Introduction: Adolescent girls live in a grey zone between childhood and adult female. Health issues of these girls have often been overlooked and gynecological problems are ignored as being part of growing up or as trivial symptoms.

Aims: this study was undertaken to analyze and create awareness about the physiological and pathological conditions related to gynecology of adolescent girls.

Methodology: A total of five hundred urban adolescent girls of age range (12-19 years) were included in this study.

Result: Among the 500 urban girls although 98% were educated but only 40% knew about pubertal changes before they actually occurred. Mean menarche age noted was 13.45 years; ranged from 9-18 years; 93.4% attained menarche till the age of 15 years; and varied with socioeconomic status 12.1, 13.4, 14.2 years in high, middle and low socioeconomic groups. Most common gynecological problem was menstrual disorder seen in 60% of cases and among these 70% had menorrhagia, 19.3% oligohypomenorrhea and 9% had amenorrhea; 25 cases of menorrhagia required hospitalization due to severe anemia. Dysmenorrhea was prevalent in 56% of cases and 50% of these required analgesics for relief. Leucorrhoea and urinary problems were seen in 12.2% of cases. PCOD was diagnosed in 10 (2%) cases. There were 11 cases (2.2%) of  anomalies of genital tracts comprising of imperforate hymen (0.8%), transverse vaginal septum (0.8%), hypoplastic uterus (0.4%) and vaginal atresia (0.2%). Use of sanitary pads was seen in only 27.2% and taboos related to menstruation were seen in 80.4% of all cases.

Conclusion: Magnitude of health problems in adolescent girls is large and this study reveals lack of knowledge about puberty and menstruation as well as various misconceptions among Indian adolescent girls. Clinicians and gynecologist should be aware of these problems and be able to prevent and treat them. Ensuring good adolescent reproductive health will ensure ‘Safe Motherhood’. 

Keywords: Adolescent; Menstruation; Menarche; Menorrhagia; Dysmenorrhea.