Periods not started - just over 14

[Overthinkingisme]

My daughter turned 14 in May and is yet to show signs of her period starting. She has a small amount of breast development which has been fairly recent. She is a little bit anxious about it and initially I said that we’d wait until she was 15 and if still no sign then we’d speak to the GP. Should we be going now or is it fairly common to be a little bit later?

I was definitely over 14 if not 15 when mine started! I was generally a late developer and remember feeling self conscious. But of course regretted that as soon as they arrived!

It is certainly later than average, but not worryingly so, if you are seeing other signs of development. How much does she weigh? Is she tall? Does she play a lot of sport?

Thank you both. She is about 5ft 6 and just under 8st. Not really sporty, eats well. I was about 13 and my mum was 11 but my MIL thinks she was later. I guess I just want to reassure her.

Mine arrived the summer just before 15 (October birthday).
As you my mum was worried even took me to the doctors that simply said nothing wrong with me.
I was eating well, doing lots of sports and active life. Simply was late development.
I personally will wait till 16 to start to worry but if you both are concerned a visit to the doctors can't be bad

My daughter was 14 in June and still hasn't started hers yet either. I have noticed over the summer her hips are changing shape slightly and she is developing small breasts, but no body hair anywhere. She doesn't even need to wear deodorant. She's naturally very slim, like I was, and I didn't start until I was 14 so I'm not too worried

I was 14 and a half. I was the last of my friends and also got boobs and hips later but they did arrive!
I don't think they would consider it worth investigating now but do take her to the GP if she still seems pre pubertal at 15

Pretty sure mine were the summer before I turned 15 in the October, I wouldn't worry just yet x

I was 16, my mother was 16, my good friend 17.
Average in my class was probably 14 ( I am mid fifties) , I was the last I think. All of us normal !
I wouldn’t worry at all. There are advantages to starting later.

I was 16 when mine started. I think some of us are just late starters!

Another one for 16, nearly 17 in my case. DM also a late starter. DD on the other hand started at 13 so much closer to the norm for DH’s side of the family. I wouldn’t worry yet.

I was 15. The NHS says to see your GP of you haven't started when you are 16 so I would t be worried about it just yet.

*wouldn't be worried

I had actually forgotten until I read this thread how upset and obsessed I was as a teen about being the last of my friends to start my periods. I was 14 and a half, which is actually well within normal range but I remember feeling like such the odd one out. I was also very, very upset about being flat chested. Looking back it feels like a fuss about nothing - having periods isn't all that great and I was a leggy, very slim, very tall girl, I wasn't ever likely to be spectacular of boob but who cares? - but at the time it really, really mattered to me. I think that if she'd find it reassuring to have the GP tell her that it's totally normal and not a cause for concern then I think it's ok to go even though there's no 'need' to as such.

Overthinkingisme if she’s 5ft6 and just under 8stone then she’s a bit underweight. This can have an affect.

I went through a phase of hating being tiny and not wearing a bra and all that, but actually I moved beyond it, then grew a lot between 15 and 16, and still grew until I was 19. I was glad to have my teen years not worrying about periods, swimming whenever etc.
It did help that my Mum had been the same. I have one dd who started at 12, like my MIl, and another who is 13 and not remotely close, who I think will be more like me.
My friend who was 17 was taken to the GP by her Mum, but all was fine. She did have one light period at 16, but then a long gap before they started properly.

Dd2 started her periods about 6 months ago, she'll be 15 next week.

Dd1 was 14 too. Both started later than me (just 13). If your daughter is light then she may not yet have enough body fat to trigger periods. It's not something to worry about really, I think the 'normal' age range is about 11-16.

A chat with the dr will be reassuring for both of you.

My grandma was 16 and my best mate 15 when they started. Totally normal for some

I was 15. Used to spend hours reading the agony aunts in mags to find similar problems! Also a similar build though a very big eater!

Oh and my chest grew. In fact in my early 30s i went up a cup size for no reason after the initial 16 year old growing. It was great not having a chest that could be leered at ag school

Ds best friend only had her first period about 6 months ago, she is 16, very thin & petite.

I was two months short of my 16th birthday. I was very short and slim.
I have definitely read that weight is a trigger...everyone has a weight that they need to hit for it to start. Ami get other factors of course.

I was also 16 when I started.

The NHS website says to contact your GP if periods haven't started by 16 www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods/starting-periods/) She has plenty of time yet before she needs to even start to think there might be something to investigate.

No need to worry op but I would look at her weight and height, she might be a bit light/ underweight for periods. Plot her in her red book.

Does she have armpit hair? Usually it seems to be about a year after that shows that the periods start.

Hi OP, I really wouldn't worry at this moment as there is plenty of time yet. Funnily enough I was exactly the age your DD is at the moment (if she born in May) when mine started.