Lesson video

Hi, I'm Ms. Lowe and I'm your RSHE teacher for today.

Thank you so much for choosing to complete your learning with me.

Now because of the topics covered in today's lesson, it's important that your learning today is done accompanied by an adult.

So by the end of today's lesson, you will be able to explain how menstrual cycles change with age.

Every RSHE lesson should begin with a set of ground rules.

This ensures that every conversation had in RSHE is respectful and we're all able to learn effectively.

So Laura is reminding us that in RSHE, we should listen to others.

It's okay to disagree with each other, but we should listen properly before making assumptions or deciding how to respond.

And when disagreeing, we challenge the statement and not the person.

Andeep is reminding us to respect privacy.

We can discuss examples, but we don't use names or descriptions that can identify anyone, including ourselves.

Izzy is reminding us to choose a level of participation that suits us.

Everyone has the right to choose not to answer a question or to join in a discussion, but we never put anyone on the spot.

And finally, Jacob is reminding us that in RSHE, there is no judgment.

We can explore beliefs and misunderstandings about a topic without the fear of being judged.

So here are our keywords for today's lesson.

Menarche: the time when someone has their first period.

Fertility: how well a person can produce eggs or sperm and achieve pregnancy.

Menopause: when a female's monthly periods end and the body stops producing eggs, typically occurring in the late forties or early fifties.

And finally, perimenopause: the transition period before menopause when a female's hormone levels change, leading to irregular periods and other symptoms. So here is a look at the outline of today's lesson.

We're going to begin today by having a look at young people and menstruation.

So to begin, the doctor here is reminding us that our bodies are amazing, but puberty isn't the only time in our lives where our bodies change, and they will continue to change throughout our lives.

When someone first starts menstruating, their body is preparing for fertility, for the ability to reproduce and get pregnant.

As females get older, they actually stop having periods as they reach what is known as the menopause.

So fertility is the period of time when a person can reproduce or have a baby.

As we can see here at the bottom, we have a look at the changes that a female's body goes through in regards to fertility.

So it begins with menarche, the first period.

Then there is a period of fertility, the period of time leading up to the end of menstruation, known as the perimenopause, and then the end of menstrual cycles.

So we have menarche, menstruation, perimenopause, and the menopause.

Most females will experience these changes of menstruation at different ages.

They are different for everybody, but there are some averages.

So for menarche, the average is 8 to 14 years old.

The period of fertility for a female body is between the ages of 14 and 45.

The perimenopause can happen anywhere between the ages of 45 and 55.

And then menopause is from 55 years and onwards.

So we're going to pause here and check our understanding of what we've learned so far.

So menarche is the word to describe A, the first period; B, the end of periods; or C, the period of fertility.

So you're going to pause the video here, have a read through those three options and decide which one reflects menarche.

Very well done for giving that a go, and very, very well done for saying the first period.

And you've heard me say it a couple of times, but we pronounce this word menarche.

So menstrual cycles last approximately 21 days.

There are 11 to 13 cycles per year, but it is common for it to be irregular when periods first start.

There are other things that can affect the regularity of periods as well.

Things like stress, holidays, hormones, weight fluctuation, so our weight going up and down, and pregnancy.

All of these things may disrupt a person's cycle.

As a person moves through their menstrual cycle, physical and emotional symptoms will change as the level of hormones in their body either increases or decreases.

And the doctor here is telling us that understanding our bodies will help us to look after ourselves during these changes.

It's important to know what is typical for our bodies, what feels right, and when we can kind of see a concern with what's happening with us.

It's really, really important.

If we can understand the way that our body works, it makes us better at looking after ourselves.

We're going to pause here and we're going to check our understanding of what we've learned so far.

So, true or false? It is common for menstrual cycles to be irregular when periods first start.

So have a think about your answer.

Is this statement true or false? And we'll go through the answer together in just a moment.

Excellent work if you said true.

Yes, when first starting periods, they can be irregular.

The menstrual cycle moves through four phases, and these four phases take typically around 28 days to move through.

But it can be less, could be more depending on the person.

These phases are pre-menstruation, menstruation, pre-ovulation, and ovulation.

At each stage there are different levels of hormones that can affect energy levels and dietary needs.

Now for each one of these four phases, we are going to have a look at how the hormones are affected.

We're going to have a look at energy levels and dietary needs.

So let's begin now with pre-menstruation.

During pre-menstruation, hormone levels fall, and this is when people might start to feel the symptoms of PMS. During this time, it's important for people to eat proteins and pulses, to stay hydrated and to reduce the feeling of fatigue or tiredness.

