Not really, usually girls start menstruating towards the end of pubertal development. Most girls start in Tanner stage 4, which is after breast development and pubic hair. OP, for what it's worth my daughter didn't start her period until nearly 14. |
+1 My DD will come in and say "Mama, look how much more hair I have down there!" I just say it's normal, she's reassured, and we both move on with our day. |
Similar context in my house, although more along the lines of wondering if she at the point where it’s showing on her bikini line and wanting to know if I can see it outside her swim suit. |
Agree. we are a multicultural couple (American/European) and in Europe, society is no where near as uptight and closed-minded about the human body, as in America. |
| My dd got hers after turning 13 (and I got mine at 11) but she had almost no breast development and no pubic hair. Even now, @9 months after getting it she still doesn’t have much development. I think that is more concerning. |
That is concerning. |
| I know it is easy to worry and wonder if something is wrong but one DD got hers at 13.5 years old and the other got hers a few days before she turned 14. Both had signs of puberty (one more so than the other). |
Did you have to describe your DD like this? You’re creeping me out. |
We’ve been to a developmental ped and pediatric gyn - they said she seems to be fine and expect her other stages of puberty to start soon - pubic hair and body odor (which she also doesn’t have) are from a completely different hormonal space than breast and period development. |
| FWIW my ped was surprised at my child's 13 and especially 14 year check ups that she hadn't gotten her period yet. She got her period about a month after her 14 year check up. Sometimes it just takes a minute. |
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Is she really athletic? I didn't get my period until 16 and I didn't hate that I was one of the last ones among my friends to get it. I played several sports, low bodyfat, and my doctor was not concerned.
The range of normal is wider than you might think, but if you're concerned, trust your gut and ask your ped. |
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So, NP but we are in the exact same situation. My just-turned 13 year old has been fully developed for like a year, pubic hair, breasts, growth spurt. She’s 5’ 3”, 120lb. She is pretty muscular/athletically built but also has a fair bit of body fat. She did summer swim and spent the past two years doing club swim 2x a week. So active, but not at such an intense level that would delay a period.
My DD has had painful menstrual-like cramps in the right place for several hours like 4-5x over the past year, but not with any regularity and no spotting. Her pediatrician had originally told us at age 11 check up that she would have started her period by the next annual, because she already had fairly developed breasts by then. But she just turned 13 and still no period. The pediatrician asked us to give it just a few more months and said she would order some blood work later this fall, if still nothing. She made the case that while it was unusual to be this developed, for this long, while not menstruating, it was within the realm of normal. She mentioned there are some rare problems that can prevent menstruation but usually the teen gets the other regular signs/symptoms they are cycling — minus the blood. So cramping, pms symptoms, etc but on a monthly -ish schedule. Anyway it was a relief to read she isnt alone in this mystery. Thank you and good luck! |
| I was 13 when I started and my bff was 15! Some of us start late. Be thankful! |
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My 13y at her 13th bday appointment in April was told this December. I forced her to have supplies through 6th just in case, didn't happen, and didn't bring anything through 7th.
Got it on the last day of school, hasn't returned since. |
| I got mine at 12.75 and thought it was normal/earlish. My mom had hers at 15. My eldest is young (10), but I don’t think I would be worried if she did not get her period at 13. On my husband’s side of the family, the sisters and nieces all developed after 14-15… |