Health Story! Impotant and interesting topic about middle age girls

HELLO PERIODS!
This is a story about three friends who are going to learn about an important and interesting topic with you today!
So open your mind and keep your eyes alert!
Come, let’s meet Pinky. She turns nine today. Her friends Jiya,Meera, and Priya didi who is a doctor are celebrating her birthday at home. Just then, Meera notices Priya’s childhood pictures that were hung on the wall.
Wow, Priya didi!

You looked just like Pinky when you were younger!
Haha! Yes Meera, you are right!
The journey of growing up from a little girl to a young woman is very exciting.

Really?!

Hmm… Didi, how do we grow?

Meera, we grow because of the pituitary gland.
Pituitary gland! What is that?

Pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland located near the lower portion of the brain.When it is time for your body to grow, the pituitary gland releases special chemicals in your body called hormones.
These hormones help the various organs in your body to mature,because of which you experience various physical and emotional changes.

What kinds of changes, didi?


Lots of changes!


For example, your height increases and so does your weight.Your breasts begin to grow.Your hips widen.
Oh, and hair begins to grow in your under arms and around your genitals.
Along with these changes, sometimes,
you might notice white mucus like secretion from your vagina.This is called vaginal discharge.This is absolutely normal.
There’s nothing to worry about!

Didi, vagina is the same place from where we urinate, right?

No Pinky!


Vagina is different.
Let me explain in detail.
There are three openings between our legs.The topmost opening is the urethra.This is where the urine comes out from.Below that is the vagina.This opening is slightly bigger than the urethra.Babies are born through the vaginal opening!
And the anus is located at the very end.Feces is expelled from this opening.

Didi
ust like girls, do boys also experience changes while growing up?


Of course, Jiya!


Boys gain height rapidly, hair starts growing on their chest and around the pubic area, their voice deepens and beard grows on their faces! Boys and girls, both undergo changes when they grow up.

Oh, I see! Now I understand how we grow up.
Very good!


Now tell me, what does our body need in order to grow healthily?

Milk and green vegetables.
Fruits too!
We must also exercise!

Wow, you girls are very smart!
You are all correct!

Our body needs a variety of nutrients to grow properly. If we include fruits,vegetables, and grains of various colours in our food intake,
these nutritional needs are easily met!
One such essential nutrient is Iron.

Do you know why our body requires iron?

Why, didi?


Iron is required for the circulation of oxygen in our blood. A deficiency in iron causes anemia, which can make you feel weak and tired even after taking rest.

Oh! But where do we get iron from, Didi?

We can get iron from peas,spinach,potatoes,pulses,dry fruits and fish!
 And if iron is consumed with food rich in Vitamin-C, then our body absorbs iron in larger quantities!
You can get Vitamin-C from fruits like amla,orange,lemon and mango!

Yay! Mango is my favourite fruit.
All this talk about food is making me hungry, Didi!

Yes, Pinky! Let’s go and eat hot, fresh food!

What have we learned so far?

While eating food, Jiya had a feeling of wetness in her underwear. She went to the bathroom immediately. As soon as she reached the bathroom and checked her underwear, she was shocked! There was blood on it!
This had never happened to her before!
She could not understand why. But Priya didi knew everything.
Don’t worry, Jiya.

You just got your first period. It is natural and happens to all girls and women. Take this sanitary pad!

It will absorb all the blood so that your clothes don’t get spoilt!

There must be lots of questions cropping up in your head right now?


Similarly, Pinky, Jiya and Meera too have such questions that they are going to ask Priya didi.

Didi, what are periods?
Why do girls bleed, didi?
Does it also pain?
What is a sanitary pad?

So many questions! Hang on!
I will answer all your questions one-by-one. Every month during periods, a small amount of blood flows out of our vagina for three to seven days. The blood flow is heaviest on the first day and it gradually lessens over the next few days.
Usually, girls start getting their periods when they turn around 10-15 years of age.
But didi, why do we get periods?

Periods is a very important process, Pinky, because of which we are alive today. If you wish to have babies in the future, your body needs to start preparing for it from now itself. Periods are the result of that preparation.

Okay, now tell me something.

Do you know where babies are formed in the body?
In the stomach!

No, no! In the uterus.

Exactly, Meera!


The uterus is in the lower portion of our abdomen. While growing up, after a certain age, our uterus starts preparing itself for the child that you might bear in the future. For this, a new layer of soft tissues and blood is formed on the inner surface of the uterus every month. This layer is important for the nourishment of the baby. But as long as you are not pregnant, your uterus does not need the layer of blood and tissue.
So this layer is discharged through the vagina every month in the form of blood. This is what is known as periods.
 Ohh! Now I understand why we bleed during periods!

But didi, is this loss of blood harmful for us?
 Not at all, Meera!
In fact, periods indicate that you are healthy, and that your body is developing healthily. What have we learned so far?
Didi, I have understood why do we get periods, but is there a way to know when will we  get our next period?
Yes, there is, Jiya!
Every girl gets her periods at regular intervals of time. The length of this interval is the length of the menstrual cycle.
Let me explain with an example.
If your periods began from 10 January, and the next time they arrive on 7 February, then the length of your menstrual cycle is from 10th January to 6th February, which is a total of 28 days. This means that your menstrual cycle is 28 days long.

