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Girls And Puberty - Department of Health

1. UTERUS N BLADDER OVARY a ENDOMETRIUM FALLOPIAN TUBE d VAGINA VAGINA UTERUS WOMB CERVIX RECTUM CERVIX INNER LABIA OUTER LABIA The vagina is a stretchy tube made of expandable muscle It is about 9 cm long and leads from the cervix to the outside of the body When you get your period menstrual fluid leaves your body through the vagina Your vagina is where a baby passes at birth It is also where the penis enters the body during sexual intercourse When you are sexually excited it is quite normal for the vagina to become moist Reproductive system The uterus or womb is a hollow pear shaped organ It can expand up to 50 cm in length during pregnancy Two fallopian tubes one on each side stretch from the ovaries to the uterus These tubes carry an egg from one of the ovaries each month gently moving it along to the uterus The ovaries are glands which produce female sex hormones and egg cells ova Each ovary is only the size of an almond but it contains 150 000 to 200 000 eggs Every month from puberty until you reach menopause one of your ovaries will release one egg sometimes more but this is not common Each egg is around the size of a pinhead The time when an egg is released is called ovulation The bottom of the uterus is connected to the upper part of the vagina by the cervix The cervix produces mucus In the days leading up to ovulation this mucus becomes clear in appearance
2. there are safe ways of removing unwanted hair growth Again it s probably a good idea to talk about it first with a parent or an adult that you trust AN hats wilted Jll the extra hair n VPSTAILS DowNSTAILAS labia ete Your genitals Sex organs Your genitals are made of many parts and are difficult to see You can use a hand held mirror to become more familiar with your own body The vulva is the outside part of a woman s genitals The vulva includes pubic hair the inner and outer vaginal lips labia the clitoris and the openings of the vagina and urethra The urethra is the tube which carries urine away from the bladder The outer labia are the large fleshy lips which cover the vulva The inner labia are the folds of skin that protect the entrance to the vagina and urethra The inner labia may be covered by the outer labia But it is also quite normal for them to extend outside Every woman s labia are different in shape and size The clitoris is just above the urethra The part of the clitoris you can see is only the tip This tip is about the size of a pea It has many sensitive nerve endings It also has a shaft which extends into the body When you feel sexually excited the clitoris fills with blood and swells When the clitoris is stroked or rubbed this pleasurable feeling can produce an even more pleasurable and exciting sensation called an orgasm FALLOPIAN TUBE OVARY
3. and elastic and slippery During intercourse this mucus helps sperm from the male reach the uterus and fallopian tubes If a sperm joins with the egg this is called fertilisation The fertilised egg travels to the uterus and when it attaches to the lining of the uterus a pregnancy begins Getting your period What happens when get my period Each month the uterus prepares for a possible pregnancy The lining of the uterus thickens into a cushion of blood vessels glands and liquid If you become pregnant this lining will be what nourishes a fertilised egg If the egg is not fertilised then the lining mostly blood and some fluid passes out through the vagina This bleeding is called a period or menstruation How long does my period last A period generally lasts about five days The first day of bleeding in each cycle is called Day 1 Sometimes you may bleed for as little as two days or sometimes for as many as eight This range is totally normal The process of preparing the uterus lining for a pregnancy and then disposing of the lining takes around a month just like the phases of the moon This process is called the menstrual cycle Periods generally come every 28 days but this can vary Especially during the first two or three years your period may be very irregular You might have two in a row and then go several months without having a period at all You will also find that your blood flow varies it might be
4. you from doing normal activities then talk to your school nurse or a doctor Will get period pain Just before a period begins you might feel an uncomfortable ache in the stomach or pelvic area This can last for the first 12 hours Some girls say they feel more bloated and heavy at this time Some girls experience slight diarrhoea just before a period Constipation is common too If this happens to you drink more water eat extra fruit and vegetables as well as wholemeal bread and cereals Try to exercise regularly You should not have to use laxatives You may also find yourself feeling more emotional or moody some time before your period begins Not every girl experiences these symptoms They soon disappear after your period starts Some women and girls experience cramping and stomach pain during their periods Cramping may be caused by too much of a hormone which causes the uterus to contract or tighten If you do have pain during your period try some stretches or other exercise or curl up with a heated wheatbag or a hot water bottle on the painful area If this doesn t work it is possible to take pain relief Talk to a parent doctor or the chemist about what kind of relief will be appropriate for you oe oS al ov qs Lam X OA 10 Other vaginal fluid During the days of your menstrual cycle when you are not bleeding the cervix still produces secretions or discharge This is a small a
