Two of my daughter's friends got their periods, and she's worried because she hasn't gotten hers yet. What can I do to reassure her?
- Emmeline

You can start by telling her that every girl’s body has its own schedule. There's no way to know exactly when she'll get her first period, but it usually occurs about 2 to 2½ years after starting puberty. Some girls get their period by age 9, but others don't get their period until they're 15.

Puberty progresses at different rates in different people. Reassure your daughter that it's perfectly normal to get her period a little earlier or a little later than her friends. And remind her that she can always talk to you or her doctor if she has any questions about the changes she's going through.

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: April 2012