Patient's question:
Doctor, hello: My daughter is almost 11 years old, in fifth grade, and is 154 cm tall. When she was 8 years old, her bone age was normal. Now she has started breast development and has some hair on her lower body. Today, I found dark red discharge in her underwear, which is not feces. Is she having her period? Will she still grow taller?Doctor's answer:
Menarche generally occurs around the age of 13-15. In physically strong individuals with good nutrition, it may occur as early as 11-12 years old, while in weak and malnourished individuals, it may be delayed until 17-18 years old. Menarche before the age of 8 is considered precocious puberty. The timing of menarche can vary, and it is generally believed to be strongly related to genetics. If a mother has an early menarche, her daughter is likely to have an early one as well; if a mother has a late menarche, her daughter may also have a late one. However, this is not absolute, as it can also be influenced by other factors. The timing of menarche is affected by many factors, so individual differences can be significant. Menarche as early as 9 years old and as late as 18-19 years old, without any other abnormal conditions, are both within the normal range.