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13 year old periods and hair thinning

11 replies

Tiredpanda · 08/11/2025 11:13

December last year my 13 year old suddenly started having periods every 2-3months when previously it was regular for over a year. Period cramps also stopped. Recently, I have noticed her hair is thinning at the sides sbd she has less hair at the front and the top crown area.
She has been referred to gynaelogy and has an appointment this month. She also had a blood test and awaiting ultrasound scan.

She doesn't eat breakfast or lunch (sometimes a packet of crisps). Dinner is at 4 after school then she'll usually eat another dinner/snacks between 8-10pm. She's very picky with food. She goes to sleep by 12am ( winter sleep earlier) so gets about 7 hours.

When she baths/showers, she spends at least an hour and then dries her hair with cold setting on hairdryer so her hair is wet for a long time.

I understand that eating, sleeping and wet hair can be contributed to the hair problem, perhaps not the sole cause.

My question is, she hasn't realised her hair is thinning. She is sensitive and I dont want to mention it until she sees a doctor but I want to address the eating, sleeping issues as I think it would help. I dont want to stress/worry her which will add to the issue.

What should I do? Tell her so that she can make changes to her eating and sleeping patterns but she may worry which makes the situation worse or not tell her and try to address the issue by encouraging her? Problem is she is at the teenage phase of not listening to me and being grumpy with me.

Anyone had similar issues with their daughter and can advise what they did to address this please

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Silverbirchleaf · 08/11/2025 11:17

My first thought (not an expert) was is she suffering from anorexia? She doesn’t sound like she’s eating enough if she’s missing meals, and you say she’s picky around food.

BlissfullyBlue · 08/11/2025 11:20

I would be more worried about anorexia than her hair.

TyroleanKnockabout · 08/11/2025 11:25

Honestly I would just talk to her even if it makes her angry. Something will probably be absorbed. Her health is too important to ignore this.

Anaemia can cause hair thinning and period issues, so that is definitely something to consider if she has a limited diet.

Geranium879 · 08/11/2025 11:54

TyroleanKnockabout · 08/11/2025 11:25

Honestly I would just talk to her even if it makes her angry. Something will probably be absorbed. Her health is too important to ignore this.

Anaemia can cause hair thinning and period issues, so that is definitely something to consider if she has a limited diet.

Cane on to say exactly this. Does she take any supplements ? What blood tests has she had and what were the results?

Tiredpanda · 08/11/2025 15:53

She's definitely not anorexic as her height and weight has recently been checked at hospital for other reasons. She's picky but she eats a lot after school. Examples of foods are udon with miso soup, cucumber sushi, pasta with chopped tomatoes, pitta with houmous, fruit, pizza, lasagne, curries, bolognese to name a few..

Full blood count was done, liver, bone, thyroid... testosterone was 1.7 on the upper side of normal and ferritin was 42, on the lower s8de of normal. Her previous blood test over 3 months ago showed issue with prolactin levels hence referral to gynaelogy as her periods slowed down but prolactin levels this time seems fine

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Bamboozled5 · 08/11/2025 15:58

PCOS? Higher testosterone, hair loss, irregular periods are all symptoms.

Tiredpanda · 08/11/2025 16:11

She's been referred for an ultrasound scan, still waiting.

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coxesorangepippin · 08/11/2025 19:01

Is she vegetarian?

DeliciouslyBaked · 08/11/2025 19:08

Bamboozled5 · 08/11/2025 15:58

PCOS? Higher testosterone, hair loss, irregular periods are all symptoms.

As someone who has PCOS, I came to say the same. PCOS can also cause higher than normal prolactin levels.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 08/11/2025 19:14

I thought PCOS too. I suspect my daughter has it but as they wanted to do an internal scan, which she didn’t want at such a young age, we’re leaving the diagnosis for now. You may want to check what type of scan your DD is expected to have.

Tiredpanda · 08/11/2025 23:48

coxesorangepippin · 08/11/2025 19:01

Is she vegetarian?

No not vegetarian

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