DD 16 no period yet

[Candleabra]

Dd still hadn’t started her periods. She’s just 16. No health issues and all the other ‘signs’ are there. And have been for years really.
Ive tried to get her a GP appointment for the past year and I can’t even get past the receptionist. It’s not urgent enough. (Don’t even start me off on the appalling non existent service I get at the GP now).

I know she needs to see a GP, I know she needs blood tests but is there a non catastrophic reason she hasn’t started yet? I’ve gone from being vaguely concerned a couple of years ago to pretty worried now.

I started my period at 16. There was nothing wrong with me I was just a bit skinny after a growth spurt.
Having said that can you maybe do a same day appointment with the GP? One where you don't get triaged by the receptionist.

I literally cannot get past the receptionist! That’s when I can get through at all. I’ll have to camp outside….

Thsnks for replying and glad it was all ok for you. She has just grown a lot recently (taller) but is still incredibly slender. So perhaps it could still just happen normally.

I didn’t start mine until 16…well I had 1 period that was just a bit of brown discharge really and then didn’t properly have monthly bleeds until shortly after turning 17. My older DD20 took after me and started at 17.5yrs. Both of us are normal, healthy just petite and athletic. My younger DD18 started at 14 but she takes after her dad and is tall, big boned and due to CFS/ME cannot do sports at all.

Yes my 14yo was getting her period while my 16yo wasn’t. I was similarly frantic with worry at that point. Took 16yo in to GP and after hearing my history and seeing her body type matched mine, was told menarche is a function of several factors and it appeared that for my DD at least genetics from me, plus petite body type, plus athletics was delaying menarche. They said come back if she’s 18 and not started. No blood tests were done.

So that’s one example of it being normal. I hope it helps?

It can be partly genetic. When did you start?

'Incredibly slender' or underweight? Because that's an obvious reason.

by petite I mean slim build as well as short. As in 20” waist. Size 4 to 6 U.K.

Tips for ‘getting past’ the receptionist
ask to speak with her manager or the practice manager to raise a concern.

try quoting information from NHS website for example the info below (
this is NHS Scotland but it gives an idea of what to say)

In your position I’d say firmly that I have accessed NHS info online that clearly directs you and your dd to access a GP as there may be an underlying medical problem.

Sorry forgot the screenshot

but is there a non catastrophic reason she hasn’t started yet?

Could be pcos, I didn't have my first period until I was 19 possibly 20 and very very infrequetly after that. Or if she's very slender could she be underweight?

Could you write a letter to the practice manager? Recorded delivery perhaps? A year is insane.

Could you write a letter to the practice manager? Recorded delivery perhaps? A year is insane.

This.

Or phone 111 who may well direct you to the GP
then you can tell the receptionist this as well.

Do you know how much she weighs OP. I think generally you’ve got to be around 7 and a half stone for periods to start. I realise there are exceptions.

Does very slender mean very underweight? That can be a reason. It was for my DD3, who was very slender (underweight) due to an eating disorder.

I actually don’t. I’m quite slight around 8.5 stone. She is significantly slimmer than I am. She doesn’t look super skinny or anything though. But I will ask her to weigh herself (I never like to focus on weight with teenage girls though which is why I don’t know for sure)

My dd was 16. Spoke to nurse practitioner (she was giving dd a booster for boarding school) at 15/9 months ish and was told to wait 6 months then book bloods, hospital wouldn't accept referral under 16/6 months.

She started at 16 and 2 months. She's short but carried on growing until past 18. Both my DD's were later in fact (dd1 was over 14)

Why does she need to see a GP? I was 16, and I don't think it's that rare.

I know, it’s awful. They have one GP there now. It’s a huge practice. They send out text messages all the time saying they are effectively closed and to go to A&E with any health concerns.

Isn’t it? That’s good to hear. She’s the only one of her friends yet to start.

I was 13 and a half.

She’s a dancer as well. Could that be a factor?

If you can't get a GP appt ring 111, they have access to make appts at some GPs and if they can't access your booking system they can book you at the nearest walk in centre.

I have no idea how my GP is always fully booked as ive found it completely impossible to ever book an appt in the last 3 yrs. I've tried using the online booking system, ringing at 8am on the dot and queuing at the door from 7am. Each time they've been fully booked for emergency and advance bookings. 111 gets me into a same day appt at the walk in hub on the few occasions I've needed to see a GP.

Yes for us athletics was a factor as in low body fat % from being athletic can delay menarche. Neither myself or DD20 were underweight…slender but muscular. I was a competitive long distance runner and did martial arts for fun (Aikido, Kendo). DD is a competitive fencer and trains some 20hrs/week.

It's around 1% so yes, pretty rare.

Lots of exercise and underweight, not that unusual.

Being a dancer could be a factor if she is doing lots of training. I would want a doctors appointment though for advice. In our area there are ‘out of hours’ appointments so that people who work can access gps. If your surgery is busy they may outsource their out of hours to another local practice.