Period FAQs

what is the most common age to get your period

by Alessandra Gerlach Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
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Most girls start their periods when they're about 12, but they can start as early as 8, so it's important to talk to girls from an early age to make sure they're prepared. Respond to questions or opportunities as they arise and do not be embarrassed. Periods are natural.

Full Answer

What is the average age for a girl to start her period?

The national average age for a girl to get her first period is 12, and girls can start as early as age 8. Why so young? No one would argue that an 11-year-old is emotionally capable of raising a child.

When do average youngsters get their first periods?

The age at which young girls start menstruating can vary widely, with some girls getting their first period as early as 8 years old and others not until they are 15. There are often signs that girls are nearing their first period. Breast development and pubic hair growth often begin a couple of years before menstruation.

How old are most girls when they get their period?

Most girls will get their first period sometime between the ages of 10 and 15. However, a first period can occur as young as 8, so it’s a good idea to be prepared. The age of a first period can be impacted by genetics, diet, environment, weight, and other factors.

How old are you when you usually get your period?

You start getting your period during puberty, usually when you’re around 12-15 years old. Your menstrual cycle is what makes your period come every month. It’s controlled by hormones in your body. The purpose of the menstrual cycle is to help your body get ready for pregnancy. Your menstrual cycle = the time from the 1st day of your period to the 1st day of your next period.

When do girls get their period?

What factors determine the time of a period?

What hormones do you release during your period?

How to prepare for a first period?

Why is it important to talk about your first period?

What is it called when you have a period without an egg?

See 3 more

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What is the most rare age to get your period?

At what age does a first period generally happen? In the United States, a child may get their first period when they're about 12. However, anytime between 10 and 15 is within the average range. It's not entirely unusual for a first period to happen as young as 8 or as old as 16.

Is it normal for 11 year olds to have their period?

When do periods start? Most young people will have their first periods when they're between 11 and 14½, but anywhere from 9-16 years is considered normal. Periods are likely to start soon if your child has: had a major growth spurt.

What are the first signs of a girl starting her period?

PMS (premenstrual syndrome) is when a girl has emotional and physical symptoms that happen before or during her period. These symptoms can include moodiness, sadness, anxiety, bloating, and acne. The symptoms go away after the first few days of a period.

Is it rare to get your period at 14?

Girls usually get their first periods between the ages of 8 and 15. However, some girls start puberty a little earlier or later than others. A clue you can use to figure out when you might get your period is to check your underwear for vaginal discharge.

Can a 5 year old get pregnant?

A woman becomes able to get pregnant when she ovulates for the first time — about 14 days before her first menstrual period. This happens to some women as early as when they are eight years old, or even earlier.

Can a 5 year old get her period?

Puberty Comes Earlier Now the average age for a first period is closer to 12, with one University of Cincinnati study reporting that about 10 to 15 percent of girls enter puberty at age 7 or younger, a phenomenon known as precocious puberty.

What are signs of no period?

Depending on the cause of amenorrhea, you might experience other signs or symptoms along with the absence of periods, such as:Milky nipple discharge.Hair loss.Headache.Vision changes.Excess facial hair.Pelvic pain.Acne.

How do u know ur period coming?

What are the signs your period is coming?Your skin is breaking out. Ever noticed how your skin is most breakout prone on the days you're due? ... Your breasts feel tender. ... You have menstrual cramps. ... You're having mood swings. ... You feel bloated. ... You're super tired. ... Your discharge is dry.

What color is your first period?

Your first few periods may be very light. You may only see a few spots of reddish brown blood. Anywhere from 2 to 7 days is normal.

Do boys have periods?

Guys don't have periods because they don't have a uterus, but their bodies develop and change too – the changes are just different. For example: their voice changes and they develop hair on their face and other parts of their bodies. So, although guys don't get periods, their bodies do go through changes too.

Is your first period Brown?

Lots of girls expect their blood to be bright red during their periods. But it's completely normal for menstrual blood to be brownish. It's also perfectly normal for some girls to have their first period for just 2 or 3 days.

Do boys have cramps?

Men experience similar symptoms to women when they go through hormonal imbalances. Many of them are similar to the female menstrual cycle including tiredness, cramps, increase sensitivity and cravings. According to one study, around 26 % of men experience these regular “man periods.”

Do girls grow after period?

Girls usually stop growing taller about 2 years after starting their menstrual period. Your genes (the code of information you inherited from your parents) will decide many things during this time, including: your height, your weight, the size of your breasts and even how much hair you have on your body.

What makes a period come early?

Early periods often result from hormonal changes, especially during puberty and perimenopause. Many underlying medical conditions, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis, can also cause menstrual irregularities.

