When to worry about no periods yet

[Shmoigel]

My daughter is 14 and will be 15 in two months.
I was a late bloomer but had begun by 14.

I don’t want to worry her unnecessarily but at what age would you speak to the GP about it?

She is my only daughter but I have worked with girls in a youth capacity for years, enough to know that it’s unusual. All her friends have started theirs.

Any advice appreciated

I would've by now. It's very rare not to have started by now.

Whilst on the later end, it's certainly not 'very rare' to not have started at 14.

Medically I don’t think they will be overly interested until she turns 16

I didn’t start until I was 16 I wouldn’t be worried worried - but do speak to the GP if your concerned

I think the NHS says to see GP if not started by 15.

But for what it’s worth, I was 16 (and my mum and sisters were earlier), and have never had any health issues related to fertility/menstruation/hormones etc.

I think I’d go to GP at 15 but depending on her physical build/shape/height/other signs of puberty too

I would talk to the GP now. Just yourself for now. And get an opinion. Its not totally unheard of though. I had a good friend growing up who started at 16. She got on fine in life. No health or fertility problems

Is she very slim? Very sporty? these can contribute.

Considering you started relatively late yourself i wouldnt overy worry but would take her to GP when shes 15.

We saw an endocrinologist for DD1 (not in the UK) so I have some experience of this. The doctor asked not only about my puberty, but DH’s and what I knew about the puberty of female family members on both sides. DD has a blood test and an x-ray of her hand.

Have you noticed a growth spurt yet? When did she start developing? 14 is common enough for periods starting and bodies don’t observe birthdays.

My dd1 was 15 dd2 was 16, I was 11 by comparison. My gp said you have to pass 16 for a referral but as she was showing clear signs of puberty turning 16 we decided to give it 6 months and she started a month later.

Is she very slim? I was about 15.5, but slim and did quite a bit of exercise so I don't think it's unusual in that case - although that was a long time ago now and girls certainly start earlier than they used to!

My mum and niece were both 16 when they started their periods. Its at the later end of normal but definitely not worth worrying about yet!

absolute nonsense. I started at exactly that age.

The “magic weight” is apparently 7.5 stone, if she has weighed more than this for the last 6 months then I’d see your GP

NHS advice is to see your doctor if they haven't started by around 14: www.nhs.uk/conditions/early-or-delayed-puberty/

That’s any signs of puberty. If there are other signs of puberty but no periods, advice is 15.

Actually that link's more about puberty in general than periods sorry.

This NHS page says "See a GP if your periods have not started by age 15 (or 13 if you do not have any other signs of puberty). Your GP may suggest a blood test to check your hormone levels."

www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods/starting-periods/

This was what we were told by the Dr. My Dd was 15 and had still not started, Dr wasn’t worried as she was under this weight, she’d had a massive growth spurt but was eating really well. She was just tall and “skinny” and still is. She did start a few months
later.
I will add I didn’t start until I was 15 either so don’t know if that is also factor.

That’s a bit of a myth. Being underweight can delay periods starting, but it will be different for everyone and it’s not the only factor.

I was nearly 17 when I started mine but was a little underweight, I’m 50 now and still having periods every month think mine kicked in late.

I would worry if she was 16 but not at almost 15.

If she's otherwise healthy and showing other signs of developing, she's probably ok and periods will come along soon enough.

Both my DDs enjoyed a very late start to the messy days of periods. DD1 was 16 and DD2 was 15. Both were active and slim but normal weights and both were clearly developing in other ways. Their friends who started earlier were very jealous.

My DD started hers when she was 16 , we were going to take her to the Drs to see if anything was the matter with her ,when she suddenly started her periods.

I started after I turned 16. Was seen by the gp at 16 and as I had developed breasts and had body hair he said nothing to worry about and go back at 17 if still not started. He then gave me a long lecture about a period being the weeping of a disappointed womb while I sat there and cringed myself inside out. 🥴

I had my last period at age 42. Usually the later you start the earlier you finish.