---
title: "Menstruation in Girls and Adolescence: Using the Menstrual Cycle as a Vital Sign"
date: 2015-12-01T03:00:00-05:00
author: OBOS Admin
canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/menstruation-in-girls-and-adolescence-using-the-menstrual-cycle-as-a-vital-sign"
section: Resources
---
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[Health & Sexuality Info](/health-info)# Menstruation in Girls and Adolescence: Using the Menstrual Cycle as a Vital Sign

Should menstruation be viewed as a vital sign like someone’s pulse or blood pressure? The menstrual cycle can be an important indicator of health, particularly in young people, but is often ignored by healthcare providers.

> It is important for clinicians to have an understanding of the menstrual patterns of adolescent girls, the ability to differentiate between normal and abnormal menstruation, and the skill to know how to evaluate the adolescent girl patient. By including an evaluation of the menstrual cycle as an additional vital sign, clinicians reinforce its importance in assessing overall health status for patients and caretakers.

[Read the full article ](https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2015/12/menstruation-in-girls-and-adolescents-using-the-menstrual-cycle-as-a-vital-sign)

SOURCE: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists • LAST UPDATED: December 1, 2015

![Menstruation in Girls and Adolescence- Using the Menstrual Cycle as a Vital Sign](data:image/png;base64,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) 

![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)Topics

- [ menstrual cycle](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/subject-area/menstrual-cycle)
- [youth](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/tags/youth)

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Vera Institute’s Initiative to End Girls’ Incarceration explains the link between childhood sexual abuse and incarceration of girls, LGBQ/TGNC youth.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/criminalizing-trauma-on-childhood-sexual-abuse-and-incarceration-of-girls)

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## Talking About Eating Disorders in Health Class

LS discusses the ways that the education she received around disordered eating as a young person failed to prepare her for her own experiences.

![LS](data:image/png;base64,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)

LS discusses the ways that the education she received around disordered eating as a young person failed to prepare her for her own experiences.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/stories-conversations/my-story-talking-about-eating-disorders-in-health-class)

[ResourcesRead

## FAQs for Teens: Your First Period

These FAQs answer many questions young teens may have about periods, including “What is puberty?” “How often will I get my period?” “How do I choose a tampon?”

![FA Qs for Teens Your First Period scaled jpeg](data:image/png;base64,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)

These FAQs answer many questions young teens may have about periods, including “What is puberty?” “How often will I get my period?” “How do I choose a tampon?”](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/faqs-for-teens-your-first-period)

[ResourcesLook

## Hanging Out or Hooking Up: Navigating Relationships for Teens

This poster from Futures Without Violence shares signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships and includes national hotline resource numbers.

![edward-cisneros-WVG69HbLY_s](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACAAAAAgCAIAAAD8GO2jAAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAE4ElEQVRIiV1WUY4sxw0jKXXP7hqGARuBc6ecI2fIkfNjBzBgOH47JTIf1b27TqE+pmsKokRJVPFf//xHghm/P+fP9/XHf99//+P9t9+//ee3b//+9c9ffnkHFkCg//7zy88/vvz4w8sP3798/93j7fXx+no+zuM4uo9WlSSQgQIEDBBABAmAIEGAe4EkSsTnonjd3qf8+meABNsk8vW8JSZUIEaSSJElHtJLERQiAC0+xCaLG4kEBPDaIW7TF1ASBuhSJUFgpaUuHaWjdLZeT/3tO/36uwT89MbX5lk8iCaLKEKAeMEgQXLHkAAOAnSrghC0MZWj6qg6u1663s5ab3VOGLy96u3Qo3iU+mso2/2EyI1BB3sH6aMrgeAEnqzqs+fR9TzqeVZe64EgeLzU66lH6yye4sZosvCJkfiOBE42Rh/VSUQiSGPaq/txzPNc62y8+ASQnGe9HnppPkpH8RCb2EQVwM0I4yCOEztjOOmjO4nGCO1M9+pZXeton4tTC0FyHHo59NL1KJ7SoY2xIwiR5CI+ju1xxrE/AGiAcdye7jlmjuWzOV4A4249jnq0zrpZ4hWE7qwmgZ2xxzNeYyd9VCUQzSCVaa+es2t1+1icGgRRFx/HzoGOv0ZAIIiz68RZl/mZGaeP6iAaYsNPTffqdXa5G8cMwqTEs+ssnaWj1NJO8m4IB4jHhiezstY8Z9ZadndVEoIJXD6qVumomi4fwpQR2F06WmfrqNt98eIHm6MwxhgzXsvPNWvNTFcpuwGVkUrVVV3VraMKXYMwLPGs3YbsUoml3QrcHHnXfww7a7KWn8+ZaUm7/6yUVFKVutTSlNKlGGGL3XWUSrvRVGSRvCVCCLF7zJtrr5W1WlSQiKIk6fOHqmSJVYxLbG3rKqrEooqXVG6S/9LPG8ZufojpxxLFC6QklmiUuD8lal+4rwcgqa3EIEFmqxORjyRtVQRA8hNO28wVkXhF9+nJrqILTJ9eitzOVPvS1kvPt9heen9dFhIK3Pz93/r0SNSOvFSlalUUthMkTpwkMK6xkWtgCDDvSQR+zqQPPggAujxQSVGlGmWG1bYDjDO51MPOrbf8GH4As3WTDD/n3wYgSIEqFdQoo8NBYaaXnWR2XdkrnmS22AIGgQ8Y5sof9+c9aa9TCSpWWGFDpmn3cyaB7bX3ZDnLWM4Yk+07BAZ0GNA3QEhS2XW4Jy0saFtPmc4XgOXn+Dnz3KEYK/GVDU44gMGdJAM7mpsuIiAiqphitQJbRr+vSWJn3daf4+fkuSeGATMMQYe+MPaGiOCuz5CEmCJayYSOgv621o5gxs/l58z7+H38HI9j7xRTwYQTTjBB3Uh3LQmiQgkyKkCBxgWA4Ery8vuN8XRmEEMBCIoVdODQVzJwUyTsJgQVloj7P+MG2BTtNLxfyYidOAogyNi+DzB3gRkfbSxIhEQl+6F0VXl/ey7gltiLJT8nazITGAUgVHZp87aOXcfaFImQwCIkEtF++QXs911FyWwNn+w8L8cODAMERrfvH/tui1w6JEqgBGHTBV4AF0XOmlwA15vgauK13b/t+ku9fmTiEo8bI9CG7zUTwMZcLXbtcZLsQql8cnI/2e69BeMqJ+1QQAHaDd6zNS6ZYIvEJE72ub7Y/fKC5i2FuFT+0qVrsOCWRYD/A3RGOZ3PplzJAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC)

This poster from Futures Without Violence shares signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships and includes national hotline resource numbers.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/health-info/hanging-out-or-hooking-up-navigating-relationships-for-teens)