It’s normal for girls to start their periods anytime between age 8 and 15. However, getting a period before age 10, a condition known as precocious puberty, might require evaluation by a doctor.
What is the average age for a girl to get her first period?
The average age for a girl to get her first period is around 12, but it’s normal for it to happen anytime between age 8 and 15. According to a study published in Pediatrics, the average age for a first period is:
- Age 12 for white girls
- Age 11 for Black girls
- Age 12 for Hispanic girls
- Age 11 for Asian girls
However, each girl is different. Some girls will start puberty and get their periods earlier or later than the average age. As long as your first period happens between 8 and 15 years old, it’s considered normal and variation is expected.
What does it mean if a girl gets her first period before age 10?
Getting your first period before age 10 is considered early and might be a sign of precocious puberty. Precocious puberty is when a child’s body begins changing into that of an adult too soon. With precocious puberty, kids develop secondary sex characteristics before age 8 in girls and age 9 in boys.
For girls, starting periods before age 10 is usually the first sign of precocious puberty. Other signs of precocious puberty in girls include:
- Breast growth starting before age 8
- Pubic or underarm hair before age 8
- Rapid growth spurt
- Acne
- Vaginal discharge
- Mood swings and behavior changes
Precocious puberty can happen for no known reason, or it can be linked to an underlying medical condition. Getting an early period by itself doesn’t necessarily mean there’s an underlying problem. But since early puberty can impact growth and behavior, it’s a good idea to see a doctor for evaluation.
When should you see a doctor?
See your pediatrician if your daughter gets her first period before age 10. The doctor can:
- Confirm she’s in precocious puberty based on a physical exam and signs of puberty
- Do blood tests to check for hormonal changes
- Do imaging tests to check for any problems with the pituitary gland or ovaries
- Determine if the early puberty is linked to an underlying medical condition
- Discuss treatment options if needed
Treatment for precocious puberty may involve medications to pause or slow down early puberty. This gives a child’s body more time to reach optimal adult height and for healthy psychosocial development.
What causes early periods and precocious puberty?
There are a few possible causes of precocious puberty and early periods:
No known cause
In most girls with precocious puberty, there is no identifiable cause. Early puberty just runs in the family genes.
Hormone irregularities
Problems with the hormones in the body that regulate growth and sexual development can trigger early puberty. This includes issues with the pituitary gland in the brain and ovaries or testes. Tumors or other abnormalities in these glands may cause them to make more reproductive hormones.
Other medical conditions
Chronic conditions like thyroid problems, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and McCune-Albright syndrome are linked to precocious puberty.
Radiation treatment
Radiation to the brain or reproductive organs can damage glands and trigger early puberty.
Genetics
Running in families is a risk factor. Girls with mothers or sisters who went through puberty early are more likely to as well.
Obesity
Excess body fat and obesity are associated with getting an earlier first period.
Chemicals and environmental factors
Chemicals like pesticides, chemicals in plastics, and other contaminants may influence hormones. But more research is needed into environmental exposures.
Is there any way to delay a first period?
For girls with hormone issues or other medical causes of early puberty, medications can safely pause puberty. These medications stop the signal from the brain to the ovaries that speeds up puberty. This provides time for a child to reach a more optimal height and offers more time for emotional adjustment to adolescence.
If there is no identified medical cause, it is not recommended to try to delay a first period that happens between age 8-10. Letting puberty run its course is safest physically and emotionally.
What happens after a girl gets her first period?
Here’s what parents and girls can expect after that first period shows up:
- Periods may be irregular at first – It’s common for periods to be irregular and unpredictable for the first year or two. It can take a while for ovulation and regular cycles to get established.
- Flow might be light or heavy – Period flow varies between girls. Some have light bleeding while others have heavy periods right off the bat.
- Cycles may be long – In the first couple years after menarche, it’s normal to have cycles longer than the typical 28 days. Cycles of up to 45 days are still considered normal.
- Symptoms may be stronger – Cramps, mood swings, and other PMS symptoms tend to get better over time. But at first, they might be strong as the body adjusts.
- Puberty changes continue – Periods are just one sign of puberty. Other changes like breast growth will keep happening over the next few years.
Make sure your daughter knows what to expect! Good communication, tracking her cycles, and being prepared with period supplies can help the transition go smoothly.
