Published online November 1, 2006
PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 5 November 2006, pp. 2245-2250 (doi:10.1542/peds.2006-2481)
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Right arrow Adolescent Medicine

CLINICAL REPORT

Menstruation in Girls and Adolescents: Using the Menstrual Cycle as a Vital Sign

American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Adolescence, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Committee on Adolescent Health Care

Young patients and their parents often are unsure about what represents normal menstrual patterns, and clinicians also may be unsure about normal ranges for menstrual cycle length and amount and duration of flow through adolescence. It is important to be able to educate young patients and their parents regarding what to expect of a first period and about the range for normal cycle length of subsequent menses. It is equally important for clinicians to have an understanding of bleeding patterns in girls and adolescents, the ability to differentiate between normal and abnormal menstruation, and the skill to know how to evaluate young patients’ conditions appropriately. Using the menstrual cycle as an additional vital sign adds a powerful tool to the assessment of normal development and the exclusion of pathological conditions.

Key Words: menarche • menstruation • adolescent

Abbreviations: PCOS—polycystic ovary syndrome




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