Health Question:
Do I stop growing with my first period?

 

Question:
I'm 12 years old, and I got my period a year ago. Is it true you stop growing taller after you period? If not, when? And what is the rate?

Response:
There's a great book called "What's Happening to My Body? A Book for Girls" by Linda Madaras. It says that girls usually have a growth spurt at the beginning of puberty which usually lasts less than a year. By the time of her first period, the growth will slow a little to 1-2 inches per year.

Girls usually reach their full adult height within 1-3 years after their first period.

From the time of age 2, humans usually grow about 2 inches per year (that is on average - not necessarily steadily - it is often in spurts).

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