Tips for talking to your daughter about her first period
Start early with age-appropriate education about puberty. Discuss the basics of periods even before your daughter is showing signs of entering puberty. That way, she’ll be prepared when her first period arrives. Here are some tips:
- Use the anatomically correct terms for body parts so she learns this early on.
- Explain what a period is and walk her through what to expect step-by-step.
- Give a realistic timeline, like letting her know most girls get their periods between 11-14.
- Talk about the practical things like choosing pads or tampons and proper hygiene.
- Encourage her to track her cycles on a calendar.
- Let her know she can come to you with questions or concerns.
- Make her pediatrician a partner in this education.
Remember, give her information a little at a time based on her maturity level. Make it an ongoing, comfortable dialogue so she’ll keep coming to you in the years ahead.
Emotional support for early periods
Starting puberty ahead of peers can be tough on girls socially and emotionally. To help your daughter cope:
- Give plenty of reassurance this is normal and she’s not alone.
- Encourage her to connect with friends who started menstruating early too.
- Let her know you’re there for her if she’s feeling self-conscious or has other worries.
- Consider counseling if she’s really struggling with the changes.
- Work closely with her school to prevent teasing and help teachers understand what she’s going through.
How is precocious puberty treated?
If there is an underlying medical cause for early puberty, treating that condition may resolve the precocious puberty as well. But in most cases of early puberty in girls, there is no known cause.
Medication to pause or slow down puberty is the main treatment for precocious puberty without an identifiable medical cause. The medications work by decreasing the hormones in the body that cause the ovaries to mature and menstrual cycles to start. This stops the progression of puberty.
Two types of medications used are:
- Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists – These medications block the hormones that signal puberty to begin. GnRH agonists are given as shots every 1 to 3 months. Brand names include Lupron Depot and Zoladex.
- Aromatase inhibitors – These prevent testosterone in the body from turning into estrogen, which causes breast growth. Aromatase inhibitors are pills taken daily. Exemestane (Aromasin) is one example.
Treatment is generally recommended until a girl reaches an optimal height and maturity for beginning puberty. This is around 11-12 years old. But each child is different in terms of when they are emotionally and physically ready.
Precocious puberty treatment has risks and benefits that each family must carefully weigh with their child’s doctor.
Potential benefits
- Allows girls to reach a taller adult height since early puberty can shorten height potential.
- Gives more time for psychological, emotional, and social maturation.
- Slows the progression of secondary sex characteristics like breast growth.
- Reduces risk of early pregnancy.
- Might prevent abnormal uterine bleeding and anemia.
Possible risks and side effects
- May impact bone density, requiring monitoring for osteoporosis risk.
- Can cause vaginal dryness, irritation, bleeding.
- Headaches, skin reactions, digestive issues.
- Little risk of delayed fertility, but can’t be ruled out.
- Treatment is expensive if not covered by insurance.
Doctors work to minimize risks and try to time puberty blocking therapy correctly for each patient’s needs.
What to expect after stopping precocious puberty treatment
Once a girl has reached sufficient physical and emotional maturity, the precocious puberty medications can be stopped. Here’s what happens next:
- Most girls will begin developing normally within 3-6 months of ending treatment.
- Breast development often restarts first.
- Pubic and underarm hair usually increases shortly after breast development.
- Growth spurt occurs.
- First period usually happens about 1-2 years after stopping therapy, but can be longer.
- Full development takes about 2-3 years but can vary by each girl’s biology and genetics.
Follow-up is important after treatment stops to ensure normal puberty progression and development are on track.
Coping tips for parents of early bloomers
Seeing your child go through puberty at a young age can be difficult for parents too! Some tips to support yourself and effectively parent your child:
- Accept that you cannot rush or stop biological changes. Focus on providing what she needs during each phase.
- Remember that each child has a different biological clock and puberty timeline.
- Join support groups to know you aren’t alone in this experience.
- Seek counseling if you are really struggling with feelings about her development.
- Take care of yourself and get help if her early development starts impacting your mental health.
- Trust your instincts as a parent about what’s best for your family.
The bottom line
Getting a first period before age 10, while uncommon, happens for some girls and is a variation of normal rather than cause for definite concern. Speak to your pediatrician if your daughter has an early period to determine if evaluation and treatment for precocious puberty are recommended. With support from you and her doctor, an early bloomer can thrive through these changes.