Based on typical growth patterns for most girls, it is not common to grow 7 inches after getting your period.
Understanding Growth After Menarche
The onset of menstruation (menarche) signals a significant stage in a girl's puberty. While girls do continue to grow after their period starts, the rapid growth spurt usually slows down considerably.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), "Most girls grow another one to two inches after getting their period, but increased height beyond that is less common." This means that while some additional growth is expected, it is typically limited to a few inches.
Typical Growth After Getting Your Period
Here's what is generally observed regarding height growth after menarche:
- Most Common: 1 to 2 inches of additional height gain.
- Less Common: Growth exceeding 2 inches.
- Highly Unlikely: Growing as much as 7 inches.
The majority of a girl's height growth is completed before or shortly after she gets her first period. Factors like genetics, nutrition, and overall health play a role in final adult height, but the window for significant growth diminishes significantly after menarche.
Why 7 Inches is Unlikely
Growing 7 inches represents a substantial increase in height. This level of growth is characteristic of the peak height velocity phase, which typically occurs before the start of periods for most girls. After menstruation begins, growth plates in the bones start to fuse, limiting the potential for further significant height increase.
Therefore, while every individual is different, achieving 7 inches of growth after starting your period is outside the typical range for the vast majority of girls.
