in 17 in 1950. Experts are uncertain whether this represents a true rise in the incidence of breast cancer or improved detection of it due to mam mography and better public awareness. The risk of breast cancer increases with age, especially after menopause. Risk is also higher among women who had their first child after age 30 or never had children; already have had cancer in one breast, had an early first menstrual period or a late menopause; or have a close relative, such as a sister or mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer before menopause.Some studies have linked a high-fat diet to an increased risk of breast cancer, but others have shown otherwise. Cancer specialists emphasize that about 70 percent of all cases of breast cancer arise in women with none of the above risk factors. In rare instances, men also develop breast cancer, accounting for less than five percent of occurrences.

Diagnostic Studies And Procedures

Early detection is the single most important factor in surviving breast cancer, because early, localized malignancies are more than 90 percent curable. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that all women age 20 or older perform a monthly self examination of their breasts . Although more than 80 percent of the lumps found by women during self examination are benign, women initially discover more than 85 percent of all breast cancers. Breast examination by a physician is recommended every three years between the ages of 20 and 40 and annually thereafter. The age at which a woman should begin regular screening with mammography remains controversial. Present guidelines from the National Cancer Institute recommend starting annual mammography at age 50, but many cancer experts advocate beginning at age 40. There is no doubt, however, that mammography is the most effective means of early breast cancer detection in women over 50 because it can locate suspicious areas of calcification, a common sign of cancer, long before a tumor is large enough to be felt by a woman or her doctors. Mammography is not as effective in younger women because they have denser, lumpier breasts, making it harder to discern normal from abnormal tissue. Mammography should be scheduled for the week after menstruation, when breasts are unlikely to be swollen and painful. To help assure an accurate mammogram and avoid repeats, no deodorant, powder, cream, or other substance should be applied to breasts or the underarm area that day because they can cause misleading results.

If any suspicious areas are found by mammography or physical examination, a biopsy is necessary to rule out cancer. In most cases, a doctor will attempt to obtain a tissue sample by aspiration, a procedure in which a hollow needle is inserted into the lump. If fluid can be withdrawn, it will be analyzed for malignant cells, but such lumps, especially those that disappear after aspiration, are usually harmless cysts. If a lump returns rapidly, no fluid can be withdrawn, or malignant cells are detected in the fluid, another biopsy is necessary. Again, this may be done by needle. With a new procedure called stereotaxic needle aspiration, a special X-ray scanning technique is used during aspiration to locate suspicious areas too small to be felt. In some cases, a surgical biopsy is necessary. This may be excisional, in which the entire mass is removed, or incisional, in which only part of the lump is taken out. A pathologist will then determine whether the tissue is cancerous, and if so, what kind of cancer it is. Cells from a cancerous lump will also be tested to determine if they are stimulated by estrogen or proges terone, a finding that may influence the choice of anticancer drugs. If breast cancer is diagnosed, additional tests are needed to find out if it has metastasized to other parts of the body. These may include a bone scan, X-rays, and sampling of lymph nodes.

Menstruation (a period) is a major stage of puberty in girls; it’s one of the many physical signs that a girl is turning into a woman. And like a lot of the other changes associated with puberty, menstruation can be confusing. Some girls can’t wait to start their periods, whereas others may feel afraid or anxious. Many girls (and guys!) don’t have a complete understanding of a woman’s reproductive system or what actually happens during the menstrual cycle, making the process seem even more mysterious.

Puberty and Periods

When girls begin to go through puberty (usually starting between the ages of 8 and 13), their bodies and minds change in many ways. The hormones in their bodies stimulate new physical development, such as growth and breast development. About 2 to 2½ years after a girl’s breasts begin to develop, she usually gets her first menstrual period.

About 6 months or so before getting her first period, a girl might notice an increased amount of clear vaginal discharge. This discharge is common. There’s no need for a girl to worry about discharge unless it has a strong odor or causes itchiness.

The start of periods is known as document.write(defmenarche166)menarche. Menarche doesn’t happen until all the parts of a girl’s reproductive system have matured and are working together.

