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Late puberty

Dear Sam, I am 12 years old and i have not hit puberty i have no breasts and it is really starting to worry me. All of my friends have hit puberty and i haven't . Is this normal?

Ask Sam


Hi there,

Puberty can start as early as 8 or 9 or as late as 17 or even older. Everyone is different - there's no "normal" age to start puberty. Some people may stat to go through changes early and then nothing for a while.

Girls can sometimes start puberty a little earlier than boys, but there’s no set age they might start. Breasts may not fully develop until you become a young adult. Although some people may grow breasts earlier, it doesn't say anything about how they’ll look when they fully develop into an adult.

I hear from some young people that they feel left out or like they're "behind" others who've started puberty. The important thing is that it's okay to be at whatever stage you are - it doesn't change your maturity or say anything about you as a person. Everyone will go through it at some point before they become an adult.

I hope this helps, but if you're still worried or are facing bullying about puberty, feel free to talk to one of our counsellors - Chidline is here for you.

Take care,


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