Preparation for Motherhood - 1896 Author:Elisabeth Robinson Scovil Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER II MENSTRUATION The increased supply of blood sent to the pelvic organs at the time of the ripening and discharge of an egg from the ovary causes t... more »iny blood vessels in the lining of the uterus to rupture, and produces a flow of blood known as the menses. The term is derived from a Latin word meaning month, and the name is given because the discharge occurs about every twenty-eight days. TIME OF APPEARANCE The time of its first appearance varies very much in different persons and under different conditions. Girls who live in a cold climate and who are strong and hardy are not unwell as early as their more delicate sisters, or those whose home is in a warm country. Even in temperate latitudes the flow sometimes begins at eleven years of age, and it may not come until fifteen. If it is delayed longer than this a physician should be consulted. NECESSITY OP CARE 27 Sometimes the opening of the vagina is closed by a membrane, called the hymen, which prevents the escape of the fluid, and it has to be removed to give it free passage. This is a very trifling operation, but the consequences of neglecting it are serious. The discharge is at first pale, then becomes a bright red, and towards the last paler again. It lasts from three to six days, and from a quarter to a half pint is lost. When a larger quantity than this is discharged, a physician should be consulted, as the drain is too great. Iron, or some other tonic, is needed to check the flow. Some women menstruate slightly more often than every twenty-eight days. When it occurs oftener than once in three weeks, advice should be obtained. Others are only unwell once in two months and yet seem to be in perfect health. NECESSITY OF CARE Any disturbance of the menstrual function is sure to be attend...« less