As we discussed earlier, for most girls, the first signs of puberty are the beginnings of breast buds, the appearance of pubic hair, the widening of the hips, and the general rounding of the physique. Increased estrogen levels stimulate the growth of the breasts, labia, and clitoris; the enlargement of the uterus; widening of the vaginal canal; an increase in body fat and in the activities of the sweat glands. In other words, the adolescent’s body is adding oily skin, fat, sweat, and odor—is it any wonder that girls become self-conscious during this period, when the entire advertising industry advises us that these are the most undesirable traits of the human body?
Menarche is the hallmark of female puberty and is often viewed as one of the most important events in a woman’s life (Ersoy et al., 2005). It usually begins fairly late in the sequence of changes after the peak of the growth spurt and generally (but not always) before regular ovulation. However, ovulation does sometimes occur early in puberty, so
unprotected intercourse before menarche can result in pregnancy. Menarche can be a scary time for a girl who is uninformed about what to expect and an embarrassing time if she is not taught how to correctly use tampons or pads.
Menarche can mean different things to an adolescent girl depending on how her family or her culture explains it to her. It can signify the exciting beginning of adulthood, sexuality, and the ability to have babies—but with all the potential problems that brings as well. Girls who are prepared for menstruation and who are recognized for their intellectual or creative capabilities are more likely to describe pleasurable reactions to the onset of menstruation, whereas girls who are not recognized for other abilities often experience more fear and shame associated with first menstruation (Teitelman, 2004).
Girls often worry that their maturation is too fast or too slow. Common fears include the fear that their breasts will not grow or will be extremely large, that one breast will be much different than the other, or that their first menstrual period occurs too soon or too late. Girls who consider themselves to be “on time” feel more attractive and positive about their bodies than those who consider themselves “early” or “late” (Hamburg, 1986). Although boys’ first sign of sexual maturity—ejaculation—is generally a pleasurable experience that is overtly associated with sexuality, girls’ sign of maturity is not associated with sexual pleasure and may be accompanied by cramps and discomfort, as well as embarrassment if the onset is at an inopportune time (such as in the middle of gym class). As one girl commented:
I started my period in April of my 8th grade year. All my friends had already started, and my Mom had talked to me about it, so I wasn’t really scared. I thought it was really gross and painful because of the cramps. I was scared to use a tampon because I thought it would hurt. I wore a pad for my first period, and I was really embarrassed because I had to go church and I thought people could see my pad. (Author’s files)
Unfortunately, some girls begin menstruation with little idea of what is happening or with myths about it being bad to bathe, swim, exercise, or engage in sexual activities. Many are unfamiliar with their genital anatomy, making tasks such as inserting tampons difficult and frustrating (Diamond & Diamond, 1986).