Do boys have periods?

Guys don't have periods because they don't have a uterus, but their bodies develop and change too – the changes are just different. For example: their voice changes and they develop hair on their face and other parts of their bodies. So, although guys don't get periods, their bodies do go through changes too.

Why is my 12 year old getting her period every 2 weeks?

It's often normal during the teen years to have irregular periods. When a girl's period is irregular, it might come more than once a month or only come every few months. Some girls find they get their period more than once some months, then they might not have another for several months.

No Period by Age 15? 10 Possible Reasons for the Delay - WebMD

Girls usually get their first menstrual period when they’re 12 or 13. It’s a sign that your body is maturing, so that one day, if you want to, you should be able to have a baby.. By age 15, 98 ...

Is it Normal for Girls to Have Periods at Age 9? - US News & World Report

With every milestone or biologic happening, there is a range of normal. Think about height. Plenty of people are 5'6" and are normal, but so are the folks who are 6'2 and those who are 5'3".

I Started My Period At Age 10. My Mom Made It The Best Day Ever. - HuffPost

A stranger would probably have remarked on her surprising strength, but by the time I could form memories, I was already used to it. When my mom put her mind to something, from chopping wood to surviving poverty to becoming one of the first women on the local sheriff’s department, she didn’t care what people assumed she was capable of.

First Menstruation: Average Age and Physical Signs - Contemporary OB/GYN

Physical Signs That Precede First Menstruation. While girls vary in the ages that they are when they start their periods and when the other signs of puberty occur, the order is fairly consistent.

When do girls get their period?

Most girls will get their first period sometime between the ages of 10 and 15. However, a first period can occur as young as 8, so it’s a good idea to be prepared. The age of a first period can be impacted by genetics, diet, environment, weight, and other factors.

What factors determine the time of a period?

Factors such as family history, race, diet, environment, and weight can all determine the time a first period occurs. Children who participate in intense athletics or are underweight might get their periods later.

What hormones do you release during your period?

A period happens when your brain sends a signal to your ovaries to release hormones called estrogen and progesterone.

How to prepare for a first period?

You can help your child prepare for a first period by having an open and direct conversation about periods and what to expect. It’s also a good idea for your child to begin keeping menstrual supplies and an extra pair of pants in their bag or at school.

Why is it important to talk about your first period?

However, a first period is part of overall health and development, and having an honest conversation about it is an important way to help your child as they grow up.

What is it called when you have a period without an egg?

This blood is what is seen during a period. This cycle repeats every month and is called a menstrual cycle .

What Does It Mean To Get Your First Period

Your body begins to produce adult levels of hormones during puberty. A period happens when your brain sends a signal to your ovaries to release hormones called estrogen and progesterone.

Whats A Normal Period

Normal periods are different from person to person. They can also change over your lifetime. Periods usually come about once a month. When you first start having your period, the bleeding may last only a few days or be really light .

What Should I Talk About

What you talk about depends on your child’s age and level of development. Here are some questions that most kids have:

How Much Period Blood Is Normal

It might seem like theres a lot of blood, but its probably no more than two to three tablespoons. Its normal to bleed more heavily in the first few days of your period.

An Early Period May Indicate An Unsettled Childhood

It’s true that our age of puberty is heavily linked to that of our female relatives. Chances are very high that you’ll get your menarche at the same time that our mom, grandmother, aunts, and sisters did. But there are other factors that might be at play.

How Do I Use A Tampon

Inserting a tampon for the first time can be a bit of a challenge. Its hard to know exactly how to position your body and at what angle to put the tampon in. After a few tries, you will figure out what works best for you. Its best to use slender size tampons when you are learning.

What Will My First Period Feel Like

You may find your first period comes and goes with very little in the way of symptoms, or you may find you experience quite a bit of discomfort. Common symptoms include:

When do you start your period?

This means a lot of growing and changing — both inside and out. Some girls start puberty at age 8, and others may start as late as 13 or 14.

How long before your period do you have to be ready?

Usually, this happens about 6 months before you get your first period. If you think you're getting close to your first period, it might make you more comfortable to be ready. Put a pad and change of underwear in your backpack or purse in case your period comes when you aren't at home.

How do you know if you're getting your first period?

A good sign you're getting close to the time when your first period will arrive is if you notice a discharge coming from your vagina. It might be thin and slightly sticky or thick and gooey, and can be clear to white or off-white in color. Usually, this happens about 6 months before you get your first period.

When does hair grow under arms?

For most girls this is around age 12. But it can be as early as age 8 or as late as 15.

When do girls start their periods?

