Presence or absence of menstruation in young girls

Menstruation is a periodic discharge of sanguinous fluid and sloughing of the uterine lining in the female. It is an event characteristic of the reproductive cycle in humans and most subhuman primates and has no known biological function. However, it is an integral part of a woman's experience throughout her reproductive life. This article will examine menstrual patterns and concerns in young girls. The section on absent menstruation will concentrate on premature ovarian failure.