Early menstruation can be caused by early puberty or irregular hormone production. It can be natural or a sign of an underlying medical issue. Precocious puberty can be caused by dietary factors, genetic conditions, or medical problems. Girls may face social problems and need support.
Some causes of early menstruation may include early puberty and irregular activity of the glands that produce hormones. An early onset of menstruation isn’t necessarily harmful, as people can start their periods between about age eight and 14, and there are some natural outliers. A doctor may want to evaluate a patient for any risk factors of concern just to make sure he is healthy.
In precocious puberty, people start producing hormones associated with puberty earlier than usual. They will develop signs of puberty such as changes in fat distribution and more body hair. In girls, this will lead to the first menstruation. Sometimes this happens naturally, often in response to dietary factors; the better nutrition girls are, the earlier the onset of puberty tends to be, as their bodies develop more rapidly. Worldwide, the median age of puberty decreased considerably during the 20th century in response to better nutrition for growing children.
Sometimes, precocious puberty is the result of hypothyroid disease, brain tumors, genetic conditions, or damage to the adrenal gland. In these cases it is a sign of an underlying medical problem, rather than a benign life event. A doctor may order medical imaging studies and blood tests to check hormone levels to look for the cause of the first period. The doctor may find nothing and determine that the patient has nothing to worry about.
Glands in the body such as the adrenal gland can start producing excess hormones in response to stress, dietary factors, and other issues. This can sometimes lead to earlier menses when the imbalance is prolonged. Once the body begins to enter puberty, it triggers a snowball effect. Even if the cause of the hormonal imbalance resolves, the patient’s body will still transition into adulthood. A doctor can review a patient’s medical history to determine if this is a possible explanation for experiencing puberty earlier than expected.
People who have their first period may have some social problems. Classmates sometimes make them targets of curiosity or teasing, and they may feel reluctant to participate in sports and other physical activities. It can help make advice available to those who want it and make sure girls have the supplies they need to manage their periods, with the aim of preventing accidents. Usually a school nurse will have sanitary pads and other supplies and can instruct students in their use if they are not familiar with the procedure.
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