by Nicole Lane

Created on: January 24, 2008

The age at which most girls start menstruating? Tell me my future, read my palm, do ghosts exist? These questions are all along the same lines. Nobody knows for sure and nobody can give you an exact answer. Every female is different. I know when my mom was a teen she didn't hit that stage until she was in highschool. I was a "late bloomer" as some like to refer to it as. I was 14 before I started some girls can start earlier or later. Is there a general age or around a general age? Sure some would say around 13 or 14, BUT times have changed. It seems weird to say that because it's a new year and new lifestyles or way of living that it can affect the age of menstruation in girls, but I really think it does.

Take my niece for example, she started her period when she was 10, she will be 13 next month and is 5'5 and looks like she could be 16 with no makeup and 18 when she has makeup on and hair done. It's frightening! But here's the shocker. When my niece was around 7 she started developing, to the point she needed a training bra. She started complaining of pains in her lower stomach, everyone thought she was sick or needed to use the bathroom or just had a stomach ache. But it came and went and she was moody. My sister started to panic thinking what if she is about to start her period?!

She called and made a Dr's appointment because the pains weren't going away. When they got their the Dr. (and pediatrician I use for my child) told her that he didn't think that she was about to start her period, but there was nothing else wrong with her. He then told her that "nowadays" a girl can start at a very young age. My sister just stared at him and goes "but she is only 7!" That is when he chuckled and told her that yes he realized she was still very young, but she is developing quickly and already started having hair under her arms, yes it was just a piece or two but it was still hair. He then explained that it WAS in fact possible for her to be starting her period as early as 7 and to not be surprised if she started her period around 8 or 9.

My sister was devastated, she thought she was losing her little girl. Luckily she didn't have to go through with having her 8 or 9 yr old daughter having her period, but she did have to go through explaining to her what a pad was for and if it happened what she needed to do. She then had to tell her teacher and her teacher wasn't the least bit surprised at this. she told her to stop worrying it would be fine, and that she keeps them in her drawer for students that should need them. Apparently the teacher had other students needing them around that age.

So to really say you can pinpoint a certain age that a girl will start her menstruation cycle is like saying you can know the exact amount of money your child will make by the time he is 45. The way things are I wouldn't be surprised if we start hearing of 4 year old girls having their period.

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