At What Age Can a Girl Become Pregnant?
The American Pregnancy Association estimates that nearly 469,000 teenage mothers become pregnant and give birth each year in the United States alone. In many situations, these new mothers assumed erroneously that they were too young to get pregnant. Understanding the relationship between your menstrual cycle and pregnancy is key to figuring out at what age you can become pregnant.
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Menstruation
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A girl's first menstrual period (menarche), which usually happens between the ages of 8 and 15 years, is the first visible indication that she can become pregnant. Your menstrual period occurs when your body sheds blood and thickened uterine lining following ovulation. Menarche won't take place until all the parts of your reproductive system are completely matured and your body is capable of becoming pregnant. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, your menstrual period could be as short as two days or as long as seven days and still be normal. Your period could also range in strength from light to heavy.
Time Frame
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Most girls experience their first period at the age of 12, but the US Department of Health and Human Services states that you could experience it anytime between 8 and 15 years of age. Typically, your first period will start about two years after your breasts have begun their physical development. If you reach the age of 16 and still haven't experienced your first period, you should talk to your doctor.
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Menstrual Cycle
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Your menstrual cycle is the duration of time from the first day of your period until the first day of the following period. When you're experiencing your first few years of periods, this cycle can range greatly in length, but it will typically be between 21 and 45 days long. During the middle of your menstrual cycle, hormones in your body cause one of your ovaries to release a mature egg; if this egg is not fertilized by sperm, then it leaves your body in the flow of blood called your menstrual period. According to KidsHealth.Org, many girls may experience an irregular menstrual cycle or skip periods during the first two years following the first menstruation, which is normal, especially if you're sick or stressed.
Pregnancy
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Once you have experienced your first menstrual period, you can get pregnant. You are most likely to get pregnant on the day during your cycle that you ovulate (when your ovary releases a mature egg) and the days surrounding that date, but it is difficult to determine exactly when this event takes place. According to the American Pregnancy Association, most women ovulate 11 to 21 days after the first day of their last menstrual period, but this can vary depending upon stress or sickness.
Signs and Symptoms
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In addition to menstrual bleeding, most girls experience certain signs and symptoms that indicate they are experiencing menstruation and can become pregnant. You may notice that you are more moody than usual and many girls experience menstrual cramps, achy cramps in the abdomen that range in strength from dull to sharp. Emotional changes, such as increased irritability and sadness can arrive before your period even begins, a result of the changing hormones in your body, according to KidsHealth.Org.
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