| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 1:08:30 AM | I was the latest out of all of my friends, and I was 13. but I've heard of girls getting it as early as eight all the way to sixteen.
There's no need to rush her to the hospital unless there's something wrong (like hemophelia). But she should be going for yearly checkups anyway, so you could always get the doctor to answer any questions then, before it actually happens. I'd definately buy some supplies so you're ready when it does happen. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 2:05:45 AM | My daughter is 15 and has never had a *physical* from the doc. Why would you put the girl through that???? Shit its bad enough as an adult going for a *physical* haha
If your daughter gets period problems then take her to the doc but even then there should not be a *physical* until lots of avenues have gone down.
If you have an ex you can talk to it might be a good idea to discuss with her what the 2 of you would do. I just let my ex know now when our daughter has her periods so he can be warned of her foul temper.
Good luck with your daughter, wait till you go bra shopping | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 3:31:01 AM |
First can this be predicted and second when should young women go to the "doc" to be checked out
Generally it goes by weight, same as cattle going into breeding. Around 50-55kg for girls.
It may seem that girls are getting younger but its primarily because average weight has increased. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 6:08:46 AM | ""Why would you put the girl through that????""
because its preventative medicine. i dont generally have "period problems" and yet i get an annual pelvic exam. best to teach them good health habits than to ignore what is available to them. how is she gonna know what a "period problem" is, unless someone teaches her. considering the average age in this country for a girl to be sexually active is about 13,, a baseline reference is a good thing, in the event the future presents you with a problem to face with her along these lines . even if the doc doesnt think a pelvic is warranted, it cant hurt to give your daughter someone confidential and educated to talk to about such matters. even if you believe you (you is a general term her, i dont mean you specifically) have a open door relationship with your child, there are still things they will not talk to you about. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 7:47:22 AM |
Why would you put the girl through that????
Under absolutely no circumstances would I put a child through an invasive procedure for the matter of "preventative problems"
There is nothing to prevent and puberty is a difficult enough stage of life to go through for young children. Let them get used to their own bodies first before you interfere with third parties.
Take them when they need to go at age appropriate which will be when sexually active and/or considering sexual activity.
A doctor or gynaecologist is not to a teacher.
Parents first, then schools are responsible for the education of young women.
If you find it difficult to approach the situation with you own child, read a few books and educate yourself first on how to approach the situation.
For a male who is in the position of having to educate his daughter on matters he is unlikely full comprehensive on, a close female friend is usually all it takes. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 9:05:49 AM | I didn't say I was going to take her to the doctors just looking for some advise thats all.
This is all new to me and need some insight on the matter.
Sorry if I upset a few. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 9:12:29 AM | Like the other posters have said, it's happening earlier and earlier in girls today. Part of it is the growth hormones, but part of it is also related to the obesity epidemic. A woman requires a certain percentage of body fat before she can begin her period and often young children are so active that they don't have that layer of fat. Around puberty a girl's body will start preparing for a pregnancy (it's an evolutionary thing from when girls started having babies shortly after their first period) and part of the preparations will be to get a layer of fat to help feed the body in case of a pregnancy. Again an evolutionary thing. With the layer of fat, if there was no food available the body would have something to nourish the developing baby with. So when a young girl is chubby, she may be more likely to have her period earlier. Not to mention the fact that fat stores hormones (the ones in the food we eat) which can then feed the body and trick it into developing earlier.
I'm not sure on this one, but I seem to remember reading somewhere that a girl can expect her period about a year or so after developing breast buds and/or hair in her armpits/pubic region.
I would reccomend maybe having a chat with her pediatrician to see if he/she can reccomend any literature (although the 'What's happening to my body' book is a good one) and what he/she reccomends as a course of action in terms of her getting a pelvic exam, the guardasil vaccine etc etc.
Oh and one thing, with the pads, you may want to let her keep them in her room, or a place where you don't generally go (maybe she can have her own drawer in the bathroom?). For some young girls a first period can be fairly embarassing and having the pads out where you could see them and see that the package has been opened may be embarassing for her. I would also reccomed you suggest she get like a makeup bag that you can't see in that she can keep in her backpack at school with an extra pair of panties and a spare pad, just in case her period starts at school. (By you I mean a general "everybody" so a non-clear/see through makeup bag). I still try to carry a spare pair of panties and feminine products with me everywhere, just in case.
