Each woman has a different menstruation cycle. So, while making a choice about conceiving or not
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In India, young people in the age group of 15-25 year comprise 27.5% of the population. During this phase, major physical, psychological and behavioral fluctuations occur with altering patterns of impulsivity accompanied by the vulnerability.
Encouraging healthy behaviors during adolescence in young females and taking initiatives to better protect from health risks are important for the prevention of health hitches in adulthood.
Some of the common health concerns in young females are:
Tips for parents:
Here are a few tips for parents that may help in managing an adolescent:
Some common health issues among young females are:
1. Nutritional issues (anemia, malnutrition):
Nutrition i.e. nourishment is necessary for the adequate growth, development and a prerequisite for a healthy life.
To ensure proper nourishment the food should fulfil the daily needs of all the nutrients (i.e. carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber, minerals, vitamins and water).
The nutrients are classified as:
Balanced nutrition is essential for adolescents as their nutritional requirements increase owing to the physical growth spurt, sexual maturation, scholastic performance demands and competitive needs. Both the caloric intake and micronutrients in the diet should be adequate to ensure full development.
Moreover, this is the age when the adolescents are more inclined towards junk foods, have food fads, sedentary lifestyles and eating disorders.
Poor nutrition in adolescence: will not only cause retarded growth, sexual maturity and productivity but will also lead to increased risk of chronic illnesses in adulthood. The most common issues are:
BMI is expressed as:
The WHO classification based on BMI is given below:
2. Sexual and Reproductive Health (menstrual irregularities, PCOD, STI, early sexual exposure, teenage pregnancy)
The sexual development and maturation that occurs during adolescence is the result of heightened hormonal activity in the body and it adds to their vulnerability. Females start having menstruation by the end of pubertal changes and almost 50% have some menstrual irregularities. Moreover, during this phase sexual exploration and expression is common and normal. Their increased sexual interest, curiosity and ignorance may lead to risk-taking behaviors by them like unsafe sex and multiple partners causing STI, HIV, teenage pregnancies and sexual exploitation.
3. Mental Health
Every adolescent undergoes a series of physical, social and emotional changes during this transition phase. That’s why there are mood or behaviour fluctuations that need to be managed carefully. The common issues are:
Here are a few tips that every adolescent should include in lifestyle to stay comfortable in the new phase:
Parents should be aware of these behavioural changes in their adolescent and if the change is significantly affecting their routine lifestyle, expert consultation should be taken, and the child should undergo a health screening.
4. Addiction (drugs, smoking, alcohol)
Adolescents usually get engaged in substance abuse due to their peer pressure, curiosity, experimentation, risk taking behaviour or imitate an adult.
Moreover, substance abuse is frequently associated with behaviours like rebelliousness, poor school performance, delinquency and personality traits like low self-esteem, anxiety and lack of self-control. These can have short-term and long-term physical and psychological effects.
This condition requires immediately expert consultation and adolescent with the above risky behaviour and personality traits should be screened beforehand.
Adolescent Health Assessment
There are loads of changes occurring in the body and mind of adolescents and are exposed to numerous health issues. Hence, it can be a time of confusion, but it doesn't have to be.
Adolescents are often considered as the healthiest age group and even the parents are ignorant of their health issues. Thus, they have the lowest rate of healthcare access. During this period there is rapid physical, mental and sexual development makes them vulnerable to develop a wide range of health problems.
Therefore, a regular adolescent health screening is essential to detect the hidden health issues and address them timely for a healthier future.
The adolescent health screening should ensure annual check-up on the following parameters:
Moreover, it is important for all of us to encourage healthy lifestyles in our daily regime:
Ensure half an hour walk every day: Walk more, whether that means taking a 10-minute walking break while doing any work or preferring stairs instead of elevators can be beneficial for you. These little changes in your physical activities can surely increase and enhance the blood flow while releasing hormones that assist in controlling stress, burn calories, and high alertness.
Practice YOGA and aerobics: Do regular meditation and keep yourself organized to eliminate unnecessary and preventable stress.
Balanced diet: Do not ever skip your meals as it may lead to excessive hunger and eventually over-eating. Just make sure to have at least two balanced meals and healthy snacking in between.
References:
National youth policy 2014
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescents-health-risks-and-solutions
Sweating with body odour generally starts after puberty. The best way to manage the problem is by keeping the area clean and dry. You can use talcum or alcohol-free deodorants.
No, you should avoid sex or take appropriate precautions like a condom to prevent the spread of infection as the bacteria that cause PID can spread through sexual contact. Men can also get infected by the bacteria and they will act as silent carriers of bacteria. Treatment for both male and female partner is a must for PID as infection can recur if your partner doesn't receive treatment.
Being shy is also a human trait and some people are shy by nature. So, there is no need to feel bad about it. But you can boost her to go out and socialize with friends and family. Take her to parks, go for walks and meet her friends, call her friends at home, take her for a movie date and allow her to gel up with children of her age. This will boost her confidence and may make her extrovert too.
Yes, any kind of lump in the breast should be checked by a gynecologist for proper evaluation.
Genetics do play a role in certain cancers including breast cancer, but it is not so that every female who has a history of breast cancer will suffer from it. But for the sake of prevention, you should regularly undergo screening test i.e. mammogram to know any changes in your breast tissue. Early detected breast cancer can be treated very well as compared to late stage breast cancer.
As UTIs are normally caused by bacteria, they are most commonly treated with antibiotics or antimicrobials. So, you must consult a gynecologist for check-ups, tests and further treatment.
Although Pale yellow discharge before period can be normal, it can also be a sign of some infection if the discharge is foul-smelling. You can consult your gynecologist for thorough examination and evaluation.
