Some girls may experience heavy or prolonged bleeding at the onset of menstrual periods. It is also common in the first few years of a girl’s periods, most often due to irregular ovulation and irregular hormones. However, sometimes bleeding is so heavy that it can interfere with normal activities or result in dangerous levels of anemia.

In addition, very heavy bleeding may occasionally be the first clue of a bleeding disorder that needs to be diagnosed and treated. Selah providers are experienced in a sensitive and thorough evaluation of these symptoms.

Although menstrual cramping is very commonly experienced by most young women in their teen years, cramping pain that prevents a girl from participating in normal activities such as school and sports, may be a sign of endometriosis. Pain symptoms that start a day or two before menstrual bleeding starts, or pain passing bowel movements during menses are also common symptoms of endometriosis. This severity of symptoms should be evaluated by an experienced gynecology provider in order to achieve an effective treatment approach.

Amenorrhea may present as primary (menstrual cycles never started) or as secondary (they started, but then stopped). There are various hormonal or structural causes for this, which should be evaluated by an experienced gynecology provider. Sometimes we determine a girl is simply a “late-bloomer”, and other times we identify a significant hormonal dysfunction that should be treated.

We recommend that if a teen girl has not started her period by the age of 15 or 16, she should be evaluated. In addition, girls that skip periods regularly even after they’ve been menstruating for 2 years, should also be evaluated.

An imperforate hymen is the persistence of excess hymen skin covering or partially covering the vaginal opening. This can produce significant pain when a girl’s periods start, or it may go completely unnoticed until she attempts to use tampons or have sexual intercourse. This tissue generally needs to be surgically removed through a simple procedure in order to allow for normal vaginal function.

We aim to provide girls with this condition a discreet and caring interaction in order to restore normal function to them.

Contraception can be a sensitive topic for teens and for their parents. At Selah, we respect state laws which protect the privacy of teen girls to discuss this topic with a gynecology provider with or without their parents present, as they desire. We always encourage open communication and have supportive discussions with teens regarding their desires, their decisions, and the impact of these decisions on their physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

More Information:

https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Birth-Control-Especially-for-Teens