| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 12:58:07 PM | My daughter is a very old age of 9 and has a friend at school that told her the doctor said she will starting her period soon.
First can this be predicted and second when should young women go to the "doc" to be checked out. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 1:08:05 PM | umm.. im thinking when you hear her scream... you'd know... me ... 10.
Usually the girls that have developed a bit too fast, or seem to stand out (im talking breasts) just in case male minds can't guess. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 1:13:56 PM | The start of menstruation is getting earlier and earlier, and there are a variety of theories about why this is. In my day, it was 13-14, but now 11 is not uncommon. 9 seems a bit early, though. I guess it depends on what the doctor meant by "soon."
The medical community is recommending that girls get vaccinated with the HPV vaccine between ages 9-11 now, so that would be a good time to ask the doctor any questions you might have. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 1:14:46 PM | you dont need to take the child to the doctor unless there is a problem. starting your period for the first time, is not a problem. visiting the GYN is not pleasant for any woman, much less a child. dont put her through that until its neccesary
my .02 | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 1:30:28 PM | My sister started at 10 I was 12 I think.
I'm not really sure if they can predict when its going to happen, but I wouldn't be surprised.
OP you might want to pick up some pads or something to have at the house just in case. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 1:47:26 PM | It's not all THAT uncommon for a girl to start early. Just make sure she's informed and educated about the changes her body's about to go through. Believe me, it's no fun being the first one in your class to be going through such things. I wasn't much older than your daughter. It might be a good idea to have some pads around the house just in case. Pads, not tampons! Let her talk to you about it at her own pace. I remember not even wanting my dad to know I had gotten mine (I was too embarrassed to talk about those things with him). It's good your daughter feels comfortable enough with you to ask.
Edited to add: I remember there being some great books on the subject. Titles escape me now, as it was many years ago. Is your daughter interested in books at all? I know that helped me get over the shyness, and helped me learn some of the facts, rather than the half-truths some of my friends were passing around.
And... your daughter's pediatrician should be able to tell you whether or not a pelvic exam is necessary. I didn't need to see a gynecologist until I was a teenager and having terrible cramps. I doubt there would be any reason to have a pelvic exam done at that age unless there was something wrong. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 2:16:48 PM | I started at 11, my sister was 17. Anywhere in between or earlier, is normal.
Welcome to a whole new world. It's not easy being the parent of an adolescent girl. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 2:44:20 PM | My highschool had a book titled "The What's Happening to My Body Book: For Girls"
Maybe see if your local library can get that in for the two of you? | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 3:01:10 PM |
First can this be predicted - highly unlikely.. the dr. is just taking a guess.. every female is different when they start their period..
second when should young women go to the "doc" to be checked out
hope ur talking about a 'physical'!.. i started 2 take my daughter when she was 11.. i had asked my dr. 'when is the right age 4 a young girl 2 get a physical?'.. she told me 'about 11'.. try finding a good dr. 4 ur daughter.. 1 that doesn`t 'bet around the bush' so 2 speak..  .. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 3:54:49 PM | There is a really good series of books from the American Girl Library available at Barnes and Noble, etc. .. on most subjects preteen girls encounter (and don't neccesarily want to discuss with their daddies) and written in a very age appropriate manner!
and no, you can't predict it unless you can sort through her many tween moods and figure out which one is actually pms. :) | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 4:02:12 PM | As far as I know, there's no predicting it. I always assumed it came after a girl had gone through (at least) the first visible stage of puberty, but I've heard of it happening before then.
You don't need to worry about taking her to a doctor until she's sexually active which won't be for some time, one would hope. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 4:27:59 PM |
You don't need to worry about taking her to a doctor until she's sexually active which won't be for some time, one would hope. Like thats going to happen in my life time.  | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 4:56:08 PM | They start earlier in stressful places.
I would imagine Africa and Iraq right now are rife with 9 or 10 year olds starting periods. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 4:57:38 PM | they can start anywhere between 8 and 18 which is pretty scary really.
There are LOADS of books out there designed to help you discuss puberty with children. Not sure what ones are in the US but there are a some good ones over here in the UK.
