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At Children’s Hospital Colorado, pediatric experts diagnose and treat girls and teens with medical conditions related to menstrual problems. We place a strong emphasis on communicating with children, teens and their families in caring and sensitive ways.
Many girls and teens have problems with their menstrual periods.
Sometimes, periods can:
Cause pain or severe cramps, a condition known as dysmenorrhea
Cause heavy bleeding, and/or irregular bleeding
Interfere with a girl’s normal activities like sports or school
Cause another medical condition to get worse before or during the period
Be very difficult to manage for certain girls
Hormonal therapy is a medical option for treating problem periods.
Hormonal therapy options are usually packaged as “birth control,” but your provider is recommending them to treat a medical condition. Sometimes, hormonal therapy is recommended to treat medical conditions that are regulated by hormonal factors, like acne, excessive hair growth, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Hormone therapy is safe and effective.
The good news is that hormone therapy is a safe and effective option to manage these health concerns. There are many different options, and your provider can help you decide which one is right for your child based on your personal preferences and any other medical conditions. Hormonal therapy is safe for almost all girls and teens to use, even those using other medications. It does not cause weight gain and does not make it harder to get pregnant later on.
Studies indicate that girls/teens who use hormonal therapy for a medical condition are no more likely to engage in sexual activity sooner than those who have never used these medicines.
Treatment options
During your visit to Children’s Colorado, the doctor may recommend hormone therapy for your child. Here are the most important hormonal options for treating menstrual problems.
Treatment choice
How to use
What to expect after the first 3-6 months
Pill
Take 1 pill every day
Lighter and regular periods
Less cramping and less pain
Clearer skin
No weight gain
Can be used in a certain way to have a period only every 4 months, or to have no periods at all
Vaginal ring
Change every month
Skin patch
Change every week
Depo-Provera
Shot every 3 months
Lighter or no periods after 6-9 months of use
Less cramping and less pain
May cause increased appetite
Progestin IUD
Doctor places inside the uterus; IUD works for 5 years
Lighter or no periods
Less cramping and less pain
No weight gain
Implant
Doctor places under skin of arm; implant works for 3 years
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Provider affiliation
Children's Hospital Colorado providers
Children’s Hospital Colorado providers are faculty members of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Our specialists are nationally ranked and globally recognized for delivering the best possible care in pediatrics.
Community providers
Some healthcare professionals listed on our website have medical privileges to practice at Children’s Hospital Colorado, but they are community providers. They schedule and bill separately for their services, and are not employees of the Hospital.