Dear Counselor, I am a girl of 16. For two month now, I have missed my periods. I am worried I may be pregnant. What are some of the symptoms of pregnancy?

The onset and degree of pregnancy symptoms vary within women. Some women experience them within days of conception others take much longer. Some of the pregnancy symptoms include:
(i)  Nausea and vomiting: Many women experience illness in the morning (morning sickness) and others feel nausea throughout the day.
(ii)   Breast tenderness:  Due to the increasing amount of HCG hormone that begins at implantation, the breasts may become very tender and may start to enlarge. The veins in the breasts may become more visible. The nipples may start to darken in colour, become more erect and extremely sensitive.
(iii)  Feeling tired/Sluggish :D uring pregnancy, the body goes through major hormonal changes. The temperature becomes higher due to the amount of progesterone circulating through the body making the pregnant woman feel sluggish.
(iv)  Frequent urination: Pregnancy causes the uterus to swell and to start enlarging for the growing fetus. The uterus puts pressure on the bladder causing the feel for the need for more frequent urination.
(v)  Missed periods: There is no ovulation during pregnancy therefore a pregnant woman misses her menstrual periods.
(vi) Irritability: Many pregnant women as easily irritated as a result of the hormonal changes and the need to put up with all the pregnancy symptoms.
(vii) Heartburn: Pregnancy hormones will slow down bowel functions to give maximum absorption time of vitamins and nutrients. The stomach may not empty as fast which increases the stomach acid.

Just missing your period for 2 month does not necessarily mean you are pregnant.  It is normal for young   girls not to menstruate regularly as their bodies are still growing. Menstruation is affected by so many factors like stress, emotional ups and downs, sickness, nutrition, fear, anxiety to mention but a few.
However, if you have a number of the above symptoms, you need to go to a health centre for a pregnancy test.

Dear Counselor, I am a girl of 18 years. I always have painful menstrautions. What causes pain during menstruation and what can I do about it?

Pains during menstruation are very normal unless if they are too severe. This pain is caused by the contraction of the uterus walls as blood is being shed and squeezed out. Pain-killers can help reduce on the pain and if it gets too unbearable, then you should see a health worker preferably a gynecologist and you will get treatment. A hot water bottle placed on the tummy can also reduce the pain.
Some girls, however, do not get pains at all during their menstruation and this too is normal.

Dear Counselor, I am a girl of 16 years. For now, it is now 3 months since I last menstruated yet I have never played sex with anybody. What can I do? Why do some girls miss periods without playing sex?

As young girls are growing up, some of them do not menstruate regularly and this is very normal. Menstruation is affected by so many factors like stress, emotional ups and downs, sickness, nutrition, fear, anxiety to mention but a few.
If you have never played sex with anybody, there’s no need to worry because worry will only increase on anxiety which will further affect your cycle. Just relax and wait, it will flow.

Dear Counselor, can a girl get pregnant if she plays sex with a boy while in her periods?

Yes, it is possible for a girl to get pregnant if she has unprotected sexual intercourse during per period (i.e. when she is still breeding). It depends on the length of her cycle, how many days her period lasts and when she has sexual intercourse because the sperm can survive up to 3-4 days in a woman’s body.

For a girl with a short menstrual cycle like that of 21 days, ovulation (release of the egg) may occur when she is still in her period especially if she stays long like 7 days in her periods. Therefore it is possible for the girl to get pregnant so long as there are sperm when ovulation occurs even if she is still in her periods.

Dear Counselor, I am a girl of 17 years of age. Whenever I am experiencing my menstrual periods, I don’t have pads. What can I do?

Sorry about your challenge young sister. It must be a horrible experience for you, not having a pad to use. I take it you meant the already made sanitary products in the market. Well, my sister, your challenge is apparently still experienced by many women and girls today. Your worry is created by the misconception that we must always use these manufactured sanitary towels on the market but that is not true because you can make one yourself, especially if you cannot afford the ones in the market today.

One of the timeless methods used is that of making one yourself by using a cotton piece of cloth [so it can absorb and hold your flow]. It could be from an old dress, bed sheet or any other cotton cloth you could specifically buy for making your pads.

Fold the piece of cloth to a small rectangular shape to a layer thick enough to hold your flow and a length that does not peep out of your panty [which by the way should be fitting enough to hold your pad and not make it slide off your body] . Fold more pieces of the same sort for storage in your bag for you to keep changing for hygiene and to avoid leakages, when the one you are wearing gets soaked. At least change every three to four hours if your flow is not heavy.

If you have many clothes, you could throw this used one away but if you do not have more, thoroughly wash the used one CLEAN, dry it and iron it for another use. In case you do not have an iron box, ensure that the cloth dries under direct sun and fresh air or wind.

This method is one that never grows old and requires a lot of good hygiene and confidence from you.