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Preteens

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Original poster

First armpit hair to first period....how long?

26 replies

TheBrightBear · 10/04/2025 20:42

Interested to hear how long it was between noticing first armpit hair and when the first period occured. I've just noticed very light armpit hair for my 9 year old daughter and faint BO. She has some very faint light pubic hair. I'm not really sure about breast buds but if they are there they are tiny. No discharge yet. When I Google puberty it seems that arm pit hair normally happens when the breasts are more developed?! I'll put a pad etc into her bag and she knows the basics but I don't want to freak her out by going into a lot of detail if nothing's going to happen yet. Her signs of puberty maybe seem not quite in the normal order?? Really hoping she doesn't get her periods yet.

OP posts:
Tarnie23 · 10/04/2025 22:53

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Fumnudge · 10/04/2025 22:57

In this house, about 2 years from hair, then buds, to period. Fingers crossed for you

LittleLittleRex · 10/04/2025 23:08

My DD had almost 4 years, I think you are getting ahead of yourself a bit. Is she unusually tall or grown up looking?

Thewholeplaceglitters · 10/04/2025 23:09

We had a long time. Someone told me a year but I think it was more like 2-2.5.

Original poster
TheBrightBear · 11/04/2025 10:17

LittleLittleRex · 10/04/2025 23:08

My DD had almost 4 years, I think you are getting ahead of yourself a bit. Is she unusually tall or grown up looking?

Thanks yes hopefully....someone in the class already has had their first period but hopefully it'll be longer for my daughter

OP posts:
BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation · 11/04/2025 10:19

My DD had first armpit hairs at about 9.5 years, first period at 12.5 years.

herethereandeverywhatnow · 11/04/2025 10:36

Actually the BO and body hair are governed by a different hormone (androgens if I remember correctly). They very often come along at the same time as breast buds start as the 2 developmental stages have the same average age, but not always and they are not directly connected - it’s the breast development is the signal for start of their periods, not the body hair and BO. I was told all of this as we were referred to an endocrinologist as my DD started with BO at around 5, has had lots of underarm hair since 6-7 but was told that as no sign of breast development she wasn’t in puberty yet. Once the breasts start budding I believe it’s then a year until onset of their periods.

Original poster
TheBrightBear · 11/04/2025 15:14

herethereandeverywhatnow · 11/04/2025 10:36

Actually the BO and body hair are governed by a different hormone (androgens if I remember correctly). They very often come along at the same time as breast buds start as the 2 developmental stages have the same average age, but not always and they are not directly connected - it’s the breast development is the signal for start of their periods, not the body hair and BO. I was told all of this as we were referred to an endocrinologist as my DD started with BO at around 5, has had lots of underarm hair since 6-7 but was told that as no sign of breast development she wasn’t in puberty yet. Once the breasts start budding I believe it’s then a year until onset of their periods.

Oh wow thanks so much for this info, this makes sense as I'm not really seeing any signs of buds!

OP posts:
Original poster
TheBrightBear · 11/04/2025 15:14

BatshitIsTheOnlyExplanation · 11/04/2025 10:19

My DD had first armpit hairs at about 9.5 years, first period at 12.5 years.

Thank you!

OP posts:
glassof · 11/04/2025 15:32

Similar to others here too. About 2/ 2.5 years. Started periods at 12 and a half. Buds were after hair in armpits too

Original poster
TheBrightBear · 11/04/2025 15:37

glassof · 11/04/2025 15:32

Similar to others here too. About 2/ 2.5 years. Started periods at 12 and a half. Buds were after hair in armpits too

Thanks so much great to know this

OP posts:
FedUpandEatingChocolate · 11/04/2025 15:53

DD is 11, she has buds and discharge but no BO or hair yet. I'm expecting periods in the coming year.

MsGoodenough · 11/04/2025 15:55

I got armpit hair aged 10 and didn't start periods until 14

HelpMeUnpickThis · 11/04/2025 15:56

BO and body hair to period was 2 years. Buds to period was about 1 year. First period was at age 11.

Backhometothenorth · 11/04/2025 19:24

DD started her periods last month at just over 12.5. Has had hair for several years, breast buds started over 6 months ago. Really noticeable sign was suddenly much curvier hips and thighs in the couple of months before.

GroovyChick87 · 11/04/2025 19:27

11 year old DD started recently. Underarm hair appeared about a year ago and pubic hair about 6 months ago. Breast buds and discharge about 18 months to 2 years.

CC1991 · 12/04/2025 12:42

I only remember noticing armpit hair AFTER my first period! Discharge and breast buds were about 18 months before my first period.

Original poster
TheBrightBear · 12/04/2025 13:04

CC1991 · 12/04/2025 12:42

I only remember noticing armpit hair AFTER my first period! Discharge and breast buds were about 18 months before my first period.

Thanks! From reading these comments it does seem to massively vary and be somewhat unrelated to onset of periods.

OP posts:
Riapia · 13/04/2025 08:29

In addition to this, how long between the first signs of puberty in boys to them being able to produce sperm.

Reginaphalangeeeee · 14/04/2025 23:03

One DD started period at age 12 (about 18 months after breast buds) but arm out hair only in the last 6 months which is after period start.

DD 9 has armpit hair & just beginning breast buds but minimal pubic hair yet.

I have read if sign of puberty, girls will not start until the reach minimum weight of 46kg. This was true for my daughter, she was shooting up and 46kg period began.

SnemonyLicket · 15/04/2025 00:17

My dd (11.5) started her period in January. She started developing breast buds about 1.5-2 years ago and pubic hair about 9 months ago. She doesn’t have any noticeable armpit hair yet. I did however notice that in October last year she was very much still little girl shaped, and then she had a very rapid body change over the next couple of months and developed a very obvious waist, hips and small breasts. The week or so after I noticed this big change she got her first period.

Juliajojo · 17/05/2025 23:41

I'm also wondering when My dd (9) might also start her periods. she has breast development beyond budding and pubic hair filling in. Like OP's earlier comment one of dd's friends had already started her periods. My daughter asks when She too might start. I've bought her pads and liners ready and she has practiced how to put a pad on so she is prepared as much as she can be so now it is just a waiting game.

Bechange997 · 17/05/2025 23:43

I got my first period when I was nine, so it’s definitely possible. had my body hair a few months beforehand.

has she not had some sort of sex ed/ puberty ed in school already? I know my school the kids had it at 8/9 but my mum took me out of it lol.

Juliajojo · 19/05/2025 00:03

Yes I remember the puberty/period lesson at school. It was full of giggling and laughing along with ewww lol. My daughter had that lesson a couple of months ago and we chatted about what she learned in class.

eyerollexpertx · 21/05/2025 11:16

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