Here’s the information, reorganized by headings and simplified for a younger audience:
A Girl’s Monthly Cycle (Menstrual Cycle)
- Girls have a regular, monthly cycle in their body. It’s a natural cycle that gives them a chance to get pregnant.
- This cycle has three main parts:
- Follicular Phase: This part can change in length.
- Ovulatory Phase: This is when an egg is released.
- Luteal Phase: This part always lasts 14 days.
- During this cycle, special helpers called FSH act on the ovary. LH also helps the ovary. Estrogen and progesterone are also important. Progesterone helps the uterus get thick.
When Periods Don’t Come (Amenorrhea)
- Amenorrhea means a lack of periods.
- There are two types:
- Primary Amenorrhea: This means periods haven’t started yet.
- Secondary Amenorrhea: This means someone used to have periods, but they stopped.
- If periods stop, doctors first check for pregnancy.
- Other reasons periods might stop:
- Turner Syndrome: This is a condition where a person might be short and have a webbed neck, and the ovaries might not work well.
- Prolactinoma: This is when too much prolactin (a hormone) is made, which can stop periods and cause milk to come out of the breasts. Medicines can help.
- PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome): This can cause periods to stop, weight gain, and extra hair.
- Hypothyroidism: This is when the thyroid (a part of the body that controls energy) isn’t working well.
- Sometimes, if the vaginal canal is bulging, it could be an imperforate hymen, which means blood can’t come out.
Painful Periods (Dysmenorrhea)
- Dysmenorrhea means pain during menstruation (your period).
- Primary Dysmenorrhea: This is when there’s no known specific reason for the pain.
- Secondary Dysmenorrhea: This is when there’s a specific reason for the pain, like uterine polyps. Medicines can help.
Stopping Periods Forever (Menopause)
- Menopause is when periods stop forever; it’s a normal body change.
- Signs of menopause can include: feeling irritable, having trouble sleeping, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and periods stopping.
- Medicines like topical estrogen can help with vaginal dryness.
- Sometimes, periods stop before a person is 40 years old; this is called premature menopause.
Unusual Bleeding (Abnormal Uterine Bleeding)
- This is when bleeding is not typical.
- Adenomyosis: This is when some tissue from the lining of the uterus grows into the muscle of the uterus, causing pain and heavy bleeding. Surgery might be needed.
- Endometriosis: This is when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing pelvic pain and sometimes growths on the ovaries. Medicines or surgery can help.
PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
- PCOS is a common reason young females might have trouble getting pregnant.
- Signs of PCOS can include: irregular periods, acne, extra hair, and many cysts (small sacs) on the ovaries seen on a sonogram.
- People with PCOS might also be obese, have dark skin patches, and have problems getting pregnant.
- Doctors can manage PCOS with medicines like Metformin or birth control pills (OCPs).
Not Being Able to Get Pregnant (Infertility)
- Infertility means being unable to get pregnant after trying for a long time.
- There are two types:
- Primary Infertility: This means never having been pregnant before.
- Secondary Infertility: This means having been pregnant at least once before but now unable to get pregnant again.
- About 58% of the time, the cause is related to the female’s menstrual cycle. About 25% of the time, it’s related to the male. Sometimes, the cause is unknown.
Vaginal Infections (Vaginitis)
- Vaginitis means the vagina has swelling or infection.
- Case 1: Bacterial Vaginosis
- A female might have a grayish-white discharge and a “fishy” smell.
- Doctors look for “clue cells”.
- Medicines like Metronidazole or clindamycin can help.
- Case 2: Trichomoniasis
- A female might have a yellowish-green, foamy discharge and itchiness, and the cervix might look like a strawberry.
- This can happen if someone has multiple sexual partners.
- Metronidazole can help.
- Case 3: Yeast Infection
- A female might have diabetes, wear tight clothes, or use steroids, and have a white, thick, “curdy” vaginal discharge.
- Fluconazole or Metronidazole can help.
Pelvic Infections (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease – PID)
- PID is when infection goes into the vagina, uterus, fallopian tube, and ovary.
- It can cause pelvic pain, tenderness, throwing up, and vaginal discharge.
- It’s often caused by certain germs. Doctors give strong antibiotics.
Organs Dropping (Pelvic Organ Prolapse)
- This is when pelvic organs, like the uterus, drop down.
- It happens because the pelvic muscles and tissues become weak.
- It can cause heavier bleeding, problems controlling pee, pain during sex, and a feeling of pressure.
- For mild cases, doctors might try to put the organs back in place. For severe cases, surgery might be needed.
Peeing Problems (Urinary Incontinence)
- This means accidentally leaking pee.
- Stress Incontinence: Leaking pee when you do things that put pressure on your belly, like coughing, laughing, sneezing, or lifting heavy things. Exercises can help.
- Urge Incontinence: A sudden, strong need to pee.
- Overflow Incontinence: The bladder is full, but you can’t pee even when you try.
Stopping Pregnancy (Contraception)
- Contraception is a way to prevent pregnancy.
- Birth control pills (OCPs) are a common way.
- Some reasons why someone might not be able to take birth control pills include: liver or kidney problems, blood clotting issues, severe headaches, or a history of breast cancer.
- If a person is breastfeeding, they might be given progesterone.
- The best way to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is with condoms.