Normal Menstrual Cycle - Menarche and the Teenage Menstrual Cycle
Menarche (say "MEN-ar-kee") is a girl's first menstrual cycle. A first period usually happens after several years of pubic hair growth, breast development, and rapid growth known as a "growth spurt." Menarche most commonly happens sometime between ages 11 and 14.6 It normally happens as early as age 9 or up to age 15. If you are a teenage girl, see your doctor if you have not started having periods by age 15.
The first menstrual cycles are usually light and unpredictable. During the first 2 years, a typical teenage menstrual cycle can be as short as 21 days or as long as 45 days.2 About 2 out of 3 girls have a regular pattern of menstrual periods within 2 years of menarche.7
Long, heavy periods are fairly common during the teen years. The hormone (endocrine) system is still maturing, and progesterone levels aren't always high enough during regular cycles to help the uterine lining (endometrium) break down. When the endometrium has built up for too long, heavy menstrual bleeding follows. This type of bleeding usually gets better on its own, without treatment. But see a doctor for menstrual bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days or for cycles that are shorter than 21 days or longer than 45 days. For more information, see the topic Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding.
For teens
Ask an adult you trust for advice on using feminine products, such as tampons or pads, when you have menstrual bleeding. Always keep a pad or tampon handy in your purse or backpack.
Tampons fit inside your vagina and are good to use when swimming or doing other physical activities. Pads have adhesive strips on them that stick to your underwear. Be sure to change tampons or pads regularly. Having a period won't prevent you from doing any of the activities you normally do, and no one will be able to tell when you're having one.
If you have cramps with your period, you can get some relief with regular exercise, a heating pad, a warm bath, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen. An NSAID is likely to make regular cramps go away completely. (If you are younger than 20, do not take aspirin. Aspirin increases the risk of Reye syndrome, a disease that affects the brain and liver.) If these treatments don't help, talk to your doctor about prescription medicines.
For more information, see the topic Menarche.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Normal Menstrual Cycle Topics
ENABLEX is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat the following symptoms due to a condition called overactive bladder:
- · having a strong need to go to the bathroom right away (also called "urgency")
- · leaks or wetting accidents (also called "urinary incontinence")
- · having to go to the bathroom too often (also called "urinary frequency")
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
You should not take once-daily ENABLEX if you have certain types of stomach problems, glaucoma, or have trouble emptying your bladder. Side effects of ENBLEX include blurred vision, and more commonly dry mouth, constipation, indigestion, and abdominal pain. Use caution when doing certain activities until you know how ENBALEX affects you.
VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRIPTION ONLY.
INDICATION
Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).
Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.
The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.
You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.