Oh and one other thing, get the thin pads meant for teens. My mom bought me these great big thick huge things that were not only uncomfortable but they were far too long for a young girl and so thick if I wore anything the slightest little bit tight (like jeans) you could see the outline of the pad. Very embarassing. If you and her feel comfortable, let her know that if she find she's changing them often that you'll buy her a higher absorbency. (There's a little chart on the side of the box). The ones with wings I find work the best as well, because if there is any 'leaks' they get caught plus they don't bunch up as much. They also have pads that come with a wipe attached, to help 'clean up' a bit. Maybe even getting a few different types would be nice too, like a heavier flow one for at night, panty liners for at the end (in case she's worried it hasn't fully stopped).
You might also want to reccomend she keep track of her period as well. Go to the dollar store and get a little pocket calendar or something and the days where she doesn't have a period, she can X off in black and the days she has her period she can circle the days or X them off in red. This is not only good medically, but may help her as well to see if there's a pattern that develops so she can be prepared for when her next period is. If she has any cramps or other PMS symptoms she can write them in there as well and rate the symptoms on a scale of 1-10, 1 being not bad 10 being very painful/severe. Then again if she sees any patterns developing she'll then have something to show a dr ("every time, about 3 days before my period I have really bad cramps. What can I do?"). There’s lots of different options available to help treat painful periods. You may even also want to buy some midol to have on hand for her too.
One thing though, while doctors are getting better, a lot of doctors tend to ignore things like severe cramps and extreme moodiness and what not saying “it’s normal, it’s just regular, hormonal PMS.” But if she has extreme mood swings, or any symptoms that keep her in bed (headaches, extreme cramps, extreme fatigue etc) and it’s related to her period (ie: happens about the same time in her cycle) then it’s not normal and she needs to get it checked out. If the dr brushes it off, find a different dr. A friend of mine had very painful periods growing up (she had to spend almost a week in bed they were so painful) but the dr’s said it was nothing to worry about. Now at 22 she has had 2 surgeries, one where she had an ovary removed, and has a third next month where they may have to remove her uterus. Maybe if the doctors had paid attention earlier they could have done something and she wouldn’t have lost an ovary or face the loss of her uterus. Slight cramping, tender breasts, mild fatigue is somewhat normal, and with an over the counter pain killer (like advil or midol [which is specifically formulated for ‘that time of the month’]) should be able to keep things under control. Light exercise, like yoga may also be beneficial at that time too, so maybe buy her a yoga video? She should be able to continue all her normal activities and should only experience mild discomfort. If she can’t then it’s time to see a doc.
Also let her know that it's 'normal' for her to have irregular periods at first. A lot of young girls will have one, then go a couple months before the next one, then it might be only a few weeks, then more, then less. There are so many different hormones that control things and the body is just trying to figure out what's best for that person.
One head's up from my experience, my first period was very painful, but after that it wasn't so bad (no cramps or anything). Apparently that’s fairly normal as well. I was 13 when I first got mine. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 10:06:22 AM | "Under absolutely no circumstances would I put a child through an invasive procedure for the matter of "preventative problems"
thats right, wait until we have a problem out of control before we even seek medical attention. totally forget that theory that early detection is the best method for a cure.
"Take them when they need to go at age appropriate which will be when sexually active and/or considering sexual activity"
ROTFLMAO, crying for your teenage girl child. and just what age would that be?? 21? and do you seriously think you will actually be informed by the aforementioned teen of her first sexual encounter? again ROTFLMAO @ the ludicrous notion. when they first need to go,, hmm,, lets examine that shall we?? the american board of ob/gyn's suggest a girl has her first pelvic between the ages of 13 and 15 and within the first year of her first menses.
"A doctor or gynaecologist is not to a teacher."
then just who, praytell are you deferring to for medical advice and knowledge>? THE INTERNET? and the word is spelled, gynocologist. anyone with more knowledge is the teacher.
"everyone is my teacher in that i may learn something from him" | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 11:27:16 AM | I am surprised that people are saying that a teenage girl shouldn't have any preventative examinations done.
The fact is, if a young girl is sexually active (cover your eyes, OP! Sorry...lol) she MUST start getting yearly/bi-yearly examinations.
Unlike the prostate in young men, young girls are much more likely to develop cancers of the reproductive organs in their teen years (as compared to the same in young men). Why wouldn't a parent encourage their daughter to go for regular paps?
