My 15-year-old daughter has not seen her menses at an age when her age mates are already in their 4th to 5th year of their menses. What I noticed is that her lower abdomen is protruding even though she is still a virgin. Although my elder sister who is a nurse has encouraged me not to worry that some young women usually have late menses, I am getting disturbed with her condition and will appreciate your kind assistance.

Chinwe (by E Mail)

Menarche (the onset of menstruation), varies between ages 9 and 18 with the average around 12 years old. If no periods have occurred when a girl is older than 15, further testing may be needed. Your daughter’s protruding abdomen may indicate an underlying problem called ‘imperforate hymen’. This occurs when there is no opening in the hymen which should permit the outflow of the menses. Therefore, even though your daughter may be menstruating, the blood flow gets trapped in the womb which gets enlarged. The way to know if this is the problem is by carrying out an Ultrasound investigation. Once this is confirmed, your doctor will incise your daughter’s hymen to release the accumulated blood in the womb which will come out as dark coloured and congealed blood.

YOU MAY ALSO READ THESE:

Oshiomhole defies court order, swears in factional Delta APC chair

PERHAPS contrary to his oath of office to build and unite factional tendencies that have dogged the All Progressives Congress (APC) in most states, national chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has allegedly sworn in the factional chairman of the party in...READ MORE

Fayose makes public appearance, wants Ekiti monarchs intervention

GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, on Tuesday, made his first public appearance since last Saturday’s governorship election amid cheers from Ado Ekiti public as he paid the Ewi of …READ MORE

FAAC deadlock will continue unless ―Governors

PHOTOS: PDP leaders meet with Obasanjo in Abeokuta

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo today hosted leaders of his former party, Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in…ALSO READ

Buhari confused, left Nigeria adrift ―Obasanjo

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has observed that the administration of President Muhammadu is confused and has left Nigeria perilously…READ MORE

How Saraki escaped 10 year ban, forfeiture of assets

Simon Kolawole, the founder of Cable Online newspaper is usually a jovial and jolly good fellow. He is capable of making jokes out of the most serious issues. As Editor of THISDAY where I also edited the Sunday newspaper, Simon would walk into my office and say, «Alhaji, Alhaji, Alhaji, how many times have you been to…READ MORE

Gridlock in Kaduna, over 1,000 vehicles trapped as youths barricade road

OVER a thousand vehicles and hundreds of commuters were trapped in the busy Kaduna /Kano Highway when youths of Barakallahu under Igabi Local government area of Kaduna State barricaded the road in the early…READ MORE

Sex-for-marks: Victim, Linda Ikeji refuse to show up ―VC

THE Governing Council of University of Lagos, UNILAG, on Monday, said the university would likely involve the police to compel the accuser of Prof Olusegun Awonusi of the Department of English Language of the institution, Miss Joy Nwanna and the publisher of the Linda Ikeji blog, Ms Linda Ikeji, to appear before a…READ MORE

EFCC taunts Fayose on Twitter, warns of imminent arrest

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned of an imminent arrest of the Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose via a Twitter post it released on Sunday, over a failed poultry…READ MORE