9yo with PMS-type symptoms?
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Anonymous
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Can PMS-type symptoms (emotional volatility, headaches, cramps) start months (years?) before a girl gets her period? I'm wondering if this is what is going on with my 9yo - she's had crazy emotional meltdowns/drama that I'm starting to realize have been roughly monthly for the past few months (including currently), and today she came home from school with "stomach" pains/headache but no fever, loss of appetite, negative tests for flu/Covid, etc. (We're keeping an eye on symptoms and will test again because I know there's a lot going around.)
Is it possible that she's experiencing a "monthly cycle" of sorts at this age? I don't think she's about to start her period - at least according to what I've read re: signs of puberty, it seems we're a year+ out from that (obviously we'll start to prepare for that just in case). FWIW, I (mom) have had debilitating cramps managed with meds since starting my period (which I think was 7th/8th grade for me, so much later than this), and am also emotionally not at my best during PMS (understatement). It would explain a lot. Or maybe she is actually sick and will spike a temp tomorrow! |
Anonymous
| My menstrual cycle started at age 9, so she’s not extraordinarily young for it. |
Anonymous
Oh honey, it was extraordinarily young for you, and still extraordinarily young in 2026. |
Anonymous
| NP. It's not. Puberty has moved earlier in this generation and lasting longer. 8 is a normal age to start (it's a big range) and it starts with the emotional rollercoasters. At age 10 fifth grade a decent fraction of girls get their periods, as in, you wouldn't feel alone if you were one of those girls. I've been told this by our endo. |
Anonymous
Yes it has, but it's still extraordinary to get a period at 9. The study below says .6% start at 9 or younger in the 60s, and 1.4% in 2010s. https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/menstrual-periods-are-arriving-earlier-for-younger-generations-especially-among-racial-minority-and-lower-income-individuals/ Among participants born from 1950-1969, the average age at menarche was 12.5 years, and the rates of early (under 11) and very early (under 9) menarche were 8.6% and 0.6%, respectively. Among participants born from 2000-2005, the average age of menarche was 11.9 years, and the rates of early and very early menarche were 15.5% and 1.4%, respectively. |
Anonymous
| She's definitely the right age for hormones to be surging due to adrenarche, OP. I started a thread about how my 4th grader is very emotional a week or so ago. Same thing. |
Anonymous
| Step daughter had hers since 9. Make sure she knows what to do Op so she isn’t stranded |
Anonymous
| Yes, those symptoms can start 1-2 years before the first period. Your daughter could also be getting her period sooner than you think. My 12 year old just got hers recently but out of her 5 closest friends she was the last one to get it. Most of them had it at the end of 4th grade and beginning of 5th. |
Anonymous
| Does she have breast buds and has she had them for over a year? Is she hasn’t, her period is unlikely to be coming anytime soon. |
Anonymous
| Has she had strep, a fever or sore throat recently? If yes look into PANDAS |
Anonymous
| Yes she is within the age range of pmsing. She may start getting discharge first so that should be something to look out for, start getting stocked up on san pro and show her how to use it so she is prepared as it could happen anytime. |
Anonymous
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Hi OP,
Your hormones may be affecting hers. Does her pms symptoms happen the same time as yours? |
Anonymous
This. |