PMS, or premenstrual syndrome, can make someone feel quite low and sometimes achy and tired.

Things like nuts and lentils are a great source of protein for energy.

So during pre-menstruation, it's important to be looking after our diet.

Things like nuts and lentils are great because they provide us with that necessary energy that we need during a time when we might feel a bit low or achy and tired.

Menstruation.

Now during this time, hormone levels are still low.

Gentle exercise can help with this.

And eating whole grains and vegetables can really help to increase energy level if a person is feeling fatigued.

So when someone is on their period, they really might not feel like exercising.

But in actual fact, some gentle movement can make them feel much better.

Try to choose things like whole grain bread and pasta where possible.

This will help give you that energy boost that you need to help you get through this phase in the menstrual cycle.

Next, we have pre-ovulation.

This is when the hormone estrogen is rising.

This is when we can start to increase the amount of exercise that a person is doing.

And it's important to eat carbohydrates to help prioritize growth.

So as estrogen rises, people can become more focused and maybe that is the time to learn a new skill or even start revision.

Things like sweet potatoes and vitamin-filled greens are perfect during this time.

And finally, we have ovulation.

So this is when estrogen levels are high, and this is when people should try and take advantage of having that increased amount of energy.

Foods that are rich in fiber are great to balance that energy.

So ovulation is when the egg is released from the ovaries.

And foods that are rich in fiber, like broccoli or carrots, are great to eat during this phase.

Now let's check our understanding, and we're thinking about those dietary requirements during those four phases of ovulation.

So which of these foods is fiber-rich and would help someone in their ovulation phase? Is it A, roast potatoes? Is it B, nuts and lentils? Or is it C, broccoli? I'd like you to have a think about your answer and we'll go through it in just a moment together after you've had a think.

And of course the answer is C.

Foods that are rich in fiber like broccoli are excellent for helping someone during their ovulation phase.

As wonderful as roast potatoes are, during this phase, people should be trying to eat those fiber-rich foods.

Now we're going to put our learning into practice.

The doctor here is telling us, "Many people will experience symptoms of PMS during their menstrual cycles." You are going to list three ways to support someone in the pre-menstruation phase who is feeling low and lethargic.

If you're feeling lethargic, it means you're quite tired and fatigued.

So pause the video here and list three ways to support someone in that pre-menstruation phase.

Great work.

So the three things that you listed might include encouraging them to have protein-rich foods, things like pulses, nuts, and lentils.

You could have encouraged them to drink water and stay hydrated, be sympathetic to their feelings, remind them that the low mood will pass, and finally, encourage them to speak to a trusted adult if they're feeling very low.

Well done if you mentioned any of those things in your answer.

We are moving on now to the second part of our lesson, and we're having a think about older people and menstruation.

So as people age, their fertility decreases.

Male fertility rates decrease at around 40 to 45 years old, but they can be impacted by lifestyle choices.

Female fertility rates actually start to decrease around 30 to 35, which can make it harder for a person to get pregnant.

As males age, the amount of sperm that they produce decreases.

Females begin life with a fixed number of eggs in their ovaries, and the number of eggs decreases as they get older.

So this is a big difference between male and female bodies.

Males produce sperm constantly throughout their lives, but as they get older, the amount that they're producing decreases, whereas female bodies are born with the number of eggs that they will have throughout their whole life.

And as they get older, the number of eggs that they have decreases.

Females are generally fertile from menarche to menopause, but this can vary.

However, deciding to have a baby is a personal choice.

Just because someone can reproduce doesn't mean that they have to.

So we're going to pause now and check our understanding of what we've learned so far.

I would like you to help the doctor to complete the sentence.

As people age, their fertility.

For males, this is because of their count lowers, and for females, this is because the amount of they have decreases.

Have a little look at that sentence and see if you can tell me what words are missing.

In a moment, we'll go back through the completed sentence together.

Great work in trying to complete that sentence for the doctor.

So let's have a look at those blanks.

So as people age, their fertility decreases.

For males, this is because their sperm count lowers, and for females, this is because the amount of eggs they have decreases.

Very, very well done if you got all of those blanks filled correctly.

So Izzy is speaking to the doctor here and she says, "We're only young.

Why do we have to learn about perimenopause and menopause? It isn't going to happen to us for ages." And the doctor is responding and saying, "It's good to be informed, but it also means that we understand what older females in our lives are experiencing and we can be more sympathetic." So when females reach their forties or their fifties, they start to experience something known as the perimenopause.

