Dear Missy: I’m 14 And I Haven’t Started My Period Yet, I’m Worried
You asked for it, so we brought it back; our weekly agony aunt column! If you need advice you can email hello@missy.ie in complete confidence.
Dear Missy,
I’m 14 (I turn 15 in August) and I still haven’t gotten my first period. Part of me is really embarrassed, all of my friends have had their period for a while now. And the other part of me is scared that there’s something wrong with me. My mam obviously knows I haven’t started my period yet, but I’m a bit embarrassed to talk about my worries with her, what if I have to go to the doctor?
What should I do?
Getting your first period is something you remember for the rest of your life. I don’t mean that in a scary way, it’s just one of those moments that really sticks with you.
The funny thing about starting your period is as kinda weird and scary as it sounds (it’s totally not), waiting for it to start is like looking for a needle in a haystack; an impossible task. There’s just no knowing when Aunt Flo is suddenly going to rock up. It also feels like there’s a party that everyone else has been invited to and you’ve been left off the guest-list when all your friends start getting their period.
I will say, I’m a planner and I like to know how things go, so waiting for mine to start felt like I was carrying a bomb around and I was ready to explode at any moment. But once I did get my first period, I would have been happy to avoid it for another while, tbh. This is my way of saying your period will arrive when it arrives, there’s nothing you can do to speed it up.
Many people don’t start their period until 14, 15 and even 16. There’s nothing wrong with them and there’s certainly nothing wrong with you.
I had some issues with my period in my early teens that I bore by myself in my own mind of worry. I think I would have cut my own arm off before talking to my mam about it and now that I’m older, I’m not sure why I viewed it like that. Periods are a normal thing to talk about. I talk about it now with her. So, you should tell your mam that you’re a little bit worried, just so she can reassure you.
And also, just to say, having to go to the doctor about anything period related is totally fine – they have seen it and heard it all before. I’m sure there’s nothing medically to worry about anyway, but if it would make you feel better to have some medical reassurance, I would urge you to speak to your GP about your concerns around the fact that you haven’t started your period yet.
I hope that helps! Basically don’t worry.