Can my daughter become pregnant as soon as she starts menstruating?

For the first year or so after your daughter begins menstruating, she likely will not be ovulating. However, it’s important to note that no girl who has just started having periods should rely on this fact in the expectation that she won’t become pregnant if she has sexual intercourse. Rather, she needs to be mindful of the safe-sex precautions I spell out in other parts of this book.

How does an adolescent girl’s period differ from that of an adult woman?

A girl’s first period may be a brighter red than what you’re used to seeing, and it likely will consist of a smaller amount of blood. In fact, your daughter’s first period may really be nothing more than some spotting. But as her menstrual cycle continues, her periods are likely to become more pronounced and may remain irregular the first year.

What is an average menstrual flow?

As with adult females, the average length of menstrual flow for adolescent girls is 7 days or less. During her period, your daughter is likely to use between three and six pads or tampons per day. If her flow is significantly above this amount, you should contact your pediatrician.

For example, a heavy flow requiring changes of menstrual products every 1 to 2 hours is excessive, especially if the flow lasts longer than 7 days. Not only could this condition lead to anemia, light-headedness, or even fainting, it could also be a sign of polycystic ovarian syndrome, anorexia, tumors, other chronic illnesses, or side effects from medication, so have it checked out.

When should I expect my daughter to have her first period?

Half of all girls within the United States experience their first period before their 13th birthday. However, it’s not terribly unusual to find a girl who began menstruating when she was as young as 9 or as old as 17.

In order to put the age issue into perspective, the following statistics may be helpful: 10% of girls menstruate by the time they’re 11 years old; 90% of girls menstruate by the time they turn 14; and 98% of 15-year-old girls menstruate. If your daughter falls outside this age range, she should be examined by a pediatrician, just to make sure she doesn’t have a medical problem.

Research has shown that African-American girls typically menstruate at the earliest age, followed by Hispanic girls and then non-Hispanic White girls. (Interestingly, there aren’t any particularly reliable statistics for other ethnic groups.) Your doctor will take these facts into consideration when evaluating your daughter’s health.

What do I need to know about my daughter’s first menstrual cycle?

Typically, a girl’s first menstrual cycle is preceded by pubic hair growth. This should serve as a sign to you that your daughter’s menstruation is not too far away. Pubic hair growth typically occurs when a girl is about 10 years old. Growth of underarm hair usually follows about 2 years later. Girls have their largest growth spurt during this time period, and menstruation typically begins as well.

All of these developments are the result of new hormones swirling around in a girl’s body. These hormones are also a primary cause of the emotional roller coaster that girls experience at this age. You may very well notice an increase in your daughter’s irritability, moodiness, and even anxiety. Such reactions can first be seen at age 7 with an initial small rise of hormones, and then they spike around age 11 when the hormones go into high gear. (When that happens, your previously well-adjusted, good-natured, sweet young daughter may be a little less pleasant to be around.)

These hormones are part of an intricate biological dance within your daughter’s body. First, hormones begin to rise from a girl’s pituitary gland. These hormones then cause increased estrogen to be produced by the girl’s ovaries. Next the adrenal glands kick in, producing androgens. (Androgens are male-like hormones that contribute to hair growth in the pubic region and under the arms.) And finally, growth hormones go into their most active stage.

Interestingly, girls typically have their greatest growth spurt about two years before boys do. If you visit any fifth or sixth grade classroom, you’re almost certain to notice that the girls are, on average, taller than the boys.

Should my adolescent daughter consider breast implants?

If your daughter raises the issue of breast implants, please talk to her candidly and fully about it. Let her know your own thoughts and values regarding this issue. Make sure she realizes that all the Hollywood images of buxom babes don’t reflect reality.

And importantly, while being understanding and supportive, make it clear to your daughter that as long as she is an adolescent, you will not even consider letting her get breast implants. Explain to your daughter that getting breast implants involves expensive, invasive surgery. Therefore, it’s not something to be taken lightly. Moreover, you should point out that most plastic surgeons will not even consider performing breast surgery on someone who is not an adult. And finally, you should talk to your daughter about feeling positive about the development of her breasts, no matter what their size.

How large will my daughter’s breasts get?

Once a girl’s breasts begin developing, she understandably will be interested in how big they’ll become. However, there’s no surefire way to predict. What you can explain to your daughter is that breast size is mainly determined by genetics. As a consequence, there is no potion she can drink and no lotion she can apply that will noticeably affect the size of her breasts. (Trust me, if anyone develops such a product, it will be all over the news!)