And this is the transition period before menopause starts when a female's hormone levels change and it leads to irregular periods and other symptoms. So some of the symptoms that perimenopause includes are: disrupted sleep, foggy thoughts, so being unable to think clearly, hot flushes and palpitations, which is a more noticeable heartbeat.

Now there are some common misconceptions when it comes to the menopause, and we're going to have a look at a couple of those together.

So the first one is that everyone who gets the menopause is forgetful.

Well, we know that one of the symptoms of the perimenopause is feeling foggy, having foggy thoughts.

And this is the way that people describe changes to their memory or thought processes during perimenopause or the menopause.

However, being active and mindful, getting a good night's sleep can all help this.

And most importantly, this doesn't last forever.

So another misconception about the menopause is that if someone experiences premature menopause, so that's menopause before the age of 40, it means that they can't ever have children.

Well, it is true that premature menopause can make reproduction more challenging, and premature menopause is rare and it can be upsetting for people.

However, there are options available if a person does still want to get pregnant, including forms of medical intervention like IVF, or in vitro fertilization.

And these can help a person to become pregnant.

But it's really important that when we talk about these things, we are very sensitive about them, especially if discussing it with somebody.

Now, just because people's bodies are changing as they age, it does not mean that their lifestyle needs to change.

It's important to keep active during perimenopause and the menopause because it's important to maintain strength and health.

There is lots of help available to support people experiencing menopausal symptoms. They can go on HRT, which is hormone replacement therapy.

This is available as a gel, a tablet, or a patch that a person can wear.

And what it can do is help to replace the hormones that are being lost.

And this in turn can help balance mood and physical symptoms. There are talking therapies and support groups that people can go to in order to speak to others experiencing the same thing.

People can use fans if they're experiencing hot flushes, they can use cool pillows.

And finally, things like mindfulness, exercise, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help to manage those symptoms of menopause.

Now what we're going to do is we're going to check our understanding here about the perimenopause and the menopause.

So one of the treatments for perimenopause and menopausal symptoms is HRT.

This stands for hormone replacement treatment, hormone replacement transitions, or hormone replacement therapy.

I'd like you to pause the video here and have a think about your answer, and then we'll go through the correct one together.

Great work if you said C.

So HRT refers to hormone replacement therapy, and HRT can be taken in the form of a gel or a tablet or a patch.

And this can help to replace those hormones that are dropping in levels during the menopause and perimenopause.

And finally, we're going to put our learning into practice.

I would like for you to explain in one paragraph how menstrual cycles change with age.

And in this paragraph, I want you to try to use the following words in your answer: menarche, fertility, menstruation, perimenopause, menopause, and hormones.

So you're going to pause the video here and have a think about your paragraph.

You're going to try to include all of those words in your answer.

After you spent some time doing this, we'll join back together and think about what you could have written for your answer.

So you were asked to write one paragraph about how menstrual cycles change with age.

Your response may have included: one change females experience during puberty is starting menstruation.

The first period is called menarche, and this is when fertility begins.

Menstrual cycles can last anywhere between 21 and 35 days, but many people have irregular periods when they first start.

As females get older, their periods come to an end, and this transition is called perimenopause.

The loss of hormones during this time can lead to symptoms such as foggy thoughts, hot flushes, disrupted sleep, but there are treatments available to help with this.

When menstruation stops completely, this is called the menopause.

And a big well done for writing your paragraph, and an extra well done if you managed to fit all of those key terms in there.

Really, really well done.

Now we're going to finish off today's lesson with a summary of what we have learned today.

So when someone first starts menstruating, it is called menarche, and this is when their body is preparing for fertility.

Menstrual cycles last approximately 21 to 35 days, but it is common for it to be irregular when someone first starts.

As females get older, they will experience perimenopause caused by reduced hormones.

Symptoms of this include irregular cycles, sleep difficulties, and foggy thoughts.

When periods come to an end, a person has reached menopause.

It is important to be informed about perimenopause and menopause so we can understand what older females in our lives may be experiencing, and so we can be more sympathetic.

Now, if any of the topics covered in today's lesson affect you or you are concerned about anything, there are some places that you can go to to get support.

First, we have the NHS website, which is health and prevention, including how to access services.

And finally, Childline, a website and phone line which can offer confidential advice and support.

And I'd like to end by saying a big well done for all your hard work today.

You've been absolutely fantastic, and I look forward to seeing you in another RSHE lesson soon.