JĂ©ssica asked
Will I become a young lady in August 2027?
Asked in Portuguese, translated automatically. See the original
Soso answered
There's no way to know the exact month or year your first period will arrive. Our bodies have their own internal clock, and the first period can happen anytime between around 9 and 15 years old, sometimes later, with the average being around 12 years old.
Instead of a date on the calendar, your body gives some signs that it might be approaching:
- Breasts starting to grow, which is usually the first sign (your period usually comes about 2 years later, and this varies a lot)
- Pubic and underarm hair, which usually comes a little later, although it's also normal to grow hair first
- A growth spurt (your period usually comes about a year after the phase where you grow the fastest, and this also varies a lot)
- Clear or white discharge in your underwear, which can start a few months before. If it changes color, smell or texture, itches or feels sore, or it hurts when you pee, tell an adult.
Menstruation before 9 years old (or any bleeding or pink or brown spotting before 9), no menstruation by 15, or no breast growth or other signs of puberty by 13 are reasons to tell an adult and see a doctor. Breasts or hair before 8 years old also warrant a check-up, and it's usually nothing serious.
If you want to get an idea of how your body is preparing, there's a quiz on the site here: How close is my first period?
Soso's answers are written by AI. They don't replace professional medical advice.