12 year old constant period for 3 weeks

[christmaseasterbunny]

hi. hoping someone has some advice. my 12 year old daughter seemed to start period a month ago - dark brown discharge, no actual blood - lasted about 4 days, then 2 weeks later started again - lasting few days, now 4 days later she has it again.
is this normal? is a long time since I was a teenager so can't remember what happened!
she's had blood test due to dizziness and tiredness but iron , thyroid , glucose all ok.
Thank you in advance !

[woosey35]

Oh I really can’t give you the answer you are probably looking for. However I’m keen to know of answers.

My dd (12) has her first period in October. Bled for five days (brown then red). And she hasn’t had one since. I’m too confused and can’t rememwber what’s normal and don’t know what to expect.

[christmaseasterbunny]

hi Woosey. hopefully we both get answers on here ! it's hard isn't it - think I must have blanked it all out from my teen years! looks like this time might be more of a "proper " period for my dd - hoping that ends the 3 week cycle ..... hope your dd gets some answers soon x

[flamineckpip]

My daughter started hers at 12 too. Hers went on for weeks and weeks at the very start. Not always heavy but constant brown discharge. Then it settled into a nearly normal pattern. She's nearly 13 now and had an awful trachea infection for 9 weeks and hasn't had a period since. That was in February. I have been told it can take a while for things to settle. A friend's daughter is 12 and hers are also very erratic.

[christmaseasterbunny]

thanks for your reply flamineckpip . sorry to hear your daughter was poorly for so long!
reassuring that this seems normal for the start. will keep an eye and see how it goes. thanks again

[Imagine123]

Did they tell you her iron and ferritin level? It could be very low but in range. I think 15 is in range but people struggle at that level so increasing iron would help.

[Ki0612]

My first period went on for weeks just as you are describing. It then settled into a monthly pattern.

[TheTroutofNoCraic]

My first period was like that too...at the same age. I've had the same thing happen occasionally throughout my life...wasn't until I was pregnant at 31 that I found out I had a retroverted uterus...which is nothing to worry about, just means that the uterus tilts slightly the wrong way and blood can get stuck...hence coming out brown (old blood) a bit later.

[sproutsandparsnips]

I remember having a few episodes of heavy brown discharge at that age. I was afraid to tell anyone and just put toilet paper in my knickers....
So it's probably normal for menarche.