It can be difficult to feel like you are one of the only girls in your grade that hasn’t started her period or hasn’t seemed to ‘blossom’ yet. If you are what might be called a ‘late bloomer’ (I know, awkward term) it is normal to feel anxiety and worry that you are different, or that something is wrong with you!
But the best thing to do is put your worries aside – and realize that when it comes to puberty, there is no such thing as ‘normal!’ (Heck, you might even consider yourself lucky.)
Some girls start menstruating at the age of 8 or 9. Others may not start their periods until they are 15 or even 16. Some factors that can delay your first period are EXTREME exercise (meaning several times a week for several hours per day) and a diet that is lacking in vitamins and minerals.
If you are eager to start, you should know that most pediatricians will not likely do anything to help you until you are over 16. As long as you have started to develop pubic hair by the age of 13-14, you really should not stress yourself out with worry.
The bottom line is that your journey t o womanhood will happen soon enough. Being a late starter is nothing to be ashamed of, and really – is no one else’s business. You do not have to discuss it with your friends if you don’t want to, and most of them would likely agree that you are lucky to not have started yet. Just be patient. Many girls often reach menarche (the name for your first period) 2 years after they first notice their breasts starting to develop.
When it comes to boobs, you likely already know that EVERYBODY is a different size and shape. While many girls start developing breasts at a young age – plenty of others do not. The first thing you will notice is that your nipples enlarge and poke outward. Soon after, you may have some breast tenderness in the tissues around your breast.
One thing that you should know (which will make you feel better) is that many of the girls your age, who appear to have large boobs, are just wearing padded bras. One of the things that make finding bras difficult when your boobs start growing is that training bras don’t conceal the nipples. So most young girls have to wear padded bras, to cover the nipples, which in turn make their breasts look larger than they really are. And you know what; if you are really concerned about it….you can do the same thing!
In the end, by the time you and all of your friends are 18, the playing field when it comes to breast development will be fair – but not necessarily even. There will ALWAYS be other girls with larger or smaller breasts than you, which is just part of human nature.
This information may not have made you feel better, especially since there really is nothing that you can do about puberty except to sit back and wait. However, there is no shame in being a late starter or having smaller breasts then other girls do. It is important for you not to compare yourself to others and instead, to be happy and content with the body that you do have.
Do you have questions about periods or puberty? We invite you to come check out our new community called PeriodTalk, where we welcome you to post your own questions or experiences.
Invitation! On September 14 you are invited to a special online educational event co-hosted by You ARE Loved and Be Prepared Period. This one hour event (2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern) will explore common issues adolescent girls face in preparing for and managing their periods at school and when away from home for activities. Additionally, we will explore some tips for starting an ongoing conversation with your daughter about menstrual matters.