Almost 15, no periods

[Llamacorn]

Hi, I'm just coming on for a bit of advice.
Dd1 is 15 soon and has not yet started her periods. I've never really worried prior to the last year, and thought 'it will happen when it happens'. For months now she has been getting a sore back and tummy cramps every few weeks, almost as if she is having a period, but with no blood.

Everyone in our family has started around age 11, so I presumed she would be the same. The strange thing is when she was 9 I remember taking her to the doctor as she was showing signs of puberty - hair, excess sweat, and I was worried about precocious puberty. I was advised then that it wasn't really too early and she would most likely start her period in a year or two.

She has grown in height, although still petite. She has a 'womanly' figure although little breast development since around 11, but no sign of her period ever showing up.

I am making her an appointment at the GP next week but she is petrified to go. She went for her back pain a few months ago and is awaiting physio but I never mentioned her periods as she is petrified and doesn't want me to. She always feels sick and dizzy too, so I know she needs to be seen.

How can I reassure her that the appointment will be nothing to worry about? Has anyone had similar with their teenage daughters?

Many thanks.

My DD didn't start her periods until she was 16. She had really bad stomach pains, looser stools which was just nearly thought to be IBS but I think it was herself developing for periods.

However, do get your GP to test her hormones, there could be a sign. They'll just test her blood first.

It'll be embarrassing for your DD but in the future, she'll love and hate having it come

I was nearly 16, if that helps.

I think 16 is the age that it's recommended to check with a doctor if they still haven't started. It does sound like her body is 'trying' which is probably a positive. Is she at a good weight?

I was 2 months off my 16th birthday when I started x

I was about 16 when mine started. My younger sister started way before me. I think that a quick check at the doctor at some point in the next year wouldn't hurt, but try not to make a big deal about it- maybe go when she needs something else done too. I was so embarrassed that I hit puberty late, and it was made much worse by my mum asking every time I had tummy ache. I felt like a freak.

My DD1 was almost 16 too. In the space of a few months, her boobs grew and then her period too. She'd been 'wishing' since she was 12 for the magical 'woman' day, when it did arrive, she fled back to bed.
Welcome to womanhood.

She's went in the have 2 marvellous little boys.

I didn't start my periods until 15 and they were intermittent until 21 (great as the pain was unbearable).

I've since convinced two children within 1-2 cycles of trying. So clearly I'm fertile, despite the late start.

I was well gone 15 when they started - I was very slender as a teenager, not sure if that made a difference. However my whole family is late developing; one brother didn't reach his full height until he was at university, and all of us were slow to lose our baby teeth. Given our family history, neither DM nor I were worried; do see your GP if you're worried - if they say don't worry for another couple of years, then hopefully you'll be reassured.

I started puberty with breast buds and some pubic/armpit hair when I was about 11 but didn't actually start my period until I was 14+2months.

Is she quite slim? I was - under 7st until 14ish and then I started.

What's her weight like ? If she's very slim that could stall her periods

Also precocious puberty can be a warning sign for polycystic ovarian syndrome ..and absent periods will be one of the symptoms of that. Having problems with excess weight can also be a symptom of PCOS and cause lack of periods.

I was nearly 15 when I finally started. My DM thought this was on the early side, as she and her sister had both been about 17.

I was an absolute rake, which probably had something to do with it. And like a PP, I ended up very fertile.

A check by the GP (or maybe a practice nurse - less intimidating, perhaps?) might be a good idea.

I started mine at the age of 18 so I wouldn't be worried. different girls develop it at different times. If you're really worried speak to your GP but me and my sisters where all different ages.
Me 18, younger sister 14 and other sister 16. Let her enjoy it while she can haha - good luck x

Thank you all so much for the replies, it sounds really reassuring and helpful to know many of you or your children have started later than what my dd is now.

Dd is slim, around 7.5 stone but she eats like a horse! Think I was more worried about her cramps and back pain every month and dizziness more than anything but hopefully it's just her body's way of getting ready.

I've to go back to the GP with her about her back pain, so I'll mention my concern about her periods and I'm sure if they were worried they'd order blood tests, but I think I'm just a worry mum who will be told to wait and see (pfb at 15 )