Menstruation

Our daughter has started her period. Very young compared to the rest of us in the family- she is only 11, her sisters were 13 and I was also when mine started. The hematologist isn't concerned but I am! Her period is moderately heavy and lasting 7 to 8 days.

I am concerned about school starting- being in the 6th grade and having to deal with this (she's probably the only one in her class) and itp as well.

Does anyone have experience with their daughters?

Was that her first period? Sometimes it's hard to tell right away what will be normal for them. I would say that if she can "handle it" and isn't going through more than a pad every two hours, then try to avoid any birth control pills. What are her counts currently like? I am curious to see if this brings any changes in her counts. Caitlin's counts have been so good lately that I am not worried if she starts.

Caitlin is 13 and still hasn't started. My older daughter is 14 and she started 2 months after she turned 13 so it is very possible Caitlin will start any time. She still hasn't "developed" yet and is really tiny and athletic so it might be another year before she starts. All of her friends have already started though so she kind of worries a little about it.

I know that I personally cannot take the pill. I didn't realize how much of a grouch I was while I was on it until my mom said something to me one day. She actually said that if I didn't give up the pill, my husband would leave me because I was having terrible mood swings and I was outright mean to everyone. My mom said she was the same way while she was on the pill so it might be something that my family's bodies cannot tolerate. My sisters cannot take birth control pills either for that reason, plus it makes them swell up.

I'm sorry Mollie is having to deal with it so early. I wish there was some sort of promise that those who start early, finish early, but I am not sure that is the case. I hope the girls won't give her a hard time either. I know when my older daughter started, I had her take an extra pair of underwear and jeans to keep in her locker in case she had an accident.

My daughter also started her period at 11 (a bit of a shock, as I didn't start mine until I was 14 1/2. But then, my mom told me she'd started at 11 also, so maybe an hereditary thing.)
She was diagnosed at age 12, though I think she may have had it for about 6 months before.
At diagnosis she was at 5k, fluctuating between 3k and 10k for the most part. But, one thing we were lucky with was she never had heavy periods at all. In fact they were very light. When I was a girl (no ITP), my periods were always extremely heavy, so go figure! My daughter is now nearly 20, and has been in remission for 7 years. Her periods are still light.

Just like some ITPers seem to be 'bleeders', sometimes even at fairly high counts, others have very little bleeding even with counts lower than 5k. How is your daughter with other bleeding symptoms? If she does bleed, does she clot quickly?
So, I think it would be wise to wait and see how she's going to do.

And, I can almost guarantee she is not the only one in her class, either, though most of them won't talk about it. I have twins going into the 6th grade, too, and I know that about half of the girls have started, and many appear to be on the verge. There is some thought that the earlier menses may come from all the added growth hormones that wind up in our milk and meat. It's best to look for those that are hormone free. Soy also plays a part, and should be avoided. I would strongly advise against stopping her periods. Many women react very poorly to having their normal menses suppressed. Especially not at the tender age of 11.

april

I worried so much about Danica. She was diagnosed with ITP when she was 11, but did not get a period until just before she turned 13. She had counts below 10, and would not have any trouble with her periods. Thank goodness.