Any amount will do. At this point, a girl will probably start her periods within 3-6 months, if she hasn't already. It also occurs right after the growth spurt of adolescence. So, if a girl grew, grew, grew, last year and has slowed down (no more than 2.5 inches a year) then periods are right around the corner.

What is the average age for a black woman to have her period?

The average age for periods in the U.S. is 12.16 for black girls and 12.88 for whites. By age 11, 28% of black girls and 13.5% of whites menstruate. By age 12, 62% of blacks, and 35% of whites.

What are the two things that are most closely tied to the age when a girl starts her period?

The two things that are most closely tied to the age when a girl starts her periods, that she can readily assess herself are: first real bra and armpit hair . A "real" bra means one with a cup size attached to it, as opposed to small, medium, large distinctions. Armpit hair is self-explanatory. Any amount will do.

How long does it take to grow pubic hair?

Here is the sequence and time frame of events for an average girl. The girl will also begin her growth spurt about this time. She will notice pubic hair about 6 months later.

What is the first period of a girl called?

A girl's first menstruation is called menarche. This is pronounced MEN-arc or MEN-arc-y. When a girl passes certain milestones in her development, but does not start having periods, this is called Primary Amenorrhea. This is pronounced A-men-or-rea or Ah-men-or-rea. The word primary is the part that means the girl has never had a period. The amenorrhea part means lack (a is Latin for none) of periods (menorrhea is Latin for "monthly flow"). This is to distinguish it from Secondary Amenorrhea, which is when a woman has had periods and then stops.

How old do you have to be to be a black?

On age alone: Age 15 1/2 to 16 1/2 for whites, age 14 1/2 to 15 1/2 for blacks.

Is it a bad idea to check with a doctor a year earlier?

Meanwhile the average age of puberty and menarche has dropped. So, Estronaut's opinion is that checking with a doctor a year or so earlier is not a bad idea. Also, girls of African descent mature sooner than Europeans, by about a year. So, these girls should substract another year. (We have not been able to find averages for other races.)

How long does a period last?

(2019). It may take a couple of months for your period to settle into a regular schedule and consistency. Once it does, your period may last anywhere from two to seven days each month.

When does your period follow a pattern?

Your monthly period will follow a more consistent pattern once your hormones stabilize.

How long should a tampon stay in your vagina?

Tampons must be changed every eight hours at most. Leaving a tampon in for more than eight hours can increase your risk for irritation or infection as a result of the bacteria present.

What is period underwear?

Period underwear is a relatively new invention. It’s like regular underwear, except it’s created with a special fabric that absorbs menstrual tissue and traps it within the fabric.

Why does my period start bleeding?

The uterine lining thickens so it can support a fertilized egg and develop into a pregnancy. If there isn’t a fertilized egg, your body will break the lining down and push it out of your uterus. This results in bleeding — your menstrual period.

Is your period a part of your period?

Your period is a part of your menstrual cycle. This means that, with time, your period will usually be on a predictable pattern.

Can you use period underwear on a lighter period?

Different types have different levels of absorbency. If you have a lighter period, you may be able to rely on only these. If you have a heavier period, you may enjoy using period underwear as a backup to prevent accidental leakage. There are a ton of different brands out there, but they all work in a similar way.

An Early Period Can Raise Your Likelihood Of Heart Issues

Multiple studies have found that early menarche is tied to higher risk of various health disorders for women, and it seems to be particularly bad for heart health.

Early Menarche Could Also Mean An Early Menopause

A large study that analyzed data from 50,000 women across the world in 2017 found that there appears to be a link between early menarche — before the age of 12 — and entering early menopause, which typically hits women at around the age of 50.

Getting Your Period Early Raises Your Likelihood Of Diabetes

Various studies have found that there seems to be some relationship between early menarche and the development of Type 2 diabetes.

Delayed Menarche Can Signal Reproductive Health Problems

While getting your period a bit later than your mates is often nothing to worry about, in some women it's a sign of conditions that can affect fertility and reproductive functioning.

It Can Also Mean Lower Bone Density

The later you get your period, the more at risk you are of having low bone density later in life.

How old is the average woman at the start of her period?

women, there hasn’t been a corresponding shift in the average age at menopause. The average age at menarche is now about 12.4 years old, down from 13.3 in women born prior to the 1920s, but the average age at menopause has been around 51.5 for decades. “You would assume that a woman only has so many cycles in her life and if she menstruates later, she’ll reach menopause later, but that doesn’t seem to be true,” Cedars says.

What age do women go through menopause?

The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) looked at cross section of women from different races from 7 different states and found that most of the women experienced menopause between the ages of 52 and 54.

Is your mother's age a factor in menopause?

