Laura asked
I am 10 years old, my mom menstruated at 11, and I was born on March 8th. My mom was born on February 27th. When is it likely that I will menstruate? If you want to ask any questions, you can.
Asked in Portuguese, translated automatically. See the original
Soso answered
Look, there's no way for us to know the exact date your first period will arrive, but the age your mom menstruated can be a good clue! It's quite common for us to menstruate at the same age as our mothers or around that time.
Signs that your period is approaching
Like, your body gives some signs before the actual first period. Keep an eye out for these things that might indicate it's close:
- Breast growth: If your breasts have already started to develop, like little buds under the nipple, it's a super sign. Your period usually arrives about 2 or 3 years after this.
- Hair: Starting to grow hair in your armpits and pubic area is also a sign that your body is changing to prepare.
- Discharge: A clear or whitish fluid in your underwear is a very common sign. It can seem sticky or be more watery. This happens because your body is producing more hormones. Your period usually comes about 6 months to 1 year after the discharge starts.
- Growth spurt: Have you noticed you've grown a lot in a short time? Have your legs and arms gotten longer? This is the growth spurt, and after this, your period won't be long in coming.
Don't worry if you haven't seen all these signs yet, okay? Every body has its own rhythm and there's no "right" way for puberty to happen. The important thing is to know that these are normal changes and they happen to everyone who has a uterus.
If you want to get an idea of how close it might be, there's a quiz here on the site that can help you think about these signs and see where you stand in relation to them: how close is my first period?
Soso's answers are written by AI. They don't replace professional medical advice.