5. Cheryl aged ll Bec aged EE EVERYTHING GIRLS WILL EVER NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BODY CHANGES AND OTHER STUFF La this booklet we ve got together o heap of itormation so thet you con be informed about the impor FaAT stuff bad Hot will help keep you sate and happy ard well PS If you want to know what boys go through have a look at the Boys and Puberty booklet Do butterflies get homework 007 Human beings are complex things When you re at school you re expected to get your homework handed in on time and go through puberty too Compared to us caterpillars have it easy They spin a cocoon around themselves and then bingo A few weeks later they emerge as butterflies Or maybe a moth Whereas kids have to go from being kids to adults and learn about the mysterious facts of life on that journey Your body changes but you don t get to stay ina cocoon while it s happening Ls it just me or have L arrived on new panet When you hit puberty things change Girls start to turn into women and boys start to turn into men The body changes and the way you look at the world often changes too Puberty is a gradual thing and everyone goes through it Puberty happens to you even while you are getting your homework done swimming at the beach or going to the movies It is the body s way of making it possible for you to have a baby later in life Whether you are a girl or a boy you will experience the physical and emotiona
6. E With all these monumental changes in your body it is important to look after yourself well Treat your body as you would treat the family pet If you give your body the fuel it needs to grow and if you give it regular exercise you will be giving yourself the best chance to feel good about yourself Good Food and exercise Sounds simpe doesn t iH And it is e A well balanced diet Fatty foods Fried Include lots of fresh fruit and vegies and pastries biscuits plenty of water chips lollies Exercise If you don t e Stay away from enjoy sport try hitting crash diets They foods Sugary foods the dance floor or don t work the lounge room e Being a couch with friends Choose potato something active that you enjoy that way youll keep doing it Acne and pimples In puberty your body is a hormone producing machine The production of new hormones also affects your sebaceous oil producing glands and your sweat glands Pimples are caused by over activity of the sebaceous glands These glands lie just under the skin They produce sebum the natural oil that keeps your skin supple During puberty your hormones make the sebaceous glands grow bigger and produce extra sebum This sebum is often thicker and flows more slowly so it tends to clog the pores causing pimples When pimples become very inflamed this condition is called acne Some teenagers are troubled by pimples and acne for several years There i
7. cle pain and rash For this reason it is a good idea to use a pad rather than a tampon at night You can also reduce the risk of TSS by not using super high absorbency tampons unless your flow is heavy Wash your hands before and after inserting tampons Handle them as little as possible Insert the tampon gently Find a position in which you are comfortable such as squatting or sitting on the toilet Using a hand held mirror can help you see what you are doing Sanitary pa d How do I get the tampon out A tampon won t slip out if it is placed beyond the muscles at the entrance of the vagina It can t get lost inside you either Remember to leave the string hanging out to make removal easier Don t forget to take one tampon out before putting another one in Always remove the last one when your period is finished Wrap used pads and tampons in toilet paper and dispose of them in the bin Are there some things can t do when have my period When you ve got your period you can do everything you always do run ride play sport dance If you swim it s best to use a tampon But if your period is heavy or if you feel uncomfortable and you don t want to be active don t It s up to you You should shower have a bath and wash your hair as usual In fact the sweat glands are more active during menstruation so you can probably aim to keep even cleaner than normal If your bleeding is so heavy it stops
