| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 7:29:32 PM | "I dont believe in getting medical professionals involved without due need."
so you dont believe in preventative medicine?? then do answer this one please?? do you get an annual pap? do you go to the dentist twice a year for an exam? do you get a physical annually?. do you do any of these types of measures?
when we wait until there is a pain or ache, we have probably already gone past where we would have normally had we just did the preventative stuff. you live in canada, dont you? ( reference to essex)> you have more medical options available to you than we do here in the states. while some boohoo socialized medicine, i say, any is better than none in this regard.
how one presents information to our daughters will generally determine if it scares the living heck outta them or not.
and no, i realize that the presenting pre-cancerous cervic cells have no corrolation to when you started your period. when that happened to me, i went from stage three to five in a matter of a few weeks. five is full blown cancer. cervical cancers generally are more aggressive in nature than other female related cancers. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 7:37:38 PM | I live in the UK - home of the original Essex lol
Yes i believe in preventative medicine it's why i have smear tests and why they're done every 6 months as a biopsy - tis the bane of having pre-cancerous cells, bit more invasive than a twizzle stick up ya bits.
I disagree with you also about cervical cancer being agressive. It's actually the slowest growing of most cancers. Which is why they screen you 6 monthly/yearly rather than anything sooner than that. The cells can also rectify themselves in this time due to the nature of the beast being viral. Ive been having 6 monthly biopsies done for 2 years now (and as you're probably aware thats not a nice thing to go through but it's a necessity).
The way intend to talk to my daughter about her health and wellbeing is not to scare her, smears are scary things for anyone let alone someone who's not had a child - i mean who wants to get their bits out when they dont have to right?! I will tell my daugher about all female cancers when the time is right - i will tell her how to test for breast lumps as well as encourage her to getting smear tests done when she is 25 (as ive said alreadythat is the age they are done here in the UK unless you've had a child).
There is no point putting anyone through an unecessary medical procedure at any age. I certainly wouldn't want my daughter to go through what ive had to go through unless she needs to!!
BTW ive been lucky in that my cells have stabalised for a year hence no treatment. But i know that day will come when they'll want to rid me of those cells...hence i always go for check ups. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 7:49:27 PM | | I was 14 years of age nearly 15. Girls are starting much earlier these days. From what I've read the reasons are dietary and enviromental. A girl should have started seeing a a gynecologist by age 18 whether or not she has had sex. Family physicians are NOT skilled nor specialized when it comes to female gynelogical health so a gynecologist is necessary and a female 1 at that. Female gynecologist understand the female reproductive system and female medical issues whereas male physicians do not. Male physicians only know what they've read in a medical textbook. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 8:04:32 PM | "Family physicians are NOT skilled nor specialized when it comes to female gynelogical health so a gynecologist is necessary and a female 1 at that. Female gynecologist understand the female reproductive system and female medical issues whereas male physicians do not. Male physicians only know what they've read in a medical textbook.""
I'm with Essex on this one,, what utter tripe. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 8:26:33 PM | I bet we are confusing this poor guy even more than he already was lol
My daughter is 15, we have been to the docs about her heavy periods and pain and the doc told her to try the pill as that seems to help. No need for an internal BUT also have anothr friends 16 year old daughter who has had an internal because her pain was much more severe and she has cysts on her ovaries.
I still think internals as a preventative are pretty silly as you cant always tell if you are going to have a problem so its just putting a kid through the embarrasssment for nothing.
Ruger keep an open relationship with your daughter and make sure you have good female friends around you so you can discuss things with them. No need to go running to the doc every 2 minutes. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 9:46:01 PM | In terms of when a woman should have a pelvic exam/pap smear, standard in Canada is when they become sexually active or when they turn 18, whichever comes first. The only exception would be when there's other issues, like painful and/or heavy periods.
