Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Flip

Original poster

Girls starting periods - irregular at first

13 replies

JuicyOlive · 21/02/2011 15:30

DD (12) had her first period at the beginning of Jan but nothing since, although she did say that she had a bit of a tummy ache for a couple of days two weeks ago. Is it normal for girls to be a bit irregular at first?

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 21/02/2011 15:33

i don't know if it's normal, but mine were very irregular to start with

PixieOnaLeaf · 21/02/2011 15:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

bebemooneedsabreak · 21/02/2011 15:35

I was very irregular at first. I was 'spotting' for months before my first bleed...then after my first bleed I had nothing for a couple of months but a spot or two (and not 28 days after the last) and then I had another bleed...
My sister was (and still is) chronically irregular and actually went on 'birth control' at at 14 to help regulate her periods to something more reasonable. (she had problems with majorly heavy bleeds as well as irregular periods)

Original poster

JuicyOlive · 21/02/2011 16:36

Thanks for the responses. It's such a long time ago for me I'd forgotten what to expect!

OP posts:

cyrilsneer · 21/02/2011 16:46

Whatever happens to your daughter is "normal" for her. Everyone's different.

My 14 year old had her first period just before Christmas. Her second period came after 28 days and we thought she was going to go straight into a regular cycle.

Since then... nothing!

I encourage my daughter to make sure that she's always got her "period bag" (Tampax/ spare pants etc) in her bag to be ready for if/ when it next happens.

Original poster

JuicyOlive · 21/02/2011 17:16

yes we've sorted a period bag out, but thanks for the tip.

OP posts:

generalhaig · 21/02/2011 20:32

I had my first period at 13 and then didn't have another one for more than a year - they came very sporadically after that until I was 19 and went on the pill - as soon as I came off the pill back they went to being all over the place

never had any problems (other than not knowing when it was going to come) and had 3 dc so obv didn't affect fertility

KashaUK · 22/02/2011 00:10

Periods are irregular during teens and going into twenties - development physically and sexually effects cycles as the same part of the brain responsible for cycles is also responsible for development. Also cycles are complex, if not enough hormone is being produced in one area it doesn't trigger off hormone production in another area - it's like a new factory, not all the machines work together or to the same speed at first, it takes time to work out the kinks and get into pattern.

As a note it is total MYTH that the pill regulates cycles - the pill and other hormonal birth control is made to suppress cycles all together to stop ovulation; no ovulation = no menstruation. Bleeding women get on the pill is withdrawal bleeding, not menstruation and is brought on regularly due to how the birth control is taken - it doesn't regulate anything. At best it covers up problems (irregular periods in teens is not a problem in itself, it's totally normal - but it may be a sign of an underlying problem), it prevents girls from learning from cycles, risks side-effects, and may have long-term effects on breast/bone development.

Just have her keep a period bag, consider getting her a menstrual cup as they can be used with light flow or before her period unlike tampons so much easier for her and means carrying less with her. Keep her healthy and stress-free, consider getting her on chaste tree or evening primrose oil to regulate hormones, and maybe teach her fertility awareness - good for general health-care but it will also help her see exactly when her periods are due.

RatherBeOnThePiste · 22/02/2011 12:32

The gap between DD's first and second was about 4 months, it has been about 18 months now since she started and they are only just beginning to settle into any sort of pattern.

As everyone has said, just have a kit ready. DD has a small kit with 2 pads, one tampax and two paracetamols in her bag so she has it all covered. The school also gave all the girls a box of pads and stuff to keep in their locker.

Original poster

JuicyOlive · 22/02/2011 17:57

Thanks for all the responses. I don't remember being particularly irregular when I started, so I just wanted to check out the MN oracle.

OP posts:

feckinpenniless · 22/02/2011 18:36

My DD was regular for a few months and then went through a phase of having a period every 20 days or so. She's settled down now, though.

secretdcaddict · 24/02/2011 18:37

My Daughter is 13 and had recently started her period. At her school they are doing swimming lessons that I have already paid for. They are meant to be doing it next week but she is due to start then. We were going to get our money back but she really wants to. She has been asking about tampons but is she to young ?

haggis01 · 26/02/2011 18:39

Fairly standard for them to be irregular for up to a few years. No ovulation occurs for at least the first 6 months after they start. Some have regular periods from the start but for others they can be irregular for many years.

Flip