"A doctor or gynaecologist is not to a teacher." Actually, yes they are, in a way. They can give information that a parent may not be able to give. If a girl has questions, she may feel more comfortable asking a doctor rather than a parent. I know when I was a teenager, there was no way in hell I'd ask my mom questions of a "personal" nature. The comfort level just wasn't there. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 12:02:12 PM |
Actually, yes they are, in a way. They can give information that a parent may not be able to give. If a girl has questions, she may feel more comfortable asking a doctor rather than a parent. I know when I was a teenager, there was no way in hell I'd ask my mom questions of a "personal" nature. The comfort level just wasn't there. Not to mention a doctor will probably have more knowledge on the subject than a parent might. I'm sure the OP has very little knowledge about what mentrual symptoms are 'normal' and what symptoms may be symptoms of something more serious like endometriosis or a cyst on an ovary or whatever. Not to mention a parent might not know all about the different types of birth control and what each one is best for and the risks and benefits. (Most people I know have never heard of the birth control I'm on but it's what my doctor and I discussed that would be best for me). And OP, you might like to know that birth control can help with various health problems, especially mentrual related problems (like heavy periods, cramps, zits etc) therefore birth control isn't just for those who are sexually active. And as awful as this may sound, it might be a good 'preventative' measure in case something unexpected happens (ie: rape/date rape.... I don't think many of them stop to put on a condom....). Plus there may the spur of the moment decision to have sex. A lot of people don't think you can get pregnant if the guy 'pulls out' or if it's your first time.
And FYI p-trish gynaecologist is the correct spelling of the word if you're british or from the commonwealth. Gynocologist is actually entirely incorrect. The proper American spelling is gynecologist. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 12:18:02 PM | Gynocologist is actually entirely incorrect. The proper American spelling is gynecologist.
funny that, the medical terminology dictionary i have spells it as i had. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 12:18:44 PM | I think that all of this talk of "preventative measures" and "don't expect your daughter to tell you when she becomes sexually active" is leaving aside the fact that the daughter in question is 9 YEARS OLD. I'm sure that someone is going to call foul on this for the sake of argument, but I doubt any women here had their first gynaecological examinations before their tenth birthdays. I'm also going to throw my own opinion into the mix: I don't think that a child under the age of ten *should* be sent to a gynaecologist unless it is recommended by the child's G.P. It would be alienating, confusing, and uncomfortable--which is fine, but *only* if it is deemed *necessary*.
Come on now. If you want to have an argument about the merits of preventative medical measures, go ahead and do so...but don't do it on a thread started by a curious father about his 9 year old. It is more than likely completely irrelevant, and does nothing but over-complicate and obscure the very thing he's trying to understand. There have been really good, comprehensive non-scary answers (like wpg_chick84's) already posted here.
ETA. Oh, and "American" spelling is hardly the only correct spelling. The word "gynaecologist" comes from the the Greek "gyne." The "-ae" is a dipthong, either the result of alternate translation, or a Latinate alternative. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 12:22:44 PM | Young girls have been getting their menses between the ages of 8 and 16 for as long as there have been little girls. It is becoming more commonplace for girls to get them on the earlier end of the spectrum because of better nutrition and health, but in no way does that mean that you will be able to predict WHEN your daughter will start hers. Since she already seems to know what a period is, you might want to sit her down and talk with her about what to expect, what to do when it comes, and what it means as far as why her body will do this. Don't go getting into the discussion of "You're a woman now", this isn't true, she is still a child.
This website will help you get through some of the questions you are bound to have, and might help you to deal with the questions she might have..
http://www.menstruation.com.au/periodpages/parentsguide.html
JMO
And BTW - check Dictionary.com for the proper spelling of gynecology, gynaecology
They are both referenced - so neither of you was wrong - except for those who blabbered that gynecology is an improper way to spell it.... JMO | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 1:31:58 PM | When I was a youngin the norm was 6th-8th grade. I heard John Tesh say that when kids go through great emotional stress like diverse etc., which we all know is very common these days, they can sexually mature up to 3 years earlier than the norm. Not to mention all the hormones in milk and meat these days. (That's my take)
I am not speaking with any authority on this one, but I don't think girls need to go in for a check up for a while; unless something seems wrong or they need to go on the pill. I had to go in when I was 14 and it was horrific and I suspect the cause of a lot of negative views I had of sex and my body for a VERY long time. They don't let a mom etc., stay in the room with you and I would have felt better and she also could have stopped something that was not necessary from happening. I understand that they want the child alone to question them about sexual activity etc. but I believe they should let someone else be in the room during the exam if that's what the child wants. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 5:23:58 PM | Actually, forumlove, these days a female nurse is *required* to be in the room for any such exams, to protect both the doctor and the patient from those sorts of situations.
And I have never been asked to leave the room for an examination for any of the kids I was caring for.
So yeah, times have changed. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 5:30:11 PM | A young girl does not need a pelvic exam until she is sexually active or there is reason to believe she has been sexually molested/assaulted. Come on now. You're a bit nuts if you would send a 9 year old in for a pelvic.