And honestly don't see why so many women hate pap smears and say they hurt. I got my first pap at 15 because I was having very heavy periods even on the pill and it wasn't that bad. Not the most comfortable thing in the world, and certainly slightly embarassing, but not painful or something to dread like most women say it is! Maybe I've just been lucky though and had very gentle doctors or something. I dunno. Hell I've even had more invasive procedures down south because I had 2 abnormal paps in a row and even that wasn't all that bad! | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 10:42:44 PM | | I was 12 when I started. It's no big deal as long as she is informed and knows what to expect. If you are open with her and she understands what will happen and why, then it will seem alot less threatening to her and not scary. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 11:04:06 PM | I was younger than 10 when mine began but thankfully had my dad to help me through the experience. He was the one who picked me up from school, explained what was happening and took me to get supplies. He kept his cool and didn't act uncomfortable at all so I didn't freak out. I figured if my dad knew what was going on and wasn't worried about what was happening, then neither would I.
I don't personally see any reason to get "checked out", but it couldn't hurt to discuss this with your pediatrician. I didn't get a pelvic exam until I was 18 and that was just because it was the age recommended by my family doctor. Incredibly painful and I sincerely wish I had waited until after I was sexually active. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/27/2008 12:20:08 AM | OP...I just want to share my personal experience.
In my family sex was NEVER discussed. Whenever I had a question, my mom would shut me up and tell me "we don't discuss these things". Every christmas our parents would always buy my older sister and me new pajamas, bathrobes and slippers. Hers were always blue and mine were always pink. One day I went into the bathroom closet and found a box that was pink! It had a picture of a very beautiful woman coming down a staircase in a long flowing gown. Next to it was a much smaller box (also pink). I just had to snoop since it was pink...it HAD to be for ME! AND it was close to my birthday. Well, the little box had something that looked like a garter belt in it. But there was only one and my thigh was pretty small...back then. So, I looked in the big box and found these great big things that kind of looked like pressure bandages...(I come from a family of nurses). I put both boxes back and never asked what they were for, since I was always asking to many questions and I thought my mom would be mad at me.
Finally, one day my mother pulled me aside and told me about sex. Still reeling from the shock, two weeks later....I started my first period. I called my mom into the bathroom and started crying. She just laughed and said it was nothing to be upset about.
Heck....I was watching cartoons! So, I had to walk back into the living room where my two brothers sat innocently continuing to laugh at the cartoons...and I just sat in the chair realizing I was no longer a little girl.
Kinda funny...kinda sad.
You're a good dad.
ps....I was 12. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/27/2008 12:30:43 AM |
Family physicians are NOT skilled nor specialized when it comes to female gynelogical health so a gynecologist is necessary and a female 1 at that. Female gynecologist understand the female reproductive system and female medical issues whereas male physicians do not. Male physicians only know what they've read in a medical textbook.
That is totally false. I don't know where that information came from, but it is incorrect.
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/27/2008 5:27:05 AM | at the risk of confusing this poor guy any further,, yes a gyno exam can be very painful for some. for one, if the dx is not gentle with that speculum, it can feel like someones runnin a buick up inside you. secondly,, if its a matter of a tipped euterus ( god i cant spell/type/think this morning) then yeah, putting that speculum in can be severely painful. hopefully a dx recognizes this upon the first pelvic and notes it in the chart so in subesequent exams the correct angle can be used to insert the speculum so there is minimal discomfort. if you insist on metal instead of the plastic disposable ones, then you decrease the risk further of discomfort. had a dx use a plastic one on me once, that had a slight burr from manufacturing on the side and it scratched me (inside) ( mental image of the op cringing).
to that poster who included the clarification about a female nurse in the exam room with the pt and doctor,, yes,, now in the u.s. thats a law. its in place to protect both the patient and the physician. as well, a pt. can opt to have their own "person" in the room as well. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/27/2008 7:40:23 AM | OP: Sorry, but we did all get a bit off topic...your daughter, at 9 years old, probably does not need to be getting gynecological exams done...unless there's a problem.
This poor man's probably lying in a corner, curled up in the fetal position, sucking his thumb and crying...lol.
As for the person who says that male doctors don't know anything about the female reproductive system...what planet are you on?
You DO know they learn that at medical school, right?
Do you assume that because they don't own the equipment, they don't know anything about it?
If that's the case, why are so many women MY age (39) absolutely clueless about their own bodies? | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/27/2008 11:51:53 AM | WOW! I'm so greatfull that I'm a man.
But even more blessed that I'm a father to go through these experiences.
Thanks for all the great options.