Worth a look. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 5:10:31 PM | There are girls who are starting as young as 6, and some older teens. I was 15. I don't think the doctor was diagnosing so much as stating a fact...around 9 or 10, there is a good chance she will be starting hers soon. Whether "soon" means in a week or a year or two, who knows.
Are you concerned about how to talk with her about it?
Are you scared that you will have to talk with her about it?
I can understand why a man might not be totally comfortable with it, even for a woman it can be a delicate subject.
I don't know how much you and your daughter can discuss now, but I would advise talking with her about this stuff and letting her know that she can talk to you if she needs to. I remember being terrified to tell my mother about starting mine and she really didn't make it a comfortable moment for me.
I think it's a great sign that she even brought it up to you. Good job! You must be doing something right. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 5:15:30 PM | 9 isn't really that early anymore to at least be aware of what might start going on. I think that was the age that I started learning about the whole process. As for when she'll get hers. It can't really be predicted as far as I know but you can get a better idea based on family history etc.
If other women who are related to her started early ..then she might as well.
I wouldn't run her off to the doctor about it though ..If there isn't a woman around who can talk with her about it ..I'd suggest buying her some books on the topic of puberty and the changes her body will go through. I would also suggest buying a package of pads to have in the closet just in case so when it does happen she can handle it without having to panic.
Women really only need to go to the doctor if they have problems with it ..or once they start to become sexually active or thinking about that .which hopefully you've got plenty of time on still .... | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 5:28:19 PM | OP
girls are menstruating earlier and earlier than in past generations. this is due in great part to the amount of "growth hormones" they consume as part of a daily diet. not even just in processed foods do you find this. its in beef and chicken we eat, and in the milk and other dairy from the cows, and the eggs from the chickens. as well, it is found in our produce too. all that is passed along to humans as we consume these foods. best way to avoid it is to stick to a hormone free diet, specifically organic. at the very least, cut down on the number of these foods with the hormone. try looking at the "whole foods" markets in your area. there is a "Whole Foods" grocery in most areas now.
while it used to be rare for a girl of 9 to menstruate in past generations, it wasnt unheard of.
as her dad, i would suggest you just be reassuring and think perhaps that she may not be comfortable talking about these types of things with you, especially at that tender age of nine. it can be a very confusing time for her, because if thats coming on, then so will other changes. i expect her pediatrician told you of the impending menstruation because he/she sees it more and more in patients than ever before. i would expect it was mostly a "heads up" for you, and no, the precise time a girl will have her first period can not be specifically predicted. its more of an educated guess.
in any event, GOOD LUCK DAD! | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 5:35:33 PM | SORRY ABOUT THAT,, "when should girls get "checked out""
talk to your pediatrician, and talk to her/him about the gardasil vaccination. a girls first pelvic is recommended after her first cycle and certainly before she becomes sexually active. you probably wont know when that last one is going to or has happened. its just a safe bet to get the first pelvic after her first cycle. the results will be used to determine a "baseline". and again,, dont expect her to welcome you with her to this appt. inside the exam room with her.
GOOD LUCK DAD!
I applaud you for taking the time to ask the difficult questions. but i would caution you to ask ppl you trust, specifically her pediatrician or your own mother, female siblings, etc. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 7:51:50 PM | I was 11, well, almost 12. gosh, that was almost 10 years ago!
now might be a good time for an age appropriate book. There is a workbook that goes with the "What's happening to my body book for girls" that has the lessons in a more interactive fashion, with places for her to put in her own thoughts and things. The authors are Lynda and Area Madaras. I was given this when I was 10 or so and it was helpful. Also makes something funny to look back on now that I'm older. | |
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| How early do women start there periods.
Posted: 4/25/2008 11:37:43 PM | | I was 13, but it could happen much earlier. Early poster said make sure there are pads in the house, this is a must and let her know they are there, once it starts keep the supply up for her at first, she will be embarrassed about it at first. If you notice things about her starting to change physical and emotional (she could become moody) its on the way. | |
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