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Preteens

Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

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Original poster

10 year old with irregular periods

11 replies

hornchurchmum · 23/04/2022 13:00

Hi all, my DD will be 11 next month and got her first period around Xmas time - so quite young.

She’s handled it like a champ and the periods don’t bother her too much, only a slight tummy ache and not too heavy.

The problem is the irregularity and I thought I’d just check whether this is normal.

She had a perfect 32 days between periods 1 and 2, then she had a 39 day gap between 3 and 4, again not too bad, but then the next couple have only had 16/17 days gaps, so barely over 2 weeks…

Feels like 100 years ago since I started and I just can’t remember if such small gaps are normal 🤷🏻‍♀️

Anyone with experience of the same? I don’t want to rush to the GP unnecessarily.

Also, are they any amazing new products, other than tampons, that would allow her to go swimming? She’s getting worried about her upcoming PGL school trip.

Many thanks for any advice.

OP posts:

Twizbe · 23/04/2022 13:10

Very normal. It can take a while for the hormones to settle down so irregular periods at this age are very common.

There's a great book called the period repair manual which has loads of scientific information about periods and early hormone health.

As for her trip, there are tablets you can get from a pharmacy that delay the period for a week or so. I think they are ok to take at this age, but worth asking.

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 23/04/2022 13:11

I think it can take awhile for them to settle down.

You can get swimming costumes with built in period protection - have a look a modibodi.

Moochio · 23/04/2022 13:42

Normal. If you find it doesn't settle down it might be worth speaking to the GP.

negomi90 · 23/04/2022 13:47

Agree with others, if you can afford it to get her the special swimming costumes. Also period underwear with protection built in. If she wears that on PGL as normal underwear then she won't have to worry about it coming and being caught out as she'll be protected at all times anyway (get her an extra laundry waterproof laundry bag, so she can keep her dirty underwear separate)
It would probably be better then trying to get her on medication

Cccc1111 · 23/04/2022 13:47

Normal. Mine started late when I was nearly 16 - so I remember them clearly. They were all over the place at the start for at least a year, sometimes I had a month or two of no period. I remember I booked myself in to see my dr about it because I started panicking about it, and he said totally normal.

Original poster

hornchurchmum · 23/04/2022 13:50

Thanks so much all for such quick responses 🙏🏼

OP posts:

Twizbe · 23/04/2022 13:59

It's worth encouraging her to track them and to look out for other signs through her cycles. Although irregular she might discover some early warning signs so she's not caught off guard.

I always spot before my period so when that start I know I'll come on in about 5 days

DisrespectfulToDirt · 23/04/2022 14:21

Your poor DD, that’s tough. I started at 12 and had completely irregular periods like hers until I was 17, when I went to the GP and showed them a calendar I’d been keeping track on. I’d mentioned it to my mum several times and she’d said ‘oh mine were like that’ so it took my 5 years to actually go to the doctor!

I was put straight on the pill. I stopped taking that at 22 and they’ve been mostly regular since then!

Original poster

hornchurchmum · 23/04/2022 14:23

Thanks, yeah I’ve told her to just be a bit observant about tummy ache or clear discharge etc, just for her own benefit really. She can been quite sensitive and I don’t want her to become obsessed with looking for signs, but honestly I’m so proud of how she’s handled it so far. I started at about 14 so hadn’t thought to give her any warning that she might start at 10 😳 I keep a note of her dates on my phone but she’s already good at telling me that she thinks it’s on its way 👍🏼

OP posts:

Twizbe · 23/04/2022 14:38

That's good.

I started at 12. It was the same summer I got my ears pierced and I felt so grown up!

My mum used to write our dates on the same calendar and it felt like we were 'girls in this together'.

GypsyWanderer · 03/05/2022 18:57

Hi, I was coming in here to post something similar and I am so glad to read this. My daughter started her period 3 weeks ago. She is also 10, almost 11. And she has just had some bleeding and I got quite worried (not in front of her at all) because i couldn’t remember if it was normal as my eldest daughter is 20 now so a while for me and it’s just boys inbetween!

im glad to read it’s normal.

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