No menses at 15

Please doctor, my 15-year-old daughter has yet to commence menstruation. What can cause the delay? Should I be worried?

Rabia (by SMS)

Menstrual period will start when the body is ready. This is usually between age 8 and 17, or 2 years after the first signs of puberty. Possible reasons for delayed periods include being underweight, doing lots of exercise (including dance, gymnastics and athletics), stress and a hormone imbalance. The first step in treating amenorrhea is to determine what’s causing it, so a complete and accurate diagnosis is extremely important.

If your daughter hasn’t had her first menstrual cycle by 15, or if more than three years have passed since she started developing breasts, she should see a physician.

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