Your first period (menarche) usually starts about one to two years after pubic hair begins to grow, with breast development typically starting earlier. Puberty signs like breast buds (Stage 2) and pubic hair (Stage 3) come first, followed by the first period (Stage 4) around ages 10-14, often 2-3 years after breast buds appear.
Signs that your period is on its way are if you've grown underarm and pubic hair. Typically, you'll start your periods about 2 years after your breasts start growing. The average girl will get her first period around 12 years old, but it varies from person to person.
Changes your daughter may notice that signify she is going through puberty include: Breast development (usually the first sign) Pubic and armpit hair growth. Menstruation (usually the last sign)
Genetics and environment both play a role in triggering menarche: Heredity: Your genes influence when you get your first period. People commonly get their periods when their mother did. Hormones: Hormones in your brain and your sex organs regulate your menstrual cycle and play a role in menarche, too.
Puberty is when a child's body begins to develop and change as they become an adult. Signs of puberty include girls developing breasts and starting periods, and boys developing a larger penis and testicles, a deeper voice and a more muscular appearance.
Two of the most significant signs are: Breast development (“thelarche”) starts 2 to 3 years before the first period, often around age 8. Pubic hair development (“pubarche”) usually happens 1 to 2 years before the first period. The average age for pubarche is 11.6 years old.
Emotional symptoms can include increased mood swings, trouble sleeping, or trouble focusing (20). Cramps are very common in the first couple of years after getting your period (21). You may feel them several hours before to a few hours after bleeding begins (21).
Most commonly, especially in girls, precocious puberty is due to the brain sending signals earlier than it should. There is no other underlying medical problem or trigger. This also can often run in families. Less often, precocious puberty stems from a more serious problem, such as a tumor or trauma.
What is precocious puberty? When a child enters puberty (the process of becoming sexual mature) too early, it's called precocious puberty, or early puberty. Children experiencing the condition develop early sexual characteristics; in girls this means before age 8, and in boys, this means before age 9.
When do most girls get their period? Most girls get their first period when they're between 10 and 15 years old. The average age is 12, but every girl's body has its own schedule.
Pubic Hair Stage 1: This is the stage before puberty starts. There are no pubic hairs at this time. Pubic Hair Stage 2: There is long, soft, colorless hair near the labia majora (outer labia). Pubic Hair Stage 3: More pubic hairs start to grow.
During Puberty Girls Grow Fast and Early
Unlike boys, their fastest rate of growth occurs early in puberty. They also gain more fat than boys in preparation for their menstrual cycle. They go from gaining about 5 pounds a year before puberty, to 12-23 pounds during puberty as shown below.
Girls can expect to grow an average of about 2-3 inches after menarche. Boys tend to have their growth spurt about two years later than girls.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) has a wide variety of signs and symptoms, including mood swings, tender breasts, food cravings, fatigue, irritability and depression. It's estimated that as many as 3 of every 4 menstruating women have experienced some form of premenstrual syndrome.
For most girls, their first menstrual period, or menarche (say: MEH-nar-kee), begins about 2 years after she first starts to get breasts. For most girls this is around age 12. But it can be as early as age 8 or as late as 15.
However, relatively fat children tended to undergo menarche earlier than did thinner children, with each standard deviation increase in pre-menarcheal BMI increasing the odds of early menarche (<12 y) by approximately 2-fold.
Adrenarche is usually normal in girls who are at least 8 years old, and boys who are at least 9 years old. Even when pubic and underarm hair appear in children younger than this, it is still usually nothing to worry about, but your child does need to see their pediatrician for an exam.
Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in plastics, pesticides, personal care and other common products may be interfering with girls' hormonal systems. These chemicals can mimic or interfere with natural hormones, potentially triggering premature puberty.
Additionally, there may be signs such as rapid height growth, pubic and underarm hair, acne, mood changes, and body odor. According to the Food Safety Department of the Ministry of Health, foods that can cause early puberty include fried foods; animal organs; soy milk; ready-to-eat foods, etc.
“It is not uncommon for girls to start their period as young as 8 or 9,” says Dr. Sara Kreckman, UnityPoint Health pediatrician. “This can be both emotionally and mentally challenging for girls this young, as well as their parents.”
It can happen on just one side at first, and take the other side about 6 months to catch up (6). Breast buds usually grow about 2–2.5 years before your period starts, but if you notice your breast buds at an earlier age (when you're 8 or 9), it may take closer to three years for your period to start.
Some common causes include:
How do you know when the first menstrual period will start?
Having your period come two weeks early can be caused by various factors, including hormonal imbalances, stress, changes in weight, medical conditions, or lifestyle changes. Understanding these potential causes can help you determine whether further evaluation is needed.