Choose a subject:

No, you don’t have to change your towel every time you bleed. We recommend that you change your towel every four or five hours. The days of heaviest bleeding, usually the two or three first days, it may be a good idea to change a little more often. At night, we recommend an evening towel so that you can feel secure and sleep soundly. You don’t have to change an evening towel until the morning.

Many women perspire more than usual during puberty and during their periods. Daily washing is the best way to control perspiration. Make sure you’re very dry before you apply deodorant. Use a blow dryer with cool air before you apply deodorant if you have a problem with heavy perspiration. Deodorant that contains alcohol is the most effective. Tight tops and synthetic clothes are culprits for heavy sweaters. Go for cotton or wool instead. Ask your pharmacist about heavy perspiration; there are stronger products that can help.

The hymen helps to keep bacteria from penetrating the vagina and reduces the risk of infection.

Weight is very individual. Some women are naturally slim, others a bit huskier. During puberty, women get a larger amount of fat to make it easier for menstruation to begin. If you exercise regularly (at least a half hour per day) and eat regular meals, rather than constantly snacking, you will probably have the weight that’s right for your body. One indication of what you should weigh is BMI, body mass index, a simple mathematical calculation. If you are uncertain about your weight talk to your school nurse.

Pubic hair is meant to protect your genitals. The hair increases ventilation by keeping your clothes from pressing directly against your skin.

A breast contains glands that feel like small lumps. All women have these. At ovulation many women feel their breasts getting tighter with more lumps. After the age of 25 it’s a good idea to feel your breasts regularly to get to know them. Do it with every period and it will become a routine. Even younger women should examine their breasts regularly. If you are worried about lumps in your breasts that aren’t supposed to be there, talk with a school nurse or a clinic.

Increasing the amount of magnesium in your diet can help reduce your craving for sugar.

Many women take active steps to deal with their PMS. One of the best ways is regular physical exercise. Exercise can reduce, and sometimes even remove, menstrual pain. As a bonus, you will feel happier and less moody. Reducing sugar, salt, red meat and caffeine while increasing low fat vegetarian food, legumes, fruit, grain and whole grain products has proven to help many women. Women who find PMS especially troublesome should talk to a gynaecologist.

Many women experience mood swings before their period. This is called PMS – premenstrual syndrome. Getting lots of sleep, exercising and eating right can help.

Discharges are a sort lubricant for your vagina and protect its membranes from drying out. Discharges also ensure that the vagina maintains the proper pH-value. Your vagina should have an acid pH-balance to check bacteria that can lead to infections.

It is normal to have discharges for several years before your first period. Increased discharges can be a sign that you will soon have your first period.

If discharges become bad smelling or discoloured, you should always contact a doctor. If you have menstruation-like pain or a temperature together with bad smelling discharges seek medical attention immediately. Bad smelling discharges can be caused by a bacterial imbalance in the vagina, an infected uterus or fallopian tubes or by a sexually transmitted disease such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea. An infection may require antibiotics prescribed by a doctor.

Discharges change in colour depending on where in your menstrual cycle you are. During ovulation, discharges are clear and rich in texture. Before and after your period, they are whitish. If your discharges suddenly increase in volume, smell bad or are mixed with blood you should contact a doctor.

Brown discharges are due to a small amount of blood that discolours the discharges. This is not unusual. Discharges can take on a darker colour after they have been in contact with air for awhile, if, for example, you haven’t changed your panties or panty liner recently. If the discharges begin to smell bad or if you have them together with stinging, you should contact a doctor.

Wash your vagina once a day with lukewarm water, twice if you’re having your period. Use soap especially formulated for feminine hygiene. You can find it at a pharmacy. It’s also a good idea to change your panties and panty liner every day.

Menstruation is caused by contractions in the uterus that help move blood out of your vagina. Different women have different contractions and different pain. Some feel it mostly around their pelvis, others get back pain, down through the thighs and in their abdomen.

The best way to reduce or get rid of menstrual pain is to exercise. Rest, lying down in a certain position (try different ones) and prescription-free medication that contains ibuprofen or paracetamol have helped many women. If you have intense pain and none of the above work, talk to your school nurse or gynaecologist.

Menstrual pain is often a dull aching pain under the navel that sometimes goes all the way out to your lower back.

Most women have at one time or another experienced irregular menstruation for a period of several years. If you do not get a period for three months you should contact a doctor, as well as if your menstruation becomes irregular after having been regular. Stress, changes in weight, worry and travel between time zones are some of the factors that can make your menstruation irregular.

Menstruation ends during menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. Menstruation ends gradually.