The normal range of teenage girl getting their period is between 8 and 15. You are still well within this range, so you really have nothing to worry about. Some girls even start before or after this normal range. You may not have breasts yet, but you may have other signs that puberty is in progress, such as pubic hair or armpit hair. Once you start getting signs (breasts and/or hair) your period will usually start about 2 years after the first sign. Of course, this varies too… You may begin within a year from the first sign of puberty.
Also, check you panties for signs that you may be close to starting your period. Usually a girl will begin seeing a thin discharge up to a year before you actually start your first period. This discharge will either be clear or slightly white, and will look a little like mucus.
Sometimes women, within a family, start their periods around the same age. You could ask your mom, or older sister, or even an older cousin, how old they were when they started their periods. This is not always the case though. My mom and her sister both started around the age of 13. My sister and I both started at the age of nine. My children (I have four girls) all started at the ages of 11 and 12. The starting age appears to be generational in my family.
There are, however, a few lifestyle and medical issues that can cause a girl to have a delay in starting their period.
Lifestyle issues can include:
- Eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.
- Hormone imbalances
- Weighing too little for your age/body size, being underweight
- Vigorous exercise or athletic routines
I only know of one medical issue and that is only because one of my best friends has it. Her issue is a birth defect. She was born without a uterus. This is a very rare issue, so don’t just think you have it (I have four girls. I know how your minds work. :)
Honestly, I wouldn’t worry about the fact that you haven’t started your period yet (also do not worry about not having breasts yet…that could be a blessing in disguise!). If you don’t start in a couple years, or a few years after you begin to have the first signs of puberty, you can have a consultation with your doctor to discuss possible reasons or causes for not starting your period.