A New You in 28 Days

There are no wrong questions when it comes to understanding your body. Our expert, OB Gynecologist Dra. Tere Henson, MD*, has the answers to your frequently asked questions on feminine hygiene. Read on and feel free to ask your own questions.

*Dra. Theresa Guevarra-Henson, MD is a Fellow of the Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecological Society and holds clinic at the Makati Medical Center.

NOTE: The contents of this section should not be taken as a replacement of individual face-to-face consultations with a licensed OB-GYN. Pre-teens are encouraged to consult their doctors for their concerns. See our Disclaimer.

Puberty is defined as the period during which secondary sexual characteristics begin to develop and the capability of sexual reproduction is attained. For young girls, this period requires around 4.5 years with the following changes occurring: breast development, followed by appearance of pubic hair, peak growth velocity and lastly menarche or a the first menses.

During the first five years after menarche (start of your period), it is common to expect irregular periods or cycles. Major hormonal changes occur with an area of the brain controlling our ovaries functioning and supposedly stimulation ovulation to occur and a lot of times this control is still not fine-tuned thus that normal monthly rhythm is irregular for a lot of young girls in the beginning.

Menstrual periods start during puberty until the period of menopause when women stop ovulating and stop producing hormones, which cause menstrual periods.

Our cycles can be easily affected by external factors such as emotional, mental or physical stress, which can distort the normal functions of the ovary and lead to a hormonal imbalance causing delays or changes in the menstrual cycle.

Menstrual blood is actually clean blood because it is made from lining from the uterus that gets shed off every month when a woman is not pregnant. However, it is a good medium for bacteria to grow in just like a fully soaked sanitary pad that is not changed. It is best not to use a napkin too long and change it frequently throughout the day, depending on your flow.

The menstrual flow is controlled by hormonal changes which may vary from day to day as well as month to month for some women. Some women’ s hormonal state may even be affected by stress -- be it physical, mental or emotional stress. Physical activities especially high impact ones may also affect the flow of our periods but should not hamper activities unless increase in menstrual flow is unmanageable.

Hormonal changes during the cycle control the amount of menses and the flow as well. Some women may also produce a high amount of prostaglandin in the uterus during their period that causes cramping as well as clots. However if the flow is too strong and persists for 5 days or more, it would be best to get checked by a physician.

A normal period usually lasts for 7 days or less, with menstrual flow and amount varying from one female to the other.

Physical activities especially high impact ones may also affect the flow of our period but this should not hamper your activities unless the increase in menstrual flow is unmanageable.

Irregularities in menstrual intervals and flow are very common during the first 5 years of puberty however painful, prolonged (more than 1 week ) and profuse menses should get checked properly by a doctor to rule out other conditions.

It means it’s just harder for these women to count when they are fertile and when they are safe. A lot of times, women with irregular cycles accidentally get pregnant because they do not know also when their safe days are as well.

Along with menses, hormones also cause changes in our vaginal discharge which also change depending on our cycle. During the fertile period, peak levels of hormones causes women to have profuse, slimy clear vaginal discharge which becomes thicker and clumpier before our period.

There are bacteria in the normal vaginal area that help maintain the acidic pH of the vagina. However, when there is a build-up of harmful bacteria, it can cause infection and result in a “fishy odor”. Frequent washing with a mild feminine wash, in the genital area, may help prevent odor. If odor persists, tell your mom or guardian and set an appointment with a doctor.

Pantyliners are used externally and cannot cause infections. But there are some women who may get something like a “diaper rash” reaction to pantyliners. If you do use pantyliners, choose those which are dermatologically-tested against allergy and irritation, are made of cotton, breathable and safe on skin. Also, remember to change your liner frequently throughout the day.

Vaginal itchiness usually points to either a yeast infection in the vagina or an allergic reaction like contact dermatitis. Yeast infections are commonly accompanied by profuse thick curd-like discharge from the vagina. Allergic reactions do not have any accompanying changes in the quality of the vaginal discharge and may be traced to exposure to a new sanitary pad, feminine wash or tight underwear. Be sure to choose dermatologically-tested products.

The fertile period happens 14 days before your next cycle so that a 28 day cycle counted from the first day of one period to the next would have a fertile period around day 14.

No this is not true. Soda/soft drinks have no effect on the quality of your menses. Menstrual flow and character are mostly affected by hormonal levels which in turn can be affected by age, stress, other medical conditions, etc.

Some women may have irregular intervals between periods, but still have ovulatory cycles which can result in accidental pregnancies.

Some will feel symptoms like bloating, breast tenderness, mood swings and cramping before their period. This is called PMS or Pre-menstrual Syndrome.

There are many reasons for abnormal vaginal bleeding such as hormonal imbalances or organic conditions such as myomas or polyps. I suggest for you to go back to your doctor and ask for a proper gynecologic examination and testing such as ultrasounds or blood tests for proper diagnosis.