Dear Boobless,

Most books that have anything written on puberty and development say things like this: "breast development in girls occurs between eight and thirteen years of age," or "rapid body growth of girls during puberty takes place from age nine to age fifteen," a nd, "the average age for a girl's first period is 12.8 years." Alice thinks it is natural for you, at the age of fourteen, to read and hear this sort of information, to see these changes happening to most of your friends, and, subsequently, to wonder abo ut your own body.

The truth of the matter is, it is perfectly normal for puberty to begin later than age eight or nine, or twelve or fourteen. Unless you reach sixteen or seventeen years of age without any signs of the onset of puberty (e.g., breast growth, menstruation), there really isn't much cause for concern -- medically speaking, at least. Socially, it must be hard for you to see your friends' breasts begin to grow, hear them speak about wearing bras, and trade stories of their first periods. Unfortunately, there isn't anything you can do to rush your body. Exercises reputed to increase breast size (like in the movie, "Grease") actually help build up muscles in the chest -- breasts do not contain any muscle tissue. Thus, the best Alice can say is to be patient.

Have you talked with your mom about this "flat as a board" problem? Ask her when she got her period and when her boobs began to grow. This may shed some light on your own rate of development. You could speak with your health care provider. S/he has mo re insight into your health and previous development rates and can probably offer more concrete advice and information specifically for you. Alternatively, if there is a nurse at your school with whom you are comfortable, speak with her/him about your co ncerns. In some cases, certain medical conditions can cause a delay in development.

Some food for thought: for menstruation to begin, body fat needs to be about one-quarter of your total weight. If you are very athletic and muscular, expect it to take a while for your period to start. Women mountain climbers, by the end of a long clim b, find that their breasts have become smaller, and, for some, their periods cease until they regain some of the weight lost from such strenuous work at high altitudes.

Alice

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