Some of my friends with their period got their breasts after they got their period. I also noticed that none of my friends get pimples as much as I do and I don’t have my period yet. Also, some of my friends with their period look like me development-wise, so it’s confusing why I don’t have it.

Puberty does not happen in the exact same order or on the same schedule for anyone, so looking similar on the outside does not mean your period will arrive on the same day as your friends.

Your body runs on its own internal clock. Even if a friend looks like she is at the exact same stage of growing as you, her hormones are doing their own thing behind the scenes. Hormone changes in puberty are one of the causes of spots: pores get blocked with extra oil and dead skin cells. Some people just get more of them, and earlier, while others barely get any. If you have lots of spots, or they are deep, painful or leaving marks, tell a grown-up, because a doctor can help.

There is no set age for when everything happens. A first period can come anywhere from about 9 to 15, sometimes later, and the average is around 12.

What the signs usually look like

• Breasts starting to grow is usually the first sign, and the period often comes about 2 years later, and that varies a lot.
• Pubic and underarm hair usually show up soon after, though hair growing first is normal too.
• A growth spurt, where the period often comes about a year after the fastest growing, and that varies a lot too.
• Clear or white discharge, which can start some months before. If it changes colour, smells bad or itches, tell a grown-up.

A period before 9 (or any bleeding or pink or brown spotting before 9), no period by 15, or no breast growth or other puberty signs by 13 means telling a grown-up so a doctor can check. Breast or hair growth before 8 is worth a check too, and it's usually nothing to worry about.

Btw if you want to find out roughly when yours is coming, there's a quiz on this site: how close is my first period?