"Most girls grow another one to two inches after getting their period, but increased height beyond that is less common," says the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Opens a new window Girls typically stop growing earlier than boys because they start puberty earlier than boys.
Females usually experience their fastest growth spurt around age 11 or 12. After menstruation starts, it is typical to grow another 7 cm (2.75 inches) in height. It is also typical for females to gain weight during puberty. Usually, females reach adult height around age 14 or 15.
However, once the growth plates in the bones close, a person will generally not grow any taller. Most females reach their full adult height aged 14–16 years. Most males reach their full height by the age of 16–18 years. It is very unusual for a person to grow after the age of 18 years.
Will my daughter grow taller after she starts her period? A girl's largest growth spurt is typically just before she starts her period. A girl may grow slightly after she starts her period, but her major growth spurt is finished before the first period.
Key takeaways: The term “late bloomer” refers to a child who goes through puberty later than their peers. Constitutional growth delay, the medical term for this condition, runs in families. Late bloomers will catch up on their growth and have standard adult height, although it may take a little extra time and patience.
Generally, breasts continue to grow until the age of 17-18. However, they may keep developing until your early or mid-20s. The growth rate and the time when they stop developing differ from person to person, largely due to genetic and hormonal factors.
Normal Height for Girls in India
The term normal height can vary based on several factors. On average, a normal height for girls in India ranges between 4 feet 10 inches (147 cm) and 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm). This range is generally considered typical and healthy for Indian women.
Based on time trends, more recent birth cohorts have their menarche earlier and grow taller. However, women with earlier menarche reach a shorter adult height compared with women who have menarche at a later age.
DNA determines a person's height. However, environmental factors, such as nutrition and exercise, can affect growth during development. As children get older, they need good nutrition and plenty of exercise to help their bodies make the hormones they need to grow.
5'6 is tall. The average height for a woman is 5'4.
Myth: menarche means the end of growth is near
The reality is that the average gain in height after menarche is about 7 cm (3 inches), and it is even greater for girls who menstruate on the early side of normal.
Expect to gain weight. This is normal and needed to have healthy menstrual cycles. You will notice that you get curvier, with bigger hips and breasts than when you were a little girl.
(We have not been able to find averages for other races.) On age alone: Age 15 1/2 to 16 1/2 for whites, age 14 1/2 to 15 1/2 for blacks. If no breast or hair development: Age 13 to 14 for whites, age 12 to 13 for blacks. If there is breast development or hair (pubic or armpit)two years after either of these started.
Once puberty starts, there is a sharp increase in growth of about 8 centimeters/year. Peak growth for girls is typically 6-12 months before the onset of their menstrual cycle (menarche) and then significantly slows down after that. Girls can expect to grow an average of about 2-3 inches after menarche.
Hormone changes during the menstrual cycle may lead to breast swelling. More estrogen is made early in the cycle and it peaks just before mid-cycle. This causes the breast ducts to grow in size. The progesterone level peaks near the 21st day (in a 28-day cycle).
We all have a different perception of size, but many women perceive their breasts to be smaller than average. Breasts that appear smaller can be caused by genetics, rapid weight loss, hormones, medical conditions, malnutrition, post pregnancy or a lack of breast tissue development.
Children reach puberty at different ages. Delayed puberty is when boys have little to no genital growth by age 14, or girls have no breast development by age 13, or no periods by age 16. You may also hear this called being a “late bloomer”.
Several medical conditions can impact the size of your breasts. Micromastia is the term used to describe medically underdeveloped breasts. It can be caused by conditions including Poland syndrome, where there's very little breast tissue at all, and tuberous breasts, where the breast tissue doesn't develop properly.
There's a very broad range of time in which kids hit puberty-related growth spurts: Most girls start their sexual development between the ages of 8 and 13 (the average age is 12), and have a growth spurt between the ages of 10 and 14.
There's no magic pill for increasing height. In fact, your genes are the major determinant of how tall you'll be. Most teens can expect to grow a total of about 7 to 10 inches during puberty before they reach their full adult height.