FEMALE HEALTH IN BOGOLIUBY MC

It's too late to talk about sex at age of 14
Do not postpone talking about sex and contraceptives for later! Irina Roiko, obstetrician-gynecologist at the Bogoliuby Medical Center, answers sensitive questions about sexual development and the intimate life of girls.

- At what age should the first menstruation be?   What is considered a deviation from the norm?
- In modern girls, the first menstruation begins a little earlier than it was before . The norm is when the first menstruation begins at the age of 12-15 years. . It should be noted that in different countries the average age is slightly different. For example, in African countries, girls have their first menstruation earlier than ours. А And in the countries of Scandinavia, on the contrary, later.
The appearance of the first menstruation is associated with a peak in the curve of the rate of increase in body weight and growth retardation. This is caused by many factors. The most significant of them are genetic. Nutrition also matters. With obesity, menstruation appears earlier. The presence of chronic diseases that violate nutrition contributes to the delay in puberty and the appearance of menarche. Various stressful situations also affect the process of puberty.
If the girl’s menstruation began earlier than at 11-12 years old, it is worth consulting with a pediatric gynecologist: very early menstruation in some cases may indicate the presence of tumors.
If the girl did not begin to menstruate before the age of 16, this means that the endometrium grows in the uterus (this is a layer that exfoliates monthly during menstruation), and this threatens with infertility.  In this case, you need to donate blood to hormones and carry out their correction.
- How to choose contraceptives in adolescence?  Is an anonymous consultation of a teenager without the presence of parents possible?
- If a girl turned 16, and she began to live a sex life, then she can go to a consultation with an adult gynecologist without parental consent. There she will receive a full consultation, and the doctor will select the optimal contraceptives for her.
But prior to consulting a doctor should be sex education. About sex life, ways to protect against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, how to properly wear a condom, etc., children have to learn not from the doctor, but from their parents. Say, dad should tell his son, and mother - daughters. Sex education should begin as early as possible. At the age of 14, it is too late to talk with the child about sex and contraception, because, as experience has shown, mothers in Ukraine even become 12 years old.
As a doctor, I can say that the best contraceptives for girls are condoms and coca (combined oral contraceptives, the so-called birth control pills).  A condom comes first, because it protects not only from an unwanted pregnancy, but also from sexually transmitted infections.
- Often girls choose birth control pills on the advice of friends. What are the consequences of taking improperly selected oral contraceptives?
- Various combined oral contraceptives contain different doses of hormones. If you choose the wrong dose, it can lead to infertility, cause bleeding or have other serious consequences. In no case You should take birth control pills that a friend or mother takes - they may not be suitable at all. Only a gynecologist can choose oral contraceptives!
At the age of 14, it is too late to talk with the child about sex and contraception, because, as experience has shown, mothers in Ukraine even become 12 years old.
As a doctor, I can say that the best contraceptives for girls are condoms and coca (combined oral contraceptives, the so-called birth control pills). A condom comes first, because it protects not only from an unwanted pregnancy, but also from sexually transmitted infections.
- Often girls choose birth control pills on the advice of friends. What are the consequences of taking improperly selected oral contraceptives?
- Various combined oral contraceptives contain different doses of hormones. If you choose the wrong dose, it can lead to infertility, cause bleeding or have other serious consequences. In no case You should take birth control pills that a friend or mother takes - they may not be suitable at all. Only a gynecologist can choose oral contraceptives!
- From the point of view of physiology, at what age is optimal to begin sexual activity?
- From a religious point of view, it is necessary to begin sexual activity after marriage. The medical point of view is somewhat different. Therefore, from the point of view of a doctor, it is optimal to begin sexual activity at the age of 18, when the body is fully formed.
- If a girl becomes pregnant, which is risky for her health: to give birth or to have an abortion?
- Pregnancy at an early age is dangerous for maternal health: a high risk of termination of pregnancy, premature birth, intrauterine growth retardation, anemia, etc. The baby’s body is simply not ready for this. Natural childbirth threatens injuries to both the mother and the baby. Also, pregnancy, childbirth and everything that happens after that is a lot of stress.
No less risky for the girl’s health is abortion. After it, inflammatory processes, infertility, psychological trauma are possible. It should be noted that an abortion is not performed without the consent of the father and mother of the pregnant girl.