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Lesson 1.1 of 4

Understanding Your Body

What's actually happening to my body, and what counts as normal?

Lesson slides

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  1. Slide 1: UNDERSTANDING YOUR BODY Myths, Hormones, and Reproductive Health
  2. Slide 2: MYTH VS. FACT MYTH: Periods are supposed to hurt very badly. FACT: Debilitating pain is not normal. It can be a sign of a real condition. 2
  3. Slide 3: WHY THIS MATTERS Understanding your body is ALL about your health! Knowing what's normal helps you catch problems early, advocate for yourself, and feel confident. 3
  4. Slide 4: BASIC ANATOMY (PEOPLE WITH OVARIES) The key players: Ovaries: produce eggs + hormones (estrogen, progesterone) Fallopian tubes: carry eggs from ovary to uterus Uterus: where a p…
  5. Slide 5: BASIC ANATOMY (PEOPLE WITH TESTES) The key players: Testes: produce sperm + testosterone Vas deferens: tube that carries sperm Epididymis: where sperm matures (takes ~64 days) U…
  6. Slide 6: THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE Hormones fluctuate throughout the cycle, triggering different phases. Estrogen and progesterone levels rise and fall to regulate the reproductive process. Du…
  7. Slide 7: PUBERTY & HORMONES Key hormones: Estrogen: breast development, bone density, cycle regulation Progesterone: prepares uterus for pregnancy, affects mood Testosterone: present in …
  8. Slide 8: WHAT’S NORMAL AND WHAT’S NOT NORMAL: 1.Cycles varying 21–35 days 2.Light to moderate cramping 3.Mood changes before your period (PMS) 4.Some clotting NOT NORMAL: 1.Periods lasti…
  9. Slide 9: KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Anatomy is just anatomy; knowing it helps you take care of yourself. 2. Cycles vary. 28 days is an average, not a requirement. 3. Severe period pain is NOT norm…
Read these slides as text
  1. Slide 1. UNDERSTANDING YOUR BODY Myths, Hormones, and Reproductive Health
  2. Slide 2. MYTH VS. FACT MYTH: Periods are supposed to hurt very badly. FACT: Debilitating pain is not normal. It can be a sign of a real condition. 2
  3. Slide 3. WHY THIS MATTERS Understanding your body is ALL about your health! Knowing what's normal helps you catch problems early, advocate for yourself, and feel confident. 3
  4. Slide 4. BASIC ANATOMY (PEOPLE WITH OVARIES) The key players: Ovaries: produce eggs + hormones (estrogen, progesterone) Fallopian tubes: carry eggs from ovary to uterus Uterus: where a pregnancy develops; sheds its lining monthly Cervix: lower opening of uterus Vagina: muscular canal connecting uterus to outside 4
  5. Slide 5. BASIC ANATOMY (PEOPLE WITH TESTES) The key players: Testes: produce sperm + testosterone Vas deferens: tube that carries sperm Epididymis: where sperm matures (takes ~64 days) Urethra: shared path for urine and semen (not at the same time) 5
  6. Slide 6. THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE Hormones fluctuate throughout the cycle, triggering different phases. Estrogen and progesterone levels rise and fall to regulate the reproductive process. During ovulation, a mature egg is released from the ovary. This typically occurs mid-cycle and is the time when fertilization is most likely to happen. The uterus prepares for pregnancy by thickening its lining. If no fertilization occurs, menstruation happens as the lining sheds. 6
  7. Slide 7. PUBERTY & HORMONES Key hormones: Estrogen: breast development, bone density, cycle regulation Progesterone: prepares uterus for pregnancy, affects mood Testosterone: present in all bodies; affects muscle mass, libido, energy FSH & LH: regulate egg development and ovulation Puberty may include growth spurts as your body rapidly develops, acne due to hormonal changes affecting your skin, and mood changes as your brain adjusts to new hormone levels. Other common changes include body hair appearing in new places, voice changes (especially deepening in males), and 7 changes in body shape. Everyone develops at their own pace.
  8. Slide 8. WHAT’S NORMAL AND WHAT’S NOT NORMAL: 1.Cycles varying 21–35 days 2.Light to moderate cramping 3.Mood changes before your period (PMS) 4.Some clotting NOT NORMAL: 1.Periods lasting more than 7 days 2.Severe pain that stops you functioning 3.No period for 3+ months (and not pregnant) 4.Extremely heavy bleeding (soaking a pad/tampon every hour) 8
  9. Slide 9. KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Anatomy is just anatomy; knowing it helps you take care of yourself. 2. Cycles vary. 28 days is an average, not a requirement. 3. Severe period pain is NOT normal. Talk to a doctor. 4. Hormones affect your whole body, not just reproduction. 5. Track your cycle as it's useful health data.

These slides were made by the TeenWell team for classroom use. Unlike the linked resources below, they are our own material.

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