Gynaecologist: Early Periods Are Often Normal, but Rapid Development Needs a Check-Up
Paediatric and adolescent gynaecologist Lāsma Līdaka explains when a girl's first period is within the norm and when parents should consult a doctor. She says the timing of puberty signs matters more than the age of the first period.
In an interview published by the Latvian news portal Delfi, Lāsma Līdaka, a lecturer at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Rīga Stradiņš University and a paediatric and adolescent gynaecologist, explains at what age girls usually begin menstruating, what falls within the norm and when medical help is needed. The topic matters for parents who want to know how to react when their child's body starts to change.
What prompted the discussion
The interview starts from a question a mother posted on the "Atsaucīgo māmiņu" parenting forum: her own periods began at 16, her daughter's at 11, and she asked whether to see a doctor. The article notes that menstruation is discussed more and more openly, yet it remains a taboo subject, especially at an early age. A common belief holds that a girl "becomes a woman" once periods start, although at that age she is often still a child.
What counts as normal
Periods most commonly begin at around 12 or 13, but they can start earlier or later. Līdaka advises parents to focus not on the age itself but on how early signs of puberty appear. These include body hair, breast development, growth in height, widening of the hips and white, stretchy discharge on underwear. None of these should appear before the age of eight.
If the signs begin at around eight, periods sometimes start at nine, and this can be a normal variant. The doctor notes that puberty now often begins earlier than it used to.
When to see a doctor
If development is very rapid and happens within a few months, a check-up with a gynaecologist or a paediatric endocrinologist is recommended. Early periods are most often normal, but occasionally the cause is more serious, such as a pathology of the brain or the ovaries, so a specialist assessment helps rule it out.