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/28/2008 3:51:50 AM | I just took my 11-year-old to her primary-care physician for her annual physical. As part of the exam, the doc asked about secondary characteristics, such as breast buds, and discussed the HPV vaccine (for future reference).
She said that generally, a girl will start her period about two years after the appearance of breast buds and that often girls will start their periods at about the same age as their moms did. So if your daughter's mother started early, than there is a good chance your daughter will too.
The best thing about this visit is that the doctor and I were able to discuss these things matter of factly with my daughter -- which I hope is setting the tone for future discussions, underscoring the importance of regular visits and a good dialogue with health-care providers. Most of all, it is groundwork for a relataionship between my daughter and her physician. I WANT her to feel comfortable with her doc and trust her so that if problems, concerns or questions DO arise, my daughter will feel okay talking about it.
Even if my daughter wouldn't feel comfortable discussing somethign with me, it's reassuring to know that she has an established relationship with someone I trust who could be a trusted resource for her.
PS I too highly recommend the American Girl series of books. even if your daughter isn't ready for them now and doesn't want to read them, having them on hand for when she does become interested is a good idea. We have had the books around the house for a couple of years and she dips into them when she has questions or when she becomes more interested in a particular topic.
PPS Big huge PROPS OP for thinking about this and preparing yourself to be supportive of your daughter. That's kick ass. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/28/2008 11:23:05 AM | There are indicants that a girl may start her first period soon--as in, she's developed in all the visible areas early (grows hair on armpits, legs, and private areas, has a bust, her height has increased rapidly, etc.).
These days, 9 is not uncommon to start your first period. At 8, I had a B cup and hair all over. At ten, I was pushing a C and had more hair than my mom. At barely eleven, I got my period.
My sister, however, remained flat and hairless until 14, got her period shortly thereafter.
I assume the doc you refer to is a gyno...a girl should go to the gyno for the first time if:
*She starts having sex
*She gets her period
*She is over the age of 15 and has neither gotten her period nor had sex | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/28/2008 11:30:26 AM | | Just for clarification my doc was a woman and it's not like I was molested or anything, but what went down was not called for. | |
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Epica
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Joined: 12/31/2006
Msg: 71 | |
| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/30/2008 7:56:48 AM | | I was 9. My mom was great about it. I would suggest that you give your daughter the option of talking to her dr. about it, if need be. I would also suggest that you do a fair amount of reading and researching so she knows that she can ask you questions, too. I think the biggest thing for young girls to know is that anything that they're concerned about regarding their periods shouldn't be viewed as embarrassing or taboo. Open lines of communication are essential now that girls are going through these things earlier. Good luck! | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 5/1/2008 10:01:01 AM | There was a recent study done that concluded it's when a girl hits on average approx 7.5 stone (105 pounds) in body weight, NOT her age. It can start 7 pounds either side of the average 105 though, as just like cycle times where the average is 28 days there is some variation between individuals.
Bodyweight affects ferltility throughout life, anorexics and olympic athletes often stop menstruating as their % body fat falls below a certain level and the same can happen at the opposite extreme.
It's easy enough to pop her on the bathroom scales without freaking her out, and would give you some idea. If she is getting close, it's worth having a chat with her school, just so they know to be prepared and to avoid her getting too embarrassed if she has to go to the restroom in lesson time etc. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 5/2/2008 1:51:16 PM | Don't get too exited, doubled my body weight the year I turned 15 - went from 4.5 stone to 9 stone in under 12 months. Yes - that's the year I started my periods too. Kids can have huge growth spurts sometimes.
Also summat just occured to me - the bodyweights I referred to above are for UK Imperial measurements - are they the same as Canadian? If not you may need to do a bit of maths. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 5/2/2008 2:40:25 PM | | I wouldnt take your daughter to be examined. I know thats not the question your asking, but really, i cannot imagine my first experience of being touched by someone else 'down there' being by a doctor with his implements. Agh. Its something youve got to get used to. Its unpleasant and traumatising even at 21 ! In the UK at 20 you get a cervical smear and then every 3 years after that. I think thats enough preventative medecine. unless there was family history of cervical cancer, there is no reason to have a 9 year old girl go get her bits messed about with by a doctor. | |
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