Health Questions and Responses

Following are the health questions you sent us along with our responses. To ask a health question, go to the Guest Book and ask your question in the comment section, or email it directly to info@allsomali.com


Do I stop growing with my first period?
Pregnant and Large resources?
What are the Safe & Unsafe days?
Can I change the date of my period?

More Questions and Responses


Disclaimer: Allsomali online Somali women's center makes health information accessible in the belief that knowledge leads to empowerment, that people make better health decisions when they have as much information as possible.

This website does not offer advice about health or healthcare. The information contained in this website cannot substitute for advice from a healthcare practitioner. Only personal contact with the healthcare practitioner of your choice -- who knows your health history, who can examine you personally, and who can bring expertise and experience to bear on your situation -- can yield advice about your specific health situation.

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QUESTION
I'm 12 years old, and I got my period a year ago. Is it true you stop growing taller after you period? If not, when? And what is the rate?

RESPONSE
There's a great book called "What's Happening to My Body? A Book for Girls" by Linda Madaras. It says that girls usually have a growth spurt at the beginning of puberty which usually lasts less than a year. By the time of her first period, the growth will slow a little to 1-2 inches per year.

Girls usually reach their full adult height within 1-3 years after their first period.

From the time of age 2, humans usually grow about 2 inches per year (that is on average - not necessarily steadily - it is often in spurts).

QUESTION
Hi. I'm fat. but like to be call large. Well whatever. I'm here to ask if there are any books or materials about being fat and with child (pregnant), 'cuz my friend is fat is pregnant and she got the typical treatment (everything seems fine but I'm worried about your weight).
Thanks
Tracey

RESPONSE
If any website readers have book/resource suggestions for Tracey, send them to mailto:info@allsomali.com

QUESTION
I have heard that it is possible to change the date of my period by altering the way I take my pills. I am getting married in 3 months and am due to get my period on the honeymoon. I would like to delay it for a couple of days if this is possible. Is there any way to do this without reducing the pill's effectiveness? I would appreciate your comments.

RESPONSE
Birth control pills are set up on a 4 week cycle -- one pack of pills for every 4 weeks. Starting on a Sunday is arbitrary, but easy to remember. The last (4th) week of pills are non-hormonal. When you take the last week's worth of pills, (or if you stop taking pills) then "withdrawal" bleeding occurs. This is not the same as a regular period. It is caused by the sudden drop of hormones.

To alter the date of your period, causing it to occur one week later than you currently expect, you should continue taking hormone pills for an extra week, then switch to the non-hormonal week. To do this you need an extra pack of pills.

Some women, especially athletes, never stop taking hormone pills. They just take them continuously. You could do this too -- and not have any periods. You would need to keep close track of packages of pills to be sure you always had enough. Each pack would last only 3 weeks instead of 4. When you want to have a period, stop taking the hormonal pills - but only for one week, then go back to the hormonal pills in order to be protected from pregnancy.

IMPORTANT: If you go more than 7 days without hormone pills, you need a backup method of birth control.

Also, some women who have tried to alter their periods have had unexpected spotting. To affect your cycle 3 months from now, it would be good to start now with changing your pill-taking now and give your body time to adjust.

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