Question
My daughter is 15 years old and had her first menstruation last July. Last November, she attended a sleepover party with her classmates and didn’t come back home all night. She has many friends and is well-liked, but recently I’ve noticed that she seems to be in love. Does this mean she has a tendency towards precocious puberty?
Answer
Having her first menstruation at 15 and developing an attraction to the opposite sex are normal signs of puberty. Precocious puberty typically refers to early onset of menstruation and premature breast development. However, based on your daughter’s description, experiencing these changes at 15 is normal and should not be considered precocious puberty. As children grow up, many start showing signs of sexual behavior around the ages of 14 and 15.