Is it normal for a 10-year-old girl to have her period?

Generally speaking, whether it is normal for a 10-year-old girl to have her first menstrual period needs to be determined according to specific circumstances. If there is a family tendency toward early puberty and no abnormal development of secondary sexual characteristics, it is usually considered normal. However, if there is no family history of precocious puberty and the girl shows abnormal development of secondary sexual characteristics, then it may not be normal. If any discomfort occurs, timely medical consultation and treatment are recommended. Detailed analysis is as follows:

If a girl has a family tendency toward precocious puberty—for example, female relatives such as her mother or aunt experienced menarche at an early age—then having her first menstrual period at age 10 may be a normal physiological phenomenon. Genetic factors play a certain role in the timing of pubertal development. Additionally, although most girls experience menarche between the ages of 12 and 16, there are individual differences. Some girls may have relatively earlier maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. If their physical indicators such as growth rate in height are normal, and the development of secondary sexual characteristics progresses step by step in the normal sequence without any other signs of accelerated development, then having the first menstrual period at age 10 can also be considered as an earlier occurrence within the normal range.

However, if a girl does not have a family history of precocious puberty and experiences menarche along with premature appearance and rapid progression of secondary sexual characteristics, this may be abnormal and could indicate precocious puberty. Precocious puberty is an endocrine disorder that causes early development of secondary sexual characteristics and menarche in girls, which may affect final adult height and psychological well-being. Additionally, if a girl experiences abnormally heavy bleeding or irregular menstrual cycles during her period, this may also suggest other underlying health problems. In such cases, prompt medical consultation and relevant examinations and treatments are recommended.

Parents should provide girls with appropriate health education and guidance to help them understand the physical and psychological changes associated with puberty and learn how to properly manage menstrual hygiene.