So it is likely that you will get your periods after every 28 days. But remember, the duration of the menstrual cycle is different for every girl. Brilliant! This way, I can calculate when I'll get my next period, This is very helpful, Didi! Now I can stay prepared for my next periods. Yes Jiya, but remember, you have just started getting your periods. Your body will take some time to adjust to these changes. So for the first one or two years, your periods might be irregular.
If for any reason your periods continue for more than ten days, or the bleeding is so much that you need to change your pad every hour, or if you find large clots of blood coming out, then you must consult a doctor immediately!
Didi, I am having a stomach ache.
What should I do?
Jiya, many girls experience pain or cramps in the lower abdomen during their periods. The uterus contracts to squeeze blood out of the vagina, which might be a bit painful for some girls. It is completely normal and there is no need to panic.
Due to the changes that happen in the body during periods, some girls might also get pimples on their face, suffer from headaches, or have mood swings.
Let me give you some tips to deal with these problems. Everyday, go for a brisk walk for atleast 30 minutes. Get your body into Child pose, Butterfly pose, and Cobra pose and hold each pose for five deep breaths. you can place a hot water bag over your lower abdomen.
Drink lots of water and sleep well.
During your menstrual years, your body needs much more iron. By consuming food rich in iron and Vitamin-C,
you will have much relief from the discomforts of periods. Will we get periods throughout our lives?
No, Meera.
Between 45 to 55 years of age, your periods will stop automatically. This is called menopause.
Does that mean even our mothers get periods?
Yes, Pinki
Until they are 45-55 years old, they'll continue to get periods. I would recommend you all should talk to your mothers about periods.
Because, often the experience of periods for girls is similar to their mother's experiences.

What have we learned so far?

Didi, you have told us many important things today!

But, what is a sanitary pad?

Sanitary pad is used to absorb the blood that comes out during periods. It is a long, thin pad, which is worn between the underwear and the genitals in such a manner that its absorbent middle part exactly covers the opening of the vagina.  This way it can easily absorb the blood coming out

and prevents it from staining your underwear. It is important to remember a few things while using sanitary pads. You must wash your hands clean before and after using a sanitary pad.

Change your pads at least every six hours or more often if needed.

Didi, where do you get these sanitary pads?

Sanitary pads are easily available in convenience stores near your house.You can also ask for one from elders in your house, or your friends.If you are using it for the first time, remember to read the instructions given on the packet. If you still face problems, you can take help from your mother or sister. Didi, what should we do with the pad after using it? Can we wash it and use it again?
No Meera!

Most pads available in the market can be used only once. Used pads should be wrapped in a waste paper or an old newspaper, put it in a dustbin and it should be covered with a lid. Disposing it this way prevents foul smell and the spread of diseases. And don’t forget to wash your hands clean with soap after you dispose off your pads!
Didi, didi! Do you know?
This one time, our school toilet had to be shut down because it got flooded with sewage water!

When the plumber checked the pipe,

He found so many used pads stuck in there.
Oh!

See, this is why you should never flush pads in the toilet. Because it can easily clog the drainage system and lead to flooding of the toilet. Just imagine how much trouble this could cause!

Yes Didi
If we get periods in school, what should we do? Can we take a holiday?

No, Pinky. There is no need to skip school. You can ask a lady teachers or school nurse for a pad. Although there is nothing to feel shy about asking for a pad but if you are too shy about it, you can write on a piece of paper and give it. Your friends could have pads too! You can ask them as well.
Ever since I started getting periods, I made sure that I always carry one sanitary pad in my school bag. So that, even if I got my periods in school, I would be able to wear a pad in my underwear and immediately return to class.
Didi, if I am not able to buy a sanitary pad for some reason,
what can I do?

Jiya, you can make a sanitary pad at home as well. Take a clean cotton cloth and fold it twice lengthwise, and make it into a long rectangular pad. Place it in your underwear and use it like a regular sanitary pad. This cloth pad can be used two to three times But before every use, remember to wash it with clean, cold water, and dry it in sunlight before using it again. The sun rays are effective in killing germs. You must have already understood by now, how important it is to maintain hygiene during periods

But Didi
If it is so important to maintain hygiene during periods, then why are we prohibited from taking a shower during periods?

Meera, this is a misconception. In fact it is very important to take shower during periods. Let me give you some tips on maintaining hygiene during periods. Take a shower at least once everyday during periods Wear washed and clean bras, under wears and other undergarments and change them everyday. Change your pads at regular intervals. Wash your hands clean, before and after using a pad.
After using the toilet, wash your groin area with water and keep it dry

Remember!

Never use soap or deodorant in the vagina, because the vagina keeps itself clean and balanced on its own. As long as you keep yourself clean, you will remain healthy.

Didi, if we maintain cleanliness during our periods, then we will not be considered impure anymore, right?
Meera, there is nothing pure or impure about periods. Periods are in fact, a natural process that indicates that our body is healthy!
The more you learn about your body, the more confident you will be, and these myths will also clear away.
What have we learned so far?
Everyone faces a bit of inconvenience during periods. So always make sure that you help each other out and take care of each other.

Didi, I am so happy that you have told us so much about periods today! But how am I going to remember so many details?

My periods haven’t even started yet.

This is exactly why...I’ve brought you a special birthday gift, Pinky! Here you go.

What’s in this, didi?

Oh, wow! Menstrupedia comic book!
Yes Pinki

This comic book explains everything about periods in a very friendly and simple way using beautiful illustrations!

You will love reading it and you will also learn a lot of new things.
Thank you, Priya didi! Meera, Jiya and I will read this together, won’t we?


Yes, yes!


The topics initiated in this video are explained in detail in the Menstrupedia Comic book. Menstrupedia Comic is available at highly subsidized rates for schools and NGOs.


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