Stop Being Confused About These Gynaecological Issues!

As a professional gynaecologist, I am often flustered by the sheer ineptitude and ignorance with which puberty is dealt with in young girls. Confusion among parents is, according to me, one of the chief causes for this – while young ladies also often feel shy to communicate with their parents (yes, even with their moms) about the internal and external changes happening to their body. In the current discourse, I have made an attempt to clear the air about some of the basic gynaecological issues that a young lady would experience during the period of puberty:

          i.            Menstruation cycles – As a girl reaches 12-13 years of age, menarche (the onset of her menstruation cycles) is likely to happen. Please understand this is a normal procedure, and only indicates that the female body is properly preparing itself for future pregnancy. The onus is on parents to explain this concept to their daughters, as well as arrange for branded, high-quality sanitary tampons for the latter. Only if ovulation cycles do not start after the age of 14-15, should parents seek professional help from any good infertility center in Kolkata.

        ii.            Development of breasts – Around the age of ten or so, the average girl starts experiencing breast development. There is absolutely NO NEED for making her wear bras (even sports bras) from that very instant. The rate of development and sensitivity of the tissues of the breast differ from one girl to another – and based on these factors, a trained gynaecologist in Kolkata can advise about the ‘right’ age for starting to wear brassiere. During the early stages, both breasts need not have identical sizes.

       iii.            Appearance of pubic hair – Medically termed as pubarche, this is yet another phenomenon that young girls often feel rather shy about. Around the time the breasts start to develop, soft pubic hair (of relatively low density) will start growing in the lower abdomen area. The growth should roughly take on the shape of a triangle over time. About 18-20 months after that, growth of hair would start in the armpits too.

      iv.            Changes in the body structure – A normal phenomenon, which (strangely enough!) often causes great mental distress in many girls. It’s high time that the blind fans of those anorexic fashion models realized that, with puberty, the belly is likely to become a tad rounder, and the hips would become a bit heavier (maybe even a hint protruded). The body weight would also go up a couple of notches. There is no reason to feel depressed about this – you are, after all, starting to get gorgeous womanly curves!

        v.            Watch the weight – Speaking about weight gains, a girl who is either underweight or too obese is likely to face puberty complications, along with menstruation and fertility problems in future. Parents need to find out from a reliable pregnancy abortion and infertility clinic in Kolkata, about the ‘right’ weight and BMI (body mass index) of their girls – as they approach the age of puberty. Diets and physical activities need to be planned accordingly.

      vi.            The risks of unprotected sex – A girl of 15 or so will be ovulating regularly, but her body is far from being prepared to conceive a baby. Both parents as well as the young ladies should be on their guard, against unprotected sexual intercourses at this age with single/multiple partners. Becoming pregnant before the age of 20 (a minimum) would inevitably usher in the need for immediate abortion – and might even prove to be fatal.

     vii.            Call in a doctor, whenever required – If your daughter complains about severe abdominal aches and/or menstrual cramps during her ovulation cycles – never ignore such problems, and consult a qualified gynecologist in Kolkata immediately. The same holds true for excessively heavy bleeding during menstruation, together with other apparently ‘minor’ gynaecological issues. Problems, if any, need to be diagnosed and rectified as soon as possible.

Valuable sexology tips and advice are available at any established pregnancy and IVF center in Kolkata. As your daughter grows older - schedule a few such sessions at any of these medical clinics, to acquaint her about the latest gynecological considerations and guidelines for sexual health. Puberty is the first step of a journey of a girl towards womanhood – and the path need not be fraught with confusions and risks!