Why do most women get their first period around age 12 when their bodies are usually not well developed enough to safely carry a baby to term?

Question

Why do most women get their first period around age 12 when their bodies are usually not well developed enough to safely carry a baby to term?

In: 12558

Answer 1

A girl’s period happens because she starts puberty, which is when the body starts ramping up hormone production that leads to adult-type development. It happens in both girls and boys. The gonads/sex organs of both sexes mature and release hormones that cause the rest of the development that we know throughout the body (breast development, growing taller, larger penis and testicles, underarm and pubic hair etc.)

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Since the same hormones that cause puberty cause periods, it would be impossible for a woman to develop without having a period first. It’s a kind of a “Chicken or Egg” scenario. Their bodies would never develop enough to “safely carry a baby to term” as you say without having periods, but periods make it so they can get pregnant young.