8. heavy or light on different days of your period How old will be when first get my period There is no way of knowing when your first period will come It will probably arrive sometime between the ages of 10 and 14 years But it may be earlier or later Every girl is different If you have not begun to menstruate by the time you are 17 talk to your doctor about it Women usually stop having their periods between the ages of 45 and 55 This is called menopause How can I plan for my period Once you have your period it s a good idea to keep some pads or tampons ready at home You can also keep some in your school bag On Day 1 you might only notice a slight brownish stain on your underwear but some girls start with more so it is easier to cope if you re prepared 77 gt TUE Aboard HMAS Monthly Beryl keeps 3 lookout for hee first period If your first period starts while you are out and about or at a party and you are not prepared then you can temporarily make a pad from tissues or toilet paper and put this in your underwear If you are at school when your first period comes your teachers and school nurses will be able to help you They are used to these things happening so don t be afraid to ask them even if you are not prepared Should choose pads or tampons During your period you can choose to use Sanitary pads which you stick inside your underwear or tampons which you insert inside your
9. hen you emerge at the other end you will be well on the way to becoming an adult If you want some useful information and advice about sex love and relationships look out for the book of Relationships sex and other stuff available from good school nurses everywhere Original cartoons by Georgia Richter Further itormotion If you have any sort of problem you want to talk about confidentially with a trained counsellor Kids Help Line 24 hours 1800 55 1800 A great site with lots of answers for 10 to 12 year olds especially about puberty The Hormone Factory www thehormonefactory com A good site for teenagers Queensland Health Youth Site www health qld gov au istaysafe a WME aS N ss Gay Saas Amc Sanur z lt maf ft EFAS ay Au Delivering a Healthy WA For general health information Healthinfo 1300 135 030 Free pamphlets and information www population health wa gov au ordering For information about sexual health and contraception Sexual Health Helpline 08 9227 6178 Country callers 1800 198 205 www fpwa org au If you have been sexually abused or assaulted Sexual Assault Resource Centre 24 hours 08 9340 1828 Country callers 1800 199 888 Department of Health Department of Health 2007
10. it is going to be when you are an adult You will probably gain weight just as you have done since you were a baby This is perfectly normal Breasts In most girls the first sign of puberty is when breasts start to develop You might be 8 or you might be 13 when this happens Either way this age range is perfectly normal You may also find that your nipple area becomes more sensitive at the start of puberty Breasts come in all shapes and sizes Some girls worry about the size of their breasts and think they are too big or too small Some girls worry about the shape of their nipples There is no one right way for breasts to be All breasts whatever the size or the shape are capable of producing enough milk to feed a baby when the time comes That s the beauty of their design When should I get a bra There is no set time when it is right to start wearing a bra Don t believe everything the fashion industry tells you It is a good idea to talk it through with a trusted older female first Then have someone experienced come with you when shopping for bras That way you can make sure that you buy a bra with good support that will suit your needs especially if you play sport or wear a lot of strapless ball gowns Getting hips During puberty you will gain some weight as your pelvic region begins to alter so that your body will be capable of bearing children later in life During this process your hips may widen and y
11. l changes of adolescence For girls puberty can begin between 9 and 11 years old For boys it s around 12 or 13 But it can begin earlier or later for boys or girls everyone is different Puberty is a time of many changes Sometimes when you re in the middle of it you might feel there is no one to talk to Want to know something scary Parents often understand more than you would think Don t forget they went through puberty too If you don t want to talk to your parents you could try talking to a trusted relative or friend Saying things out loud can be a good way of getting things clear in your mind On the following pages you will find useful at N 7 de a information and advice about what happens to your body during puberty So you know all about the lifecycle of a butterfly And you know why it s important to look after your body Most of this puberty stuff you have probably already picked up range in size nipples bras breast checking see page 4 hips thighs from somewhere books movies the EA school nurse the Net your mates _ armpits arms legs around but do you know the whole story see page 5 vulva clitoris vagina see page 5 uterus ovaries see page 6 menstruation when how long pads tampons see page 7 what to expect see page 10 see page 10 see page 11 see page 11 see page 12 Things thet change During puberty your body changes to the way