Your mother's age at menopause is a key factor, but not the only one. Here are four others to consider:

Can menopause be passed on?

This isn’ t always true, of course. Some women reach menopause at an unusually early age -- before 45 or so -- with no known cause, which could be the result of an inherited issue or a one-time genetic mutation. “These can be random events, but can also be passed on," says Howard Zacur, MD, PhD, who directs the reproductive endocrinology and infertility division at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

How old do you have to be to get your period?

Girls have started getting their first period earlier than in the past, so now it’s considered “normal” for girls to get their period between 9 and 14 years old, says Maureen Whelihan, M.D., an ob/gyn at the Center for Sexual Health & Education. However, Jessica Shepherd, M.D., an assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology and director of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, says doctors aren’t really concerned if you get your period later, unless you get to age 16 sans period—at that point, they’ll want to girls to get examined just to make sure everything is working OK in there.

What does the age of your period say about you?

It turns out, the age when you first got your period actually can impact your future health. When you were a teenager, getting your first period was everything. You were excited about the idea of “becoming a woman” and also completely freaked out about the idea of bleeding out of your vagina.

What happens if you get your period at 10?

Of course, whether you got your period at 10 or 17, you shouldn’t freak out and assume it means you’ll get ovarian cancer or be super forgetful when you hit menopause. There are many other factors that go into these diseases and your overall future health, like eating well, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking.

Why do girls put on weight before menarche?

Having the right amount of body fat is critical to producing the hormones that lead to your first cycle, which is why girls tend to put on a little weight before they have their menarche, she says. A higher-than-average weight can also cause girls to get their period earlier than usual, says Shepherd.

Is it worth it to forget about your period?

But it turns out, all that attention was worth something, since the age when you first got your period can actually impact your future health.

Is it bad to get your period before 12?

There are pros and cons, no matter when you got your period. Girls who get their periods on the earlier side are at a slightly higher risk for breast cancer, according to the Susan G. Komen foundation, which specifically calls out data that says girls who got their periods before age 12 have about a 20 percent higher breast cancer risk compared ...

Why is the average age of first period getting lower?

That may be partially due to better nutrition, which means that we weigh more at a younger age, and thus our bodies can cope with childbearing earlier.

What is the average age of menarche?

The difference isn't great — in the U.S., the average age of menarche is 12.88 for white girls and 12.16 for African American girls. And statistics place the average for Hispanic girls somewhere between those two.

Why is early menarche bad?

According to a huge UK study done in 2010 of 80,000 women, early menarche is also associated with low birth weight, exposure to smoking, lack of exercise as a kid, and childhood obesity. So basically, if things are a bit rubbish or unhealthy when you're a kid, your body tries to make you an adult ASAP.

What are the effects of early puberty on girls?

Unfortunately — but also obviously, alas — girls who'd experienced radically early puberty also reported higher levels of bullying, ostracism, depression, and socially aggressive behavior, according to the University of Michigan. They're also more likely to develop substance abuse problems later in life.

Is it bad to have a period before 12?

Getting A Period Before Age 12 Is Linked To Breast Cancer. The hits just keep on coming. If your menarche came before the age of 12, which is around the national average, you need to get tested for breast cancer frequently.

Can parental care cause puberty?

According to a collection of studies on the topic by Psychology Today, lower levels of parental attention, support, sensitivity, and emotional security directly lead to early-onset puberty. Alas, that includes divorce and life as the child ...

Is it true that puberty is linked to our female relatives?

An Early Period May Indicate An Unsettled Childhood. It's true that our age of puberty is heavily linked to that of our female relatives. Chances are very high that you'll get your menarche at the same time that our mom, grandmother, aunts, and sisters did. But there are other factors that might be at play.

When do girls get their period?

Most girls will get their first period sometime between the ages of 10 and 15. However, a first period can occur as young as 8, so it’s a good idea to be prepared. The age of a first period can be impacted by genetics, diet, environment, weight, and other factors.

What factors determine the time of a period?

Factors such as family history, race, diet, environment, and weight can all determine the time a first period occurs. Children who participate in intense athletics or are underweight might get their periods later.

What hormones do you release during your period?

A period happens when your brain sends a signal to your ovaries to release hormones called estrogen and progesterone.

How to prepare for a first period?

You can help your child prepare for a first period by having an open and direct conversation about periods and what to expect. It’s also a good idea for your child to begin keeping menstrual supplies and an extra pair of pants in their bag or at school.

Why is it important to talk about your first period?

However, a first period is part of overall health and development, and having an honest conversation about it is an important way to help your child as they grow up.

What is it called when you have a period without an egg?

This blood is what is seen during a period. This cycle repeats every month and is called a menstrual cycle .

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