Baby girls are born with ovaries, fallopian tubes, and a uterus. The two ovaries are oval-shaped and sit on either side of the uterus (womb) in the lowest part of the abdomen called the pelvis. They contain thousands of eggs, or ova. The two fallopian tubes are long and thin. Each fallopian tube stretches from an ovary to the uterus, a pear-shaped organ that sits in the middle of the pelvis. The muscles in a female’s uterus are powerful and are able to expand to allow the uterus to accommodate a growing fetus and then help push the baby out during labor.

As a girl matures and enters puberty, the pituitary gland releases hormones that stimulate the ovaries to produce other hormones called estrogen and progesterone. These hormones have many effects on a girl’s body, including physical maturation, growth, and emotions.

About once a month, a tiny egg leaves one of the ovaries %26mdash; a process called ovulation %26mdash; and travels down one of the fallopian tubes toward the uterus. In the days before ovulation, the hormone estrogen stimulates the uterus to build up its lining with extra blood and tissue, making the walls of the uterus thick and cushioned. This happens to prepare the uterus for pregnancy: If the egg is fertilized by a sperm cell, it travels to the uterus and attaches to the cushiony wall of the uterus, where it slowly develops into a baby.

If the egg isn’t fertilized, though %26mdash; which is the case during most of a woman’s monthly cycles %26mdash; it doesn’t attach to the wall of the uterus. When this happens, the uterus sheds the extra tissue lining. The blood, tissue, and unfertilized egg leave the uterus, going through the vagina on the way out of the body. This is a menstrual period. This cycle happens almost every month for several more decades (except, of course, when a female is pregnant) until a woman reaches menopause and no longer releases eggs from her ovaries.

How Often Does a Girl Get Her Period?

Just as some girls begin puberty earlier or later than others, the same applies to periods. Some girls may start menstruating as early as age 10, but others may not get their first period until they are 15 years old.

The amount of time between a girl’s periods is called her menstrual cycle (the cycle is counted from the start of one period to the start of the next). Some girls will find that their menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, whereas others might have a 24-day cycle, a 30-day cycle, or even longer. Following menarche, menstrual cycles last 21%26ndash;45 days. After a couple of years, cycles shorten to an adult length of 21%26ndash;34 days.

Irregular periods are common in girls who are just beginning to menstruate. It may take the body a while to sort out all the changes going on, so a girl may have a 28-day cycle for 2 months, then miss a month, for example. Usually, after a year or two, the menstrual cycle will become more regular. Some women continue to have irregular periods into adulthood, though.

As a girl gets older and her periods settle down %26mdash; or she gets more used to her own unique cycle %26mdash; she will probably find that she can predict when her period will come. In the meantime, it’s a good idea to keep track of your menstrual cycle with a calendar.

How Long and How Much?

The amount of time that a girl has her period also can vary. Some girls have periods that last just 2 or 3 days. Other girls may have periods that last 7 days or longer. The menstrual flow %26mdash; meaning how much blood comes out of the vagina %26mdash; can vary widely from girl to girl, too.

Some girls may be concerned that they’re losing too much blood. It can be a shock to see all that blood, but it’s unlikely that a girl will lose too much, unless she has a medical condition like von Willebrand disease. Though it may look like a lot, the average amount of blood is only about 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) for an entire period. Most teens will change pads 3 to 6 times a day, with more frequent changes when their period is heaviest, usually at the start of the period.

Especially when menstrual periods are new, you may be worried about your blood flow or whether your period is normal in other ways. Talk to a doctor or nurse if:

your period lasts longer than a week

you have to change your pad very often (soaking more than one pad every 1%26ndash;2 hours)

you go longer than 3 months between periods

you have bleeding in between periods

you have an unusual amount of pain before or during your period

your periods were regular then became irregular

Cramps, PMS, and Pimples

Some girls may notice physical or emotional changes around the time of their periods. Menstrual cramps are pretty common %26mdash; in fact, more than half of all women who menstruate say they have cramps during the first few days of their periods. Doctors think that cramps are caused by prostaglandin, a chemical that causes the muscles of the uterus to contract.

Depending on the girl, menstrual cramps can be dull and achy or sharp and intense, and they can sometimes be felt in the back as well as the abdomen. These cramps often become less uncomfortable and sometimes even disappear completely as a girl gets older.