The guy is asking asking about puberty anyway. My suggestion to the OP would be to get a book and read it since he seems to be asking a lot of "girl issues" type questions lately. This isn't stuff that should be news to anyone who has access to amazon.com or a library card.
Who needs a pelvic exam?
All women benefit from routine gynecologic screening, including a pelvic exam. Most experts agree that the first pelvic exam should take place within three years of the onset of sexual activity or by age 21, whichever comes first. Your doctor can recommend how frequently you need to be examined, but many women have a pelvic exam once a year.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pelvic-exam/WO00129/rss=1
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 5:38:52 PM | | I wasn't advocating getting out a huge metal speculum and assaulting the girl with it. Any competent physician can perform a complete physical exam, including the relevant "naughty bits," without traumatizing children. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 5:58:32 PM | I think I was 11. Girls are starting earlier now than ever before because of lots of factors, including better nutrition.
As for the physical, my doctor had told me that I should get my first physical around the time that I became sexually active. I honestly think 11 is a bit too young for a girl to get a physical if she is still not sexually active. Cervical cancer and breast cancer are extremely rare in women that young (and for the most part, cervical cancer doesn't occur in people who have never had sex). | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 6:06:05 PM | in the UK you're not required to have an internal examination until either the age of 25 (thats now the lowest age you are called in for a smear) OR for GUM reasons OR childbirth.
With regards to the OP and young girls and periods.
To forewarn you she may not be prepared for how heavy it can be. So dont make a big deal out of it if she leaks at night and needs to change her sheets/stains her sheets. Just treat it as an "oh well shit happens" type thing. It'll take her about 2 years for her cycle to become regular let alone level out enough for her to know what type of pads to use.
Whoever said get a stock of pads in is right. Thats a great idea. But not just day ones, get some night ones in too (yes there is a difference!!) she may be unfortunate and be heavier at night than in the day. In which case it's best to be prepared. (And also be prepared to talk tampons and mooncups because they're better for use at night when heavy!)
Probably given you WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much information there but it's food for thought. There is no straight forward answer when it comes to the first period - in fact for the first year or 2.
Good luck! | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 6:50:33 PM | ""I'm sure that someone is going to call foul on this for the sake of argument, but I doubt any women here had their first gynaecological examinations before their tenth birthdays. ""
you're probably right on that one, but most women here didnt experience their first mensus prior to their tenth birthday either, so a first gyno exam wasnt warranted for that very reason. the two things are relevant to eachother.
our childrens generation is the first to present with mesus prior to age ten in such great numbers. the only way a trip to the doc's is confusing (any dx for that matter), is if the child hasnt been prepared for it by the parent. when my children were of age to comprehend language, i never took them to the doc without them knowing why. I.E. i prepared them for what they will experience there. Especially my girls when they were faced with the puberty related questions and exams. given the history of female related cancers in my family, it was the prudent thing to do, to prepare them by giving them the RIGHT INFORMATION and doing so in a manner that armed them instead of frightening them. as a result my children, ( now all grown ) have been great self advocates about thier own healthcare needs. when we dont inform our children, and omit the difficult dialogues, we serve to perpetuate the myths associated with sexual development. again, i applaud the OP for his courage to ask about his curiosities when dealing with his daughter. good thing he sucked it up and just asked. ( he is probably getting a heck of a lot more info than he anticipated though, LOL, poor bloke)
""Come on now. If you want to have an argument about the merits of preventative medical measures, go ahead and do so...but don't do it on a thread started by a curious father about his 9 year old.""
scuse me, but it seems the perfect place to have the dialogue (within this particular frame of reference) and to whom its said for. who better than a curious father who has admitted ignorance to such things? who should we tell this too?? a medical health professional with most of the answers already at hand? or someone who isnt curious and asking questions about the very topic?
""ETA. Oh, and "American" spelling is hardly the only correct spelling. The word "gynaecologist" comes from the the Greek "gyne." The "-ae" is a dipthong, either the result of alternate translation, or a Latinate alternative. ""
BLAH BLAH BLAH! | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/26/2008 6:55:08 PM | p-trish
whilst i respect your posts as they always come accross as very knowledgeable and well thought out i have to disagree with you on this issue.
I dont believe in getting medical professionals involved without due need.
I myself started my periods at 9, i've also been told i have precancerous cells on my cervix. Neither are connected.
I will warn my daughter of both - especially as there is a genetic factor in both instances - but i see no need to scare her unduly. There are sufficient medical screening processes in this country for me not to have to worry her unduly save maintaining open conversation about both issues. | |
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