12. mount of fluid which keeps the walls of the vagina clean and slowly leaks to the outside This fluid usually dries to a creamy yellow colour on your underwear You might notice differences in these secretions at different times of your cycle As we discussed above for example the mucus will become clear in appearance in the days leading up to ovulation Sexual excitement also produces vaginal secretions This is normal and healthy Do need to keep my vagina clean Vaginal fluids help the vagina to be self cleaning so you don t need to wash inside the vagina douche and you don t need to use perfumed sprays It is best to avoid plastic backed panty liners for every day use They don t allow air to circulate This can cause a hot moist breeding ground for bacteria and may lead to infection When should I worry about a vaginal discharge If you have a continuous heavy vaginal discharge this might be a sign you have an infection For instance a thick white and cheesy discharge with a yeasty smell is a symptom of thrush When you have thrush the first thing you notice is vaginal itching Thrush is a very common condition and it can be treated easily Some other infections can also cause vaginal discharge If you have a discharge that is not normal for you or if you experience any sores or itchiness in your genital area then you should see your doctor immediately Looking otter yourself EAT RIGHT AND EXERCIS
13. our thighs may become more rounded Have a look at the other women in your family Their body shapes are probably the form your own body will take You will see other bodies too especially in magazines and on TV Sometimes it is hard to avoid comparing your own with these and feeling you are too tall or too short too fat or thin Most problems and dissatisfactions arise from comparison Try to remember that there is no one perfect shape Women come in all shapes and sizes If you are happy and healthy and comfortable with your body then you will find it easier to be happy being you qe y Or N o XS Body hair As you go through puberty you will start to notice hair under your arms and in your pubic area This will be fine and straight at first and will become thicker and curlier as you get older You may also find that you have more hair on your legs Should I shave Some women choose to shave or wax the hair under their arms around their pubic area and on their legs There is no health reason for doing this It is a matter of choice You might like to talk your decision over with a parent or a trusted adult before you do it Avoid sharing razors with other people You might also find there is more hair on your arms and face than before This is normal Hair growth will probably slow down once your hormones have settled down It is probably more noticeable to you than to anyone else but if it is worrying you
14. s no single treatment to suit everybody How can look after my skin Frequent gentle washing with warm water and a mild soap or face wash can help Dirt doesn t cause acne but washing can get rid of excess sebum You may also find that certain foods make your pimples worse Cut down on these Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegies and drink plenty of water If your skin is really bothering you then see your doctor Sweat Once you have reached puberty you may also find that you sweat more Remember that sweating is a normal human function The healthiest of sports people may lose buckets of sweat out on the sports field By itself sweat does not have much of a smell but bacteria which live on the skin can create a smell called body odour or BO To avoid body odour wash your body at least once a day especially the underarm area using mild soap and warm water Change and wash your clothes often including your socks It helps to wear lose fitting clothing made from natural fibres An underarm deodorant may be useful too Worrying about body odour is one of the many things that people get needlessly anxious about If you bathe and wash your clothes regularly it is very unlikely you will have a problem 11 Conclusion Puberty is a time of many changes both physical and emotional Some of these changes are exciting others are daunting Don t forget that there are adults around you who can help you through the tricky times W
15. vagina There are many different types of pads and tampons It is important to find something that you find comfortable using You might want to talk it over with a parent older sister cousin school nurse or an adult that you trust Whatever products you choose it is important that you change them frequently every 3 or 4 hours during the day Your menstrual fluid has no odour until it meets the air But a pad or tampon that is left in place too long can begin to smell and it can lead to infection Mouse Pod Mouse a f f don pan s CDa How do I get the tampon in You will find instructions for insertion and pictures in every tampon packet Tampons are popular with many girls because they allow you to do everything you normally do including swimming There is a big range to choose from including some with applicators which you may find useful at the beginning There are also several slim versions When your tampon is properly inserted you won t be able to feel it at all If you do use tampons you must change them frequently Though this depends a bit on your blood flow you should change the tampon three to six times a day If you leave a tampon in for longer than eight hours the tampon absorbs too much of the protective fluid in your vagina and there is a small chance of getting a serious infection toxic shock syndrome TSS TSS causes sudden high fever vomiting abdominal pain diarrhoea headache mus

Girls And Puberty - Department of Health

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