Real Mode or Median Age to Start Period

Updated on March 09, 2015
S.H. asks from Santa Barbara, CA
25 answers

I keep on reading or hearing from 'so-and -so' that the average age of girls starting their periods has decreased to a pretty young age. I tried googling it and it seems there is a different start age for each link (meaning the data is not consistent). Many say it is for good reasons (more nutrients in the diet compared to centuries ago) and others think negative factors such as surplus of hormone in food/milk and water supply (estrogen from birth control pills in the water supply).

I'm turning 40 and started at age 12 y 0 months. I was tall and thin. I did not feel like the first nor the last girl. I had a typical American diet of the day (maybe a little healthier because I live in CA and ate real fruits and veggies not canned).

What is the true age you or your daughter got her period and the birth year? So if you daughter got it at age 14; is she 14 today or 30? Maybe your mom, daughter and you all started the age age 10y9months and heredity seems to be more the reason than environment.

No, i'm not doing a research paper. I just read an article and it made me wonder if it really is happening due to the hormones in food/drink or if we are just better at collecting data.

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T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I got mine at 14 and so did both of my daughters. From what I gather (in talking to other mothers) it seems that's been their experience as well, like mother like daughter. Heredity still seems to have a lot to do with it.

4 moms found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I was 12 when I started and my 20 yr old daughter started at 12 as well.

I recall my mom being 14 or so when she started. She was very athletic, all state basketball, etc so maybe that had something to do with it.

I have no athletic bone in my body, I'm built just like my maternal grandmother... Petite. Daughter is petite as well but much more athletic.

2 moms found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

I was born in 1962 I got mine when I was 13. My daughter was born in 1982 she got here at 14yrs old. My grand daughter was born in 2002 and has not started hers yet.

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J.S.

answers from St. Louis on

I was around 13 give or take, both my daughters were slightly over 13.

I feel like everyone looks for signs the world is going to hell in a hand basket for one reason or another.

My ex's sisters were between 13 and 14, any shock my daughters were slightly older than I was?

Just my issues, but I would love if women knew their husband's data. Not saying I am a know it all but if all your sister in laws started at 10 and you at 14 but your daughter at 11, that is genetics right there

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S.R.

answers from Denver on

I am 56, got period a few months before 13th birthday (but started developing at age 10), my dd is 11 and no signs of puberty (had her growth plates xrayed and they said she is 2 years behind her age...so late bloomer)

My mom who is in her late 80's got her period at age 16 (also a late bloomer)

There was a story on NPR about a book called "The new puberty" . The author researched the causes of earlier development. Much of the reason that girls are going through early puberty is because they carry more weight (estrogen is stored in fat cells). They also said that it is the antibiotics that are contributing to this rather than the hormones in food. Surprisingly, it is that antibiotics given to livestock that makes them grow faster...and this can transfer to the one eating the meat or chicken. I had never heard that until I listened to this radio broadcast.

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T.N.

answers from Albany on

I was born in 1966 and got mine at 15. My daughter was born in 1997 and got hers at 15 as well.

:)

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T.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

I am 48 and I started my period when I was 10. My mother is 73 and she started when she was 10. My daughter is adopted but her birth mother told me she started when she was 9. My daughter is 8 and is in early puberty. Her doctor estimated that she will be around 10 when she starts. She is wearing a bra and I think has cramps sometimes from what she tells me. We have had the talk. I hope my baby can wait until 10 but I am thinking 9 or before.

I have a cousin that started when she was 8 and she is now 41. I don't know if the processed food thing has anything to do with it. It could be that people didn't talk about it much when we were kids so it's hard to know when people actually started.

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K.O.

answers from Atlanta on

My mother was born in 1955 and got hers at 16.5 (she had already had an initial doctor's appointment with an endocrinologist because it was starting to be a concern). I was born in 1982 and I got mine at age 10.5.

1 mom found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I was born in 61 and started at 11.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from Portland on

I started wearing bras at 9, got my period at 10. I was born in 1975. My sister was born in 1976 and started about 12. My mom was born in 1956 and started at 12.

I think maybe it is a lot of heredity. My daughter is 5, so too young yet.

