It’s not you. They seem to be getting younger and younger at this big milestone.
The early teen years are when girls start talking about periods and seeing them as normal.
It seems that discussions about periods between girls and their parents are happening at younger and younger ages – these young girls seem ill-prepared to deal with the realities of growing up, while their parents are aghast at the challenges they thought they would face “next year.”
At first I thought it was because we were talking more openly about health, kids, and “embarrassing” things, but apparently my hunch is backed up by science.
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I’ve been talking about my period earlier these days. Image: iStock
Start talking about periods early
The onset of menstruation, or “menarche,” is not exactly the same as the onset of puberty, but the two are normal processes that go hand in hand.
Puberty is a general term used to describe a child’s transition from sexual immaturity to sexual maturity. Puberty is complex and involves the development of adult thinking concepts, physical changes that allow a child to develop into a woman, and the establishment of reproductive capacity.
It’s a process controlled by hormones from the pituitary gland, adrenal glands and ovaries, and the first sign is usually a growth spurt and the development of a breast mound in the chest.
Menarche usually begins after about two years. Menstruation is irregular at first but settles into a regular pattern after about two years.
Related: The rise of period parties
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Is there a normal age for menstruation to begin?
Most parenting books say puberty begins at age 10 and menarche begins at age 12. These are great numbers for parents to remember and plan for.
But the reality is, it all starts earlier for our girls.
A recent study following more than 70,000 young women between 1950 and 2005 revealed a striking trend: women are starting to menstruate at younger and younger ages.
- Compared to the 1950s and 1960s, women are starting their periods an average of six months earlier.The average age fell from 12.5 years in the 50s to 11.9 years between 2000 and 2005.
- More girls are starting before age 9The rate of menarche among girls under the age of nine has more than doubled in just a few decades, a horrifying phenomenon.
- Girls are taking longer to establish regular menstrual cyclesThe proportion of girls who are unable to lead regular lives has also increased.
These trends were seen across all demographics of the study group, with more pronounced differences for girls from lower socioeconomic status and racial and ethnic minorities.
These trends could be dangerous for us girl
You need to be better prepared, because starting your period early can lead to many health risks in the future: higher chances of cardiovascular disease, cancer, spontaneous abortion, and premature death.
But it gets worse: the trend of menstruation occurring earlier and earlier has been linked to the childhood obesity crisis that’s sweeping the world, and this study confirms it: it found that the increase in BMI between the 50s and 2005 was responsible for more than 50% of it. This is alarming, as obesity is already the biggest risk to our health.
The link lies in the fact that girls are more likely to start menstruating once they reach a certain size and weight. The decline in sports, lack of active living and trends towards unhealthy eating habits are leading to an increase in the number of young girls who are overweight.
Most parenting books say puberty starts at age 10 and menarche begins at age 12. Image: iStock
Encourage healthy eating and exercise early
Girls must be encouraged to eat healthy and exercise from an early age and continue to do so: tackling childhood obesity slows the progression into womanhood and is the best investment we can make in our children’s future health.
“What about the chicken?” you may ask. I can assure you that this trend has absolutely nothing to do with the hormones found in chicken breasts.
So what else is at play? Obesity undoubtedly plays a big role, but more research is needed to get the full picture of why girls are starting their periods earlier.
Possible problems include dietary factors (such as excessive sugar intake and its effect on insulin), environmental factors (such as air pollutants, chemicals that affect the endocrine system, microplastics, metals), psychological stress, and childhood trauma.
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Do you know if my daughter’s period is coming early?
There are certainly good ways to predict it: Genetics influences timing, and it’s widely known that if your period starts early, your daughter’s is likely to start early too.
Plus, being overweight runs in families, so your weight has a direct impact on your daughter’s period.
But does it really matter?
Of course, you’ll need to address any underlying health factors that may be causing your daughter to start her period early.
But it also has huge social consequences for them, especially if they are well ahead of other girls at school. Early puberty and menarche can mean early onset of problems like body hair, body odour and acne, which can be devastating for some girls.
How can parents prepare their teenage girls?
Moms and Dads need to be ready for whatever happens, whenever it happens.
Encourage open conversations in your home and take every opportunity, starting around age 8, to explain to her about puberty and the changes her body will undergo, and keep the door open for help, because little girls need to feel safe in knowing they can ask for help.