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Original poster

To not know how old I was when I got my first period?

189 replies

Talismania · 13/05/2015 23:39

I have a new GP and I was asked this at my first appointment. I remember what house I lived in at the time so could say it was sometime between the ages of 10 and 15, but beyond that I have no idea. GP was surprised. Is this something most women remember?

OP posts:
CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 14/05/2015 14:18

I can remember details about the day but not exactly how old I was either

FlaviaAlbia · 14/05/2015 14:23

I'm not sure what age I was but I remember it happening in 1st form and that I only realised as I was changing for PE. I don't think I'd remember if it had happened at home.

DramaAlpaca · 14/05/2015 14:25

I remember the exact date & it was nearly 38 years ago I am old

M00nUnit · 14/05/2015 14:29

I know exactly when I had my first one because the date was 8/8/88.

Groovee · 14/05/2015 14:43

Mine was a month after my 13th Birthday. Dd was a month before

OneWaySystemBlues · 14/05/2015 15:01

It's not weird for a GP to ask when you started your periods, if they're getting a general history. Age of starting periods is linked to breast cancer risk and I've certainly been asked it. I also remember when it was - 8th April, a few months before my 12th birthday.

LotusLight · 14/05/2015 15:02

I wrote a diary since I was 12 (13 when periods start) so I can tell what i did on any day actually and it's noted in my diary when I menstruate. With my daughters I typed a note of age and date for this and put it on the NHS file at home so they have that record too (they were 13 and 14 respectively). My mother back in the 1930s was only ten!

Sallystyle · 14/05/2015 15:04

I remember it was on my 13th birthday.

I remember my next real period was in September (3 months later) as I was in the car an bled everywhere and had to face my dad.

Totality22 · 14/05/2015 15:05

The month after my 13th. It was the day we were going on holiday and I was so ill. Couldn't move without feeling like I was going to vomit. Had been up half the night and there was a debate as to whether we could still go away. Went to the loo and saw the blood.... immediately felt better and off we toddled on holiday.

Charlotte3333 · 14/05/2015 15:11

The first day of high school, so I was 11 and 2 months. I doubt I'd have remembered had it been any other day.

missmorse · 14/05/2015 15:11

I get asked this every time I go to a doctor! I assumed it was a routine question, but maybe it just is here in the US. I also have no idea at all when I started, so I usually just say "some time around 13 or 14 I guess". It's kind of annoying to be constantly asked because I have no idea. The other routine question is always "what's the date of your last period?", and given I was on the pill for a decade, technically the answer was always "roughly X years ago!" It does pee me off a bit to have to go through this at every doctor's appointment... particularly if I'm there for something totally unrelated to my reproductive organs... But I guess they want to gather all your medical history at every appointment just in case.

Charlotte3333 · 14/05/2015 15:11

Sorry, no, 10 and 2 months.

Hygellig · 14/05/2015 15:34

I remember because I remember it being at the end of year 10, when I was about 15.9 - quite late! I've never been asked though and can't think why a GP would want to know.

soontobemumofthree · 14/05/2015 15:43

My 16th Birthday I remember lying on the sofa with a hot water bottle. Happy Birthday me.

BellaBearisWideAwake · 14/05/2015 15:44

Another 8th August here, 1991. On holiday. With my gradmother, luckily, she was fab.

thegreylady · 14/05/2015 15:44

Mine was on my 12th birthday. I remember cycling to my grandma's and getting this tummy ache. I didnt want to tell anyone in case they cancelled my birthday party! By the time I got to my grandma's house it was pretty obvious. She and my auntie sorted me out (fortunately I was prepared) and I felt it was very appropriate as I felt really grown up.
I told all my friends at the party too.
I remember being told never to mention it to a man (not even my dad). It was 1956.

thegreylady · 14/05/2015 15:46

My dd was 14:11 and I had just begun to worry.

whitecandles · 14/05/2015 15:49

I was 16, so I was pretty happy it had finally started.

Never did tell my mum. We weren't close, she was very prudish and I couldn't find the courage.

bumblingbovine49 · 14/05/2015 15:59

I know I was still in primary school and younger than year 6 so possibly 9 or 10 years old. So not exactly. I do remember the first time it happened though the details are a bit hazy but remembering an event is not the same as knowing "when" it happened. Not for me anyway

ShelaghTurner · 14/05/2015 16:46

As usual with this subject some really sad stories Sad

Until 3 months ago I had no idea at all. I kept forgetting to ask my mother. I was just shy of 12 it seems.

Cheesypop · 14/05/2015 16:49

I have absolutely no idea what age I was. I truly can't remember the first time. I do know I didn't tell my mum, or anyone at all. In my entire life I don't think I've ever discussed my period with anyone except DH and the doctor!

squoosh · 14/05/2015 16:52

I'm amazed people have such detailed memories of it! I'm struggling to remember if I was 12 or 13 at the time.

My periods have always been a complete non-event (thankfully) so maybe that's why.

halcyondays · 14/05/2015 17:02

I was 11, it was in the last few months of primary school, possibly during the Easter holidays.

littlejohnnydory · 14/05/2015 20:15

13 years 1 month but I don't think I've ever been asked!

Musicaltheatremum · 14/05/2015 20:56

Friday 13th June 1975 just before hockey. Friend took me to the school secretary to borrow 4p to get a horrible thing out the machine. I was nearly 12.