Question

The nurse is taking a history for a female client who is requesting a routine female exam. Which assessment finding requires follow-up?

• Menstruation onset at age 9.
• Contraceptive method includes condoms only.
• Menstrual cycle occurs every 35 days.
• "Black-out" after one drink last night on a date.

Answer 1

C Menstruation cycle occurs every 35 days.

This requires regular follow up.

Normally menarche occurs by 10-12 years in female. If it occurs less than 8 years it is called precocious puberty.

Characteristics of normal menstrual cycle:

a. Duration of cycle: 21-35 days. On average 28 days.

b. Number of days of bleeding: 2-7 days.

c. Amount of bleeding : 5-80 ml. On average 30 ml.

The menstrual cycle can be divided into 2 phases:

1.Follicular phase/proliferative phase: main harmone is estrogen.

2.Luteal phase/ secretary phase : Main harmone is progesterone.

Ovulation occur on day 14 th of each cycle.

Menstrual cycle need not be exactly same number of days in each women or even it varies in individual.

If cycle is of long duration/ infrequent bleeding it is called as Oligomenorrhea.

If cycle is of short duration/frequent bleeding it is called Polymenorrhea.

In these cases when pt comes to nurse with these history, firstly nurse have to take proper history and also she need to follow up these patients for few more periods for information on duration, blood loss, pain.