Sex ed nurse told Year 7 that girls don't grow much more after they start their periods - any truth in that?

[mrslucycat]

I've never heard that before??

Thanks for all your feedback. It would be so interesting to hear more people's experience. It's interesting how varied the starting age is, too, isn't it? My best friend started at 9, I didn't until 16.

Started at just 12, was tallest in the class. Didn't grow another inch (ended up 5.3")

Friend started at same time and she didn't grow any more either. Tiny friend didn't start till 14 and she ended up being 5'10.

I definitely think there's a lot of truth in this.

I've never heard it before but at the weekend my Dad's partner was saying she had started her periods at 9 and was one of the tallest in the class then pretty much was one of the smallest after age 12.

No. I doubt it.

I am 5'11. I am as sure as I can be that I wasn't that height at age 11.

I was one of the tallest in my class at the end of primary school (stood on the back row in the class photo and everything!), started my periods at 12 and am now 5'1".

My younger sister was always a tiny, delicate child, didn't start her periods til she was 16 and is now 5'7".

I have also heard that girls tend to start their periods when they weigh around 7 stone - that's why girls start their periods sooner now, as they are generally bigger. Some girls reach 7 stone at 10, some at 16.

Wasn't true for me, I started my periods at 11, I was about 5 ft, am 5'10" now, grew an inch whilst at University between 18 and 22! I think it is not based in any actual medical fact, and that you can always find people who will fit this rule as easily as you can those who do not. I would say the best message is you will start your periods when you start them (when your mum started them can be a good indication) and you will grow as tall as your genes make you (look at your family for this too - well most of the time)

From the sample here, it sounds like a bit of a pattern for girls to be tall in their class, start early, then be not so tall compared to peers. My experience is that I was always the class titch, I started late, and am now, if anything, quite tall.

I started at 11 I was 5 ft 1 and I still am.
I think they don't grow much more after puberty is completed which is not always when they start their period. Boy carry on growing until about 21 but girls don't.

I grew 2 inches when I was 20, and went up a shoe size, yes it was annoying! None of my shoes fitted and my trousers were all too short! Oh and I started my periods when I was 8!

Girls continue to grow until 21.....

I stopped growing at 11 & started periods at 9.

Can't generalise, but it's definitely true in my family. I started at 10 and haven't grown since then. Luckily, I was (and still am) 5'5''-5'6'', so a reasonable height to end up as (although an abnormally tall child).

Was true for me. Started at 10 and I'm 4ft 11in.

I think there is truth in this - there is very little height growth after periods start, just a couple of inches which is mainly down to nutrition.

I'm surprised this isn't more widely known or noted...

I think there's truth in this as well.

Until I reached the grand old age of 10yrs old I was one of the tallest in my entire year group.

At 11 I started my periods, by 13 I was the shortest and stopped growing at 4ft 11 1/2 inches.

I did grow a further 1/2 inch in my very late teens - but I put that down to the African sun

Not true at all in my case. Started aged 13 when I was 5ft 3in - I'm now 5ft 8in. I had my final growth spurt at 16.

i thought possibly it was linked to weight - have heard whe you hit around 7 stone then periods start - certainly i was around that and only 2 inches shorter than i am now (was 13).

have posted this before and think it is hust an urban myth...

I was tiny and about 4.5 stone when my period started! Sadly my lightweight days are long gone and I think one of my thighs weighs 4.5 stones.