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Are Girls Getting Their Periods Earlier? What Parents Should Know

Early Puberty: What Parents Need To Know

In 1977, girls showed the first signs of puberty at an average age of 10.5 years. By 2013, it had dropped to 9.6. That is almost a year earlier in just 36 years, according to a global review highlighted by Adelaide University. Parents have noticed, and many are worried. But can they actually do anything about it?

<h2>Are periods really starting earlier?</h2>

Girls usually start puberty between the ages of eight and 13. The first sign is breast development. The first period comes about one and a half to three years after that.

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The review was published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2020 at the University of Copenhagen. It found that breast development began almost three months earlier every decade between 1977 and 2013.

Periods show a similar pattern. A 2024 study led by Zifan Wang at Harvard, published in JAMA Network Open, looked at more than 71,000 US women. It found the average age of a first period fell from 12.5 years for those born between 1950 and 1969 to 11.9 for those born between 2000 and 2005. But there is a catch. The women were asked to recall when their periods began, and people forget. So the numbers may not be fully accurate, The Conversation reported.

The normal range for a first period is nine to 15 years.

Precocious puberty means breast or pubic hair growth before age eight. Researchers Jodie Avery and Shae Maple write that about 3% of children show signs before eight, but only around 0.2% of girls have a medical problem behind it that needs treatment. If your daughter shows these signs, or gets her first period before eight, take her to a family doctor.

Puberty starts in the brain. A region called the hypothalamus releases a hormone that sets off a chain reaction.

Genes play a big role. A 2017 Nature Genetics study by Felix Day, John Perry and colleagues, covering about 370,000 women, found 389 genetic signals tied to when a first period arrives. Together, they explain about a quarter of the genetic influence.

Body weight matters too. In the Harvard study, higher BMI explained about 46% of the drop among women who shared their BMI. But Avery and Maple note it is hard to say which causes which.

Food and exercise count as well. Avery and Maple point to studies showing that too little protein, calories, iron or zinc can delay puberty. Girls who do a lot of sport or dance from a young age sometimes get periods later, because of low energy. Cutting back on food or pushing too much exercise can delay periods, and it can be harmful.

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Some chemicals that disrupt hormones are linked to changes in puberty timing. They note that many have been banned or limited in Australia, but some still turn up in shampoo and plastic bottles. Still, it does not mean swapping every plastic box will delay a period.

Screen time is a newer worry. A 2025 review in Annals of Human Biology by Erdenetuya Bolormaa and colleagues at Korea University looked at 10 studies covering nearly 98,000 children. It linked each extra hour of screen time to higher odds of early puberty. But the link was not clear in girls alone, and the authors say the study designs limit what it can prove about cause.

Family life may matter too. They add that some studies link a father's absence to earlier periods. But money trouble, stress and upheaval at home are hard to separate from that.

Parents cannot control when a period starts. No "clean" diet or exercise plan has been proven to safely delay normal puberty. Cutting down on plastics is fine, but nobody can avoid them fully.

What helps more is preparation. Explain what is coming, how to manage periods, and when to ask for help with pain. A first period does not mean a girl is ready for dating or sex, and she does not have to give up her childhood. It just means her body is healthy and doing its job.

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In 1977, girls showed the first signs of puberty at an average age of 10.5 years. By 2013, it had dropped to 9.6. That is almost a year earlier in just 36 years, according to a global review highlighted by Adelaide University. Parents have noticed, and many are worried. But can they actually do anything about it? Are periods really starting earlier?Girls usually start puberty between the ages of eight and 13. The first sign is breast development. The first period comes about one and a half to three years after that.Also Read: World Sight Day: Using Eye Drops Regularly? Doctor Warns About Preservatives, ContaminationThe review was published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2020 at the University of Copenhagen. It found that breast development began almost three months earlier every decade between 1977 and 2013.Periods show a similar pattern. A 2024 study led by Zifan Wang at Harvard, published in JAMA Network Open, looked at more than 71,000 US women. It found the average age of a first period fell from 12.5 years for those born between 1950 and 1969 to 11.9 for those born between 2000 and 2005. But there is a catch. The women were asked to recall when their periods began, and people forget. So the numbers may not be fully accurate, The Conversation reported. The normal range for a first period is nine to 15 years. When to see a doctorPrecocious puberty means breast or pubic hair growth before age eight. Researchers Jodie Avery and Shae Maple write that about 3% of children show signs before eight, but only around 0.2% of girls have a medical problem behind it that needs treatment. If your daughter shows these signs, or gets her first period before eight, take her to a family doctor. What decides the timingPuberty starts in the brain. A region called the hypothalamus releases a hormone that sets off a chain reaction.Genes play a big role. A 2017 Nature Genetics study by Felix Day, John Perry and colleagues, covering about 370,000 women, found 389 genetic signals tied to when a first period arrives. Together, they explain about a quarter of the genetic influence.Body weight matters too. In the Harvard study, higher BMI explained about 46% of the drop among women who shared their BMI. But Avery and Maple note it is hard to say which causes which. Food and exercise count as well. Avery and Maple point to studies showing that too little protein, calories, iron or zinc can delay puberty. Girls who do a lot of sport or dance from a young age sometimes get periods later, because of low energy. Cutting back on food or pushing too much exercise can delay periods, and it can be harmful.    Some chemicals that disrupt hormones are linked to changes in puberty timing. They note that many have been banned or limited in Australia, but some still turn up in shampoo and plastic bottles. Still, it does not mean swapping every plastic box will delay a period. Screen time is a newer worry. A 2025 review in Annals of Human Biology by Erdenetuya Bolormaa and colleagues at Korea University looked at 10 studies covering nearly 98,000 children. It linked each extra hour of screen time to higher odds of early puberty. But the link was not clear in girls alone, and the authors say the study designs limit what it can prove about cause. Family life may matter too. They add that some studies link a father's absence to earlier periods. But money trouble, stress and upheaval at home are hard to separate from that.What Parents Can Actually DoParents cannot control when a period starts. No "clean" diet or exercise plan has been proven to safely delay normal puberty. Cutting down on plastics is fine, but nobody can avoid them fully. What helps more is preparation. Explain what is coming, how to manage periods, and when to ask for help with pain. A first period does not mean a girl is ready for dating or sex, and she does not have to give up her childhood. It just means her body is healthy and doing its job.