This thread has turned into a TMI fest about our female posters.
So let me tell you about the day my period came. I was in 7th grade, and most of my friends had gotten their periods already. There were a some stragglers, and not so few that those who didn’t were anomalies, but I’d say about three fourths of them got their periods before I did. Yes, this was the kind of thing we talked about, because getting our periods officially made us women. Of course, we would come to lament our periods soon, but in the seventh grade, you were just a little girl until you started having lady time.
Anyway, I was growing increasingly insecure because in addition to not having started my period yet, I was late to develop physically. This was especially embarrassing, as my two older sisters were the curviest girls in their age groups. No, I don’t mean euphemism curvy; I mean these were tall, thin girls (okay, one of my sisters was kinda fat), with boobs and hips to spare, and I was just… tall. By 11 years old I was among the tallest girls in my class, 105 lbs, with no boobs and no period. Somewhat fortunately, the boob part changed, and by 12, I had gone up two cup sizes, but still no period. One day I was speaking with my friend, Jessica, and she called me a child because I still hadn’t started my period. “Well you look like a child, with your bony little chest,” I retorted. I hoped that had gotten to her the way her snipe had gotten to me, and because we both had too much ego to admit any of us had hurt feelings, I never knew for sure.
Perhaps two months later, one day while staying after school, I noticed my underwear felt uncomfortable. Had I pissed myself? I ran to the bathroom and discovered to my surprise and relief, there was blood in my underwear. There was a brief moment of panic, as I wondered how much would gush out, and if I’d visibly stain my pants. I wiped as thoroughly as a could with toilet paper, then ran to the admin office to call my father (this was before 12 year olds had cell phones!) to come pick me up. No, it couldn’t wait until after he was done watching his stories – I needed to go home now! After I got home, I told my mother and my big sis that I started my period. I don’t believe we ever had the “you’re a woman now talk,” but I was told not to trust boys and that pregnancies were forbidden.
I briefly felt as though I’d accomplished something, but that sense of accomplishment faded upon trying every maxi pad and tampon on the planet, with still some, err, mistakes finding their way into my life and onto my clothing. Of course, I’ve figured out the whole thing by now, but then it was a bit traumatic. Also, when I thinking about having to rip a bloody cotton swab from my lady zone, I chuckle a bit and go, “I was in a hurry for this?” Ah, growing pains… growing pains.
I hope you enjoyed that story.
Thanks for sharing! 
So you were a girl who actually wanted her period to come. I thought ya’ll only existed on TV and in Judy Bloom books.
I started mine when I was eleven and a half. But looking at my non-existent figure back then, you wouldn’t have guessed. I had the same figure that I have now, which is to say, flat and non-curvy. I actually remember in the tenth grade a group of girls asking me if I had even started yet. I should have throatpunched them all. 
(I’m going to be using that term for the rest of the year, DianaG, just so you know).
I started almost a full year before my twin did, which TOTALLY sucked. I had to endure a horrible year of being teased and taunted for being a “blood bag”. She would talk about how she could hear my pad rustling when I rolled over in bed. I SO wanted to shove my used pads down her throat. Yes, I did.
Maybe I’ll get into heaven for having been more compassionate towards her when her time came. Let’s hope so 'cuz I don’t have anything else working in my favor.
The article on Lina Medina suggests much the same thing.
There’s a syndrome called McCune Albright which manifests (among other things) with extreme precocious puberty (as in, toddler age). There’s a Doper whose wife has this. However, it carries extreme infertility with it so I doubt it’s what was going on with Lina Medina.
I was 10 when I had my first period. (It sucked.) I am not sure I had enough body fat at the time that I would have been able to carry a baby to term, though. I also had a pathological fear of pregnancy for no particular reason.
Ha!
Yeah, I was one of those Judy Blume characters who wanted her period. I wasn’t the only one, though, I swear! It was like some badge of womanhood, as stupid as that sounds. Now I’m like, “I don’t need no damn womanhood. Enough with the bleeding!”
I got my first period at 9, was a B-cup by 10 and a C-cup by 11 years old.
Not pleasant…
I wanted mine to come, and it finally did the week before eighth grade while I was sorting out school supplies. About two hours after it arrived, I wanted to give it back. Somehow I had never realized how messy the whole thing is.
I still want to give it back. Especially this week. And today. Ick.
At age 10, I think a “pathological” fear of pregnancy is a good thing.
So was I. Scared the living hell out of me because I thought I was too young to start.
My daughter is going to be 11 and a little on the chunky side so I’ve been expecting it to come soon. Her half-sister started hers when she was 11.
Oh, you’re the one! I got mine on my way back from Presbyterian youth camp and I thought I’d crapped my pants. How’s that for TMI? I was also too embarrassed for years to ask my mom to go get me supplies, so I’d go raid her bathroom (and now I realize she was probably menopausal so she may have stocked them just for me) and cut the pads up into sections so I didn’t have to take so many. Which would on rare heavy occasions set me up for middle school humiliating situations. Thank god there aren’t too many local Dopers, is all I’m sayin’.
I didn’t have any way of knowing when women started their periods, but I do remember that eight grade was when all of the cheerleaders suddenly had boobs. When they were accepted in seventh grade, they didn’t have them.
Then I noticed a year ago an 11 year old who obviously should have been wearing a bra. I was told this was normal.
Make of that what you will.
At any age.
Maybe they grow 'em different in Arkansas.
Edit: No, I don’t go around staring at 11-year old chests.
There’s something in the water in South America . . .
Well, I did notice on PlentyOfFish that, if I get someone from Missouri, they are usually of just above average weight or thinner, while from Arkansas, it’s fat, obese, or mother.
Not that I have too much room to talk, myself. I didn’t pick the name BigT for nothing.
I’m just talking out of my ass but I was under the impression that a high level of fat can cause girls to hit puberty earlier. On the flip side, I’ve heard that, for example, young girls undergoing Olympic training can have puberty delayed.
My wife has a niece who already more or less had her breasts and female body at 11 1/2 years of age. I would take it that she is menstrating also. This is an indication that the female is old enough to be pregnant.
If I may ask, is the first period something to be celebrated and acknowledged, or something that is usually whsipered between the girl and an older sister to the mother and then the mother to the father and that is that? This is really why I am happy to be born male, I would of hated to gone through that with my “silent generation” parents, the father who did not talk about sex and a mother who was annoyingly frank at all the wrong times.
Periods suck because I can’t have sex with the wife. She’s 45, how many more years until menopause? Is she going to be all sad and moody when Aunt Flow no longer visits? I would think it would be a relief. I don’t know. Life goes too fast.
But again, Thank you XY Chromosones!