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

I was a month shy of 13. My daughter's were both 11 1/2. (One was 11 1/2 and one day the other 11 1/2 and 3 days). They are 12 and 16 yo now. My mother was 10. My mom's one sister was 16. I can't make sense of it😊

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A.M.

answers from Phoenix on

All of the women (mom, aunts, grandma, sisters) in my family started right around 13. And I have boys :)

1 mom found this helpful

J.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

I was 13 and my daughter was also 13 (she's 17 now) so I'd go with genetics.

1 mom found this helpful

J.P.

answers from Lakeland on

I think the time that menstruation starts varies due to genetics. Most children start puberty between 8 & 10 (girls and boys), the hormones will start changing at those ages. Like armpit hair, oily skin, pubic hair, etc.. But not all girls at those ages will start to get a period.

I got my first period at 14 (I am 44 now), but went through puberty long before that. I have no idea when my mother or grandmother got theirs. I do see that my now 8 year old is having hormonal changes, armpit hair, mood swings and oily skin and hair. Her half sister started at the same age and didn't get her period until about 13.

I think our food supply is causing damage, but more neurological or health damaging then hormonal. Americans are much heavier then they were years ago and that includes those who exercise regularly. We have so many children and adults with Autism, Asperger's, ADD, ADHD and so on. This was not the case 20 to 30 years ago. We also need to consider what our foods are packaged in, plastics we already know cause cancer and everything is packaged in it. That too was not the case until the late 70's early 80's.

I would never trust our government to keep our food safe, since the politicians and corporations are only out for themselves. Most don't care about the American people they only care about making money and dictating how we live and what choices we can make (that is both Republican and Democrat).

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J.H.

answers from New York on

I was born in 1967 and got mine in 6th grade so I bet I was 11. My older sister (2 years to the day older) got hers about at month after I did at age 13 - she was way more athletic than I was.

My daughter was born in 2002 and got hers last summer at age 12 yrs 3 mos.

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A.C.

answers from Boston on

My mom was born in 1946 she started at 13. I was born in 1968 and started at 11. My daughter was born in 1996 and started at 10.

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M.P.

answers from Asheville on

My mom was 14, and I was 15. My mom's mother was 14. All three us of had the same body types (small-framed), height (slightly above average height), weight (normal weight), etc. My mom and I even wear the same bra size and my grandmother did, too. So, if you ask me, I think it has a lot to do with heredity.
All three of us were late bloomers, and all three of us grew in height into our late teens. I grew in height on into my college years. I think it will be interesting to see if my daughter follows suit. She definitely already favors me, esp her small frame. Time will tell!

S.L.

answers from New York on

I started at a young 12 and my daughter started at older 13

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

I was born in 1970. I got my period somewhere between 11 and 12. It was the summer between 6th and 7th grade. My daughter is too young to know yet. I remember my mom saying it was around that age for her as well.

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D.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I was 12, born in 1965. My two best friends in college (born 1964) were 9 and 16.

V.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

I honestly do not remember when I started. Maybe 12 or 13? I'm 46 now. My daughter started this summer, about a month after her 13th birthday.

A.G.

answers from Dallas on

I was 12.5 and was born in 1970. My mom was also 12 (don't know how many months) and was born in 1948. I only have boys.

V.S.

answers from Reading on

I got mine at 10 (I'll be 46 next month), as did most of the women in my family for generations. My daughter got hers at 12. (She'll be 13 this month)

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L.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I was born in 1966 and started at 16. I was small framed, very thin and a dancer....but all the women on my mom's side of the family also started later.

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J.B.

answers from Chicago on

I'm curious too. I was 13-1/2yrs old (just a couple of days before starting HS). Im a NYer from a very traditional "old world" Italian family. I was always thin but very healthy. Plenty of fresh fruits, veggies and meats. Nothing packaged or processed. I am now 41yrs old. What's interesting is my older sister (15yrs older) got her 1st period at 9-1/2. My mother was the same age as my sister when she started also. I'm a different build than both of them, smaller frame, thin. My daughter is 8 and I've been talking to her little by little of what's to come....but, I wonder when.?

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