Many girls and women find that over-the-counter pain medications (like acetaminophen or ibuprofen) can relieve cramps, as can taking a warm bath or applying a warm heating pad to the lower abdomen. Exercising regularly throughout the monthly cycle may help lessen cramps, too. If these things don’t help, ask your doctor for advice.

Some girls and women find that they feel sad or easily irritated during the few days or week before their periods. Others may get angry more quickly than normal or cry more than usual. Some girls crave certain foods. These types of emotional changes may be the result of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

PMS is related to changes in the body’s hormones. As hormone levels rise and fall during a woman’s menstrual cycle, they can affect the way she feels, both emotionally and physically. Some girls, in addition to feeling more intense emotions than they usually do, notice physical changes along with their periods %26mdash; some feel bloated or puffy because of water retention, others notice swollen and sore breasts, and some get headaches.

PMS usually goes away soon after a period begins, but it can come back month after month. Eating right, getting enough sleep, and exercising may help relieve some of the symptoms of PMS. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about your premenstrual symptoms.

It’s also not uncommon for girls to have an acne flare-up during certain times of their cycle; again, this is due to hormones. Fortunately, the pimples associated with periods tend to become less of a problem as girls get older.

Pads, Tampons, and Liners

Once you begin menstruating, you’ll need to use something to absorb the blood. Most girls use a pad or a tampon. But some use menstrual cups, which a girl inserts into her vagina to catch and hold the blood (instead of absorbing it, like a tampon).

There are so many products out there that it may take some experimenting before you find the one that works best for you. Some girls use only pads (particularly when they first start menstruating), some use only tampons, and some switch around %26mdash; tampons during the day and pads at night, for example.

Girls who worry about leakage from a tampon often use a pantiliner, too, and some girls use liners alone on very light days of their periods.

Periods shouldn’t get in the way of exercising, having fun, and enjoying life. Girls who are very active, particularly those who enjoy swimming, often find that tampons are the best option during sports.

If you have questions about pads, tampons, or coping with periods, ask a parent, health teacher, school nurse, or older sister.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: May 2007
Originally reviewed by: Neil Izenberg, MD Printer-friendly versionEmail this article to a friendSend email to us

Lots of girls and guys worry about when their bodies will develop. Guys wonder when their voices will get deeper, when they’ll need to shave, or when their penises will grow. Girls want to know when their breasts will develop or when they’ll get their first period. If a friend or a younger brother or sister develops first, they may worry that there’s something wrong with them.

The fact is that physical development starts at different times and progresses at different rates in different people. So, the beginning of the development that comes with puberty varies from person to person - and that’s completely normal.

The earliest physical change of puberty for girls is usually breast development, which most often begins around 10 or 11 years. But it’s perfectly normal for breast development to start anytime between the ages of 8 and 13. A girl’s first menstrual period usually occurs about 2 years after breast development begins.

Boys begin their development on average around age 11 or 12, but it’s also normal to begin anytime between the ages of 9 and 15. Girls and guys who start developing earlier or later than these ranges can still be normal, but they should be checked by their doctor just to be sure.

For both boys and girls, it usually takes several years after the first changes of puberty begin before they’re all complete - and there’s a lot of variation from person to person. So, two normally developing guys or girls who are the same age can appear quite different from each other. One can look older and more physically mature than the other. But the one who started later will catch up in time.

Can I Do Anything to Speed Up Development?

You can’t do anything to make your body develop faster. Of course, you should eat a nutritious diet, exercise, and get enough sleep. But special diets, dietary supplements, or creams won’t do anything to make normal puberty happen quicker.

But some unhealthy things can interfere with development. Steroids, like those used for bodybuilding, can cause problems with growth, shrink testicles (and lead to breast development) in guys and shrink breasts, disrupt menstrual cycles, and cause excessive hair growth in girls. (Steroids can cause other serious health problems, too.) Girls who have eating disorders or who exercise compulsively may delay their development and hurt their health. A number of medical conditions can also delay puberty and development.

If you’re a girl who’s 13 or older or a boy who’s 15 or older and you haven’t shown any signs of puberty (or if you’re younger but are still worried), talk with your doctor. Most of the time everything is just fine, but the doctor can determine if there’s a problem. And if there is a problem, there’s almost always treatment available that will help you develop.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: September 2006 Printer-friendly versionEmail this article to a friendSend email to us