Girls who start their periods late

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My dd is nearly 14 and has not started her periods yet. I am not really concerned as she has had other signs of puberty for quite a while, but I am a bit surprised as all her friends, including younger friends, have had periods for ages.

Does anyone else have a dd who started her periods late? Just curious if it’s as unusual nowadays as I think it is... And if so, did your dd continue growing a bit after she finally got her period?

It’s supposed to be weight related, isn’t it? When a girl gets to about seven and a half stone, I think.
I was ten, nearly 11, but very tall for my age. My daughters are adopted. Dd2 was 12, nearly 13, I think. Can’t remember how old dd1 was, but similar to dd2, I think.

I was 14 when I started and am 5'2". My sister was 10, my Mum was 11 so I was late for the family. DD1 is 12 and only started showing signs of puberty in the last 6 months, her sister is 18 months younger but not far behind.

The onset of menses is linked to bodyweight so taller and heavier girls tend to start sooner and tiny gymnasts with very low body fat start later. The average age of first menses has been dropping throughout the 20th and 21st century as we have got taller and heavier.

I don't know if it is an absolute scientific measurement, but DSIL and I were talking about when DD aged 12 will start, in comparison to her older cousins. DSIL is a retired midwife and university lecturer in Midwifery. She said golden rule is when girl has reached about 7/7.5 stone weight. It causes a hormone surge apparently. Other puberty signs may be present before, but that one is the final piece. I'm guessing, relative to height, that weight must trigger some fat ratio which triggers the hormone. That would perhaps tie in with the experience of some of the taller girls from pp above.

Yes, fall, older girls are better equipped to deal with it. In those days, it would have been about 1979, sanitary towels were as big as nappies - I felt like I was waddling - and there was no such thing as period knickers.
I was on holiday with my parents, sharing a room, and was mortified about my dad no doubt knowing.
Plus primary schools toilets weren’t really set up for it.

I was nearly 17 (and had started work) but I was very slim and didn't really grow in height until 15/16.
My daughter was 15 but underweight before that... once she reached about 8 and 1/2 stone she started.

I was very athletic and didn’t start until I was 17

Dd2 has just gotten hers aged 11 - quite a normal period rather than being light or spotting. Dd1 is 12 and has not had a period yet!

13 not 12!

I was 15

I was late and am also 6ft 2 so think it may be connected as people always say girls stop growing once they start. I do have PCOS though

I'd left school by the time I'd started my periods. I was also very, very thin. I'd never thought until now that thus may have been a factor in my late development

I was nearly sixteen, tall and not the normal slim associated with later periods. I conceived my children in my late 30s and early 40s and the OB/G said my fertility window was probably shifted due to late menses.

I am hoping this will also be the same for menopause.

That's interesting Habibi.

I started at 14. Just conceived first DC at 38, so hoping for a few more years of fertility to have more!

I was nearly 16, also very slim. I carried on growing for another year or so. Was also made to feel bad about starting late - my dm took me to the doctor. Never had any fertility issues.

I was 15 and athletic. Grew taller than all my friends who had started early. My dad started puberty later as did his mother. DS is 13 and only just starting to change.
Some people just take it easy!
I’m in my mid forties with no signs of the menopause (yet).
She’ll be fine!

Also no issues conceiving.

My daughter was 15, she was a tiny girl (still is slightly underweight).

OP don't worry at all. My 2 DDs were opposites, the younger one started a few weeks before her 12th birthday, and the elder one a few weeks before her 15th birthday (I started mine at 13.5 yrs).
I was also worried about the older one was quietly planning to mention it to the GP if nothing had happened by 15, but she is absolutely fine.

The only obvious consequence of one starting early and one starting late is their difference in height. The late starter is 5 inches taller than her sister.
I think this is largely because girls stop growth starts to tail off fairly soon after their first periods, so DD1 had an extra 3 years of growth.

Oh and in my DDs' cases it didn't relate to weight as the late starter was always a heavier build than the early starter.

I was just shy of my 16th birthday. No big thing. I mean, most of my friends had theirs at 11-12. I didn't feel unhappy or uncomfortable or worried. I kind of knew it was because I was a late bloomer and that was that. I DID hate being flat as a pancake until the age of 14. And even then, you'd have needed a magnifying glass to see any hint of boob.

My DD is just turning 10 and already getting breasts so I'm a bit shocked. I guess it's sort of normal but I'm actually more worried about her early development. I'd prefer if she were late because it would be nice if she grew taller.

I was chubby at 14 - definitely over 7.5 stone: my mum was also 14 and slim when she got hers. We are both 5'4".
There is some link to early puberty leading to shorter stature but I'm sure it isn't definitive.
My mum had 4 babies and I conceived twice both times when I meant to do it hasn't caused any fertility issues for us!

I was 15 when I started mine - never had any issues, have 2 DC. I was diagnosed with PCOS during my first pregnancy so could explain later start

I was 16, very tall and slim, when mine started. In the next few years my shape changed a lot and now I’m much more hourglass shaped (an unkind person might use the phrase ‘childbearing hips’ 😂).

I was also nearly 16, tall and skinny. I was worried myself at the time as I think I was the last in my class to start.

I started mine when I was 18, my mum took me to the doctors and they confirmed via a scan that everything was ok. I've gone on to have regular normal cycles and two kids. I wouldn't worry, just take her to the docs and get them to check all is ok.