Is your teenage daughter experiencing problems with her period? Many parents struggle with the same concern. Even if the mom has gone through a similar experience during her adolescent years, she may still worry about her daughter’s health and find it difficult to comfort the teen. As for dads, they may find the issues “uncharted territory,” especially if they didn’t have any sisters or if they’re a single parent.
For instance, a teenage girl may experience pain during menstruation (a symptom called dysmenorrhea). Some parents pass it off as normal, since they’ve experienced it, too, while others are distressed and anxious for the child since the symptom could be a sign of endometriosis. Endometriosis is characterized by tissue, similar to uterine fragments, implanted in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and even the areas close to the bladder or rectum. The abnormal location produces painful sensations during menstruation, as well as excessive bleeding, painful urination, and diarrhea or constipation.
Other problems that the teen may encounter include irregular periods and excessive or prolonged menstruation. The former can be normal for some, since lifestyle changes, stress, or extreme activity (such as athletic trainings) can cause delays in the girl’s period. Excessive menstruation may not be recognized in some cases, since the teen may not be open to discussing it with her parent/s. However, in some occasions, these concerns could signal serious physiological disorders and contribute to the teen’s low self-esteem or depression.
As specialists in Westminster pediatrics suggest, the best way to manage a teen girl’s period problems is to have them checked and treated by the right physician. A doctor can assess her condition, and advise if there are conservative lifestyle changes or home remedies (like diet modification, new exercise regimen, extended rest, or heating pads) that can help lessen the irregularity of her menstrual cycle. If needed, the doctor can also prescribe medications and administer treatments.
Some parents don’t know where to take their kids – whether to a gynecologist or to a pediatrician. An experienced Westminster pediatrician like physicians from Indian Crest Pediatrics can be consulted for your child’s issues before you proceed to a gynecologist as needed. The pediatric physician has a better grasp of how best to explain things, with reference to your daughter’s age, and how she should be guided with her problems.
(Source: Severe pain during periods not normal, observer-reporter.com)