Hi there,
Thanks for your letter.
It sounds like you are quite concerned about not starting your periods yet. It can be worrying and confusing when other people around you seem to be developing earlier and starting their periods before you.
Puberty can be a difficult time and it's different for everyone. Changes happen for some people more quickly than for others. This doesn't mean that there is anything wrong, its just that each person is different. There's no exact time that it begins for everyone.
As you dont say how old you are it's difficult to know how far into puberty you are. Puberty normally happens between the ages of 10 and 16. Most people start their periods around the age of 12, but it can be earlier or later than this. If your periods are a bit later or earlier, it certainly doesn't mean that there is anything wrong. If you havent started your periods by age 16, it might be good to get checked out by a doctor. Find out more about seeing your doctor.
You might find it helps to have a look at our page about puberty for girls.
If you would like to talk more about this, you could contact a counsellor at ChildLine by phoning 0800 1111, logging on for a 1-2-1 chat or sending an email. You could talk to an adult you trust, like a family member or teacher at school. You might also find it useful to visit the ChildLine message boards where other people share similar experiences.
Take care for now,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.
