Menarche is the first menstrual period of a woman, which usually occurs during adolescence, between 10 and 15 years of age, but may vary according to the lifestyle and history of menstruation of the women of the family.
Menarche is the first sign that the woman's organism is prepared to bear children, with physical, psychological and social changes. Learn all about first menstruation.
Signs of Menarca
The girl may notice that the first menstruation is near when she notices slight swelling, pain in the abdominal region and psychological signs such as sadness, irritation or increased sensitivity, for example. In addition, the girl may notice growth of pubic hair, breasts, increased hips and weight.
The girl may also notice the discharge of whitish or yellowish secretion from the vagina a few months before menarche, so she can prepare for the first menstrual period through the use of daily absorbents or taking absorbent with her into the pouch.
Menarche is usually dark or brown due to hormonal changes. The duration of the first menstruation varies from woman to woman, but usually the flow is weak and lasts approximately 3 days. It is common for the cycle to be irregular in the first year and the next menstruation to occur 2 or 3 months after menarche.
Changes after menarche
Menarche is considered a central event of female puberty and marks the beginning of innumerable bodily changes such as breast development, weight gain, development of the genitals, appearance of pubic and armpit hair and increase of the hips. See what are the body changes of adolescence.
After menarche, the girl is no longer seen as a child but as a young girl, in the family and in social groups their responsibilities increase. In addition, the large production of hormones characterize this phase with the appearance of internal conflicts, oscillations of mood and impulsivity.
