Naturally A Girl

two girls who are exactly [Music] alike girls are as different as people can be naturally [Applause] [Music] all girls are different but sometime between the ages of 9 and 16 one very special event happens to every girl I don't know yet I haven't grown up all the way well you start developing and you're you start changing phys um physically you start your period boy all of that does happen and between 9 and 16 certain specific changes take place in your body for one thing a soft growth of hair appears under the arms and in the pubic area this is true for boys as well as girls and this is the time when a girl's figure begins to develop hips fill out breasts begin to become rounder and Fuller and it is now that girls start to menstruate menstruation I don't how to explain it don't you know a female cycle it happens about every 28 days it happens to every girl you have ear every month that means you can have babies Oh you I know what it is something that all girls go through and you have it once a minute it's a natural process and it enables you to have children she took my line away all girls are born with a special place in their bodies where babies can grow called the uterus it's in the lower abdomen below the [Music] stomach as a girl matures a special lining of Blood and Tissue periodically forms in the uterus to make a soft nutritious place for a baby to grow if a baby is not conceived the velvety lining isn't needed and so it is released and flows out of the body through the vagina from the uterus to the outside of the body that's menstruation menstruation is a very important part of human life every girl has two ovaries containing thousands of microscopic egg cells about once a month one of these cells matures and is released from one of the ovaries it enters the fallopian tube and travels slowly to the uterus we've greatly enlarged the size of the egg cell here so that you can see it if the cell reaches the uterus without having been fertilized by a male sperm cell the egg and the special lining built up in the uterus disintegrate and flow through the vaginal Canal out of the body the actual flow is rather small and it lasts only about 3 to 8 days this time is often called the period then the process begins all over again and repeats itself about once a month I've been minrating uh since I was 12 11 I think I'm that not quite 11 about a year ago 60 I think it was the summer of 6th grade going into the 7th 10 I think it was 10 sixth grade about the same age but about a half a year later these girls are all 12 but very different in Physique in coordination and [Applause] personality girls begin menstruating anytime from 9 to 16 the average age is between 12 and 13 whenever it happens for you is the right [Music] time although the average menstrual cycle takes about 28 days to repeat itself it can vary quite a bit particular at first when I first started it was 3 weeks apart then 4 weeks now 3 and 1/2 Weeks sometimes they skip a month I'm just getting to be regular the actual number of days the period or menstrual flow lasts can also vary and change mine last about 6 days 8 3 four or five sometimes five sometimes six or seven a lot of girls keep a calendar and mark off when the menstrual flow starts and how long it lasts eventually you can see how many days there are between periods and how many days you actually menstruate during each [Music] cycle even if you are pretty regular the schedule can be thrown off if you are tense or upset if you get over excited or if you catch a cold or don't feel well but everything will soon return to whatever is normal for you what happens to the menstrual flow when it leaves the body that's what feminine napkins are for they are designed to absorb the flow and there's a special moistureproof Shield inside so nothing can leak through and Sh a sanitary belt will keep the napkin in place the short tab of the napkin is attached to the front Fastener and the long tab of the napkin is attached to the back Fastener the the belt is worn around the waist and holds the napkin safely and comfortably between the legs if you prefer you can wear a special panty with elastic Loops to hold the napkin in place or there's a new kind of napkin that doesn't need belts pins or special panties so it's very comfortable and convenient this kind has special adhesive strips on the back so you can attach the napkin quickly and securely right to your own panties how often should you change feminine napkins once a day every 2 or 3 hours whenever you want it's a good idea to change every 2 to 3 hours since the menstrual flow does have an odor after it leaves the body frequent changes will help you to keep feeling fresh and comfortable all day every day some days the flow will be lighter than other days in the very beginning of your period for example and on the last 2 or 3 days the flow may be lighter that's what these little mini pads are for the times when you don't need all the absorbency of a full-size napkin and mini pads are perfect for those times when you're not quite sure when your period's going to start they let you be prepared anyway how do you dispose of feminine napkins flush down the toilet wrap and put in Waist basket with some you just wrap them in toilet paper and put them in the waste basket but there are also new kinds that are made to be flushed just check the package first to be sure they are made of biodegradable materials that will disintegrate and be returned to Nature since there are many different kinds of feminine napkins you might want to start with a beginner's kit to help you decide what's best for you this booklet will tell you how to get one and will help you understand more about what happens during menstruation your teacher school nurse or leader of your girls organization can tell you how to get a copy of growing up and liking it during my period my hair gets a little oily once in a while I get a pimple but that's all should you bathe or wash your hair during your period some people used to think you shouldn't but now we know that it's especially important to take a bath or shower every day during your period you tend to perspire more and if your hair gets oily why you'll naturally want to wash it then get plenty of sleep every night and eat a balanced diet that way you'll feel and look good during your period and all the rest of the month too does every girl get cramps during her [Music] period well sometimes I get cramps and sometimes I don't like some girls like to get cramps and you know like have a headache or stomach ache or something but I don't get anything I never get them I never do now but I used to many girls do experience some cramps or a slight feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen during menstruation these are exercises that will help relieve or stop [Music] cramps you can do them all month long they're good for your figure there's no reason why you can't do all the things you normally do while you're menstruating but what about swimming during your [Music] period you can go swimming during menstruation if you wear a tampon tampon a tampon is another comfortable hygienic way to absorb the menstrual flow some come with applicators and some do not a tampon is inserted into the vagina and the muscles hold it in place so it can't slip the instructions on the package show how to insert it they're small but tampons are very absorbent and since they are worn internally there's no worry about odor no matter what kind of protection you choose or what day of the month it is fresh air and exercise are good for all of us anytime and by the way there's no need to worry about feeling weak while you're menstruating because the amount of blood in the menstrual flow is a tiny fraction of the body's Supply sometimes I get in bad move right before well I don't think I do but other people probably do big idea no I don't thinkig I really do I might be a little edgy edgy it doesn't bother me and only if it's really bad I'm Moody but that doesn't happen too often I hard I hardly pay any attention to it anymore though a lot of things affect people's moods and feelings but there's no need to miss out on any of the fun just because you're menstruating with a little planning ahead you can be ready and confident for anything does everyone know when you're menstruating no if you don't tell there's no way anyone can know [Music] my [Music] I the way the way it's the way it's the [Music] way I think it's great I mean you know I like being a woman and I was always looking forward to it just natural growing up isn't always fun but it does have a lot to recommend it I used to dream of being an actress but being is better than dreaming whatever your future may be [Music] being a woman is one of the things I like best about myself I think you'll like it too it's better than being a boy [Music] [Applause] [Music]