Early puberty in girls, also known as precocious puberty, is when a girl’s body begins changing into that of an adult woman before age 8. Puberty usually occurs around ages 8 to 13 in girls, about 2 years earlier than in boys on average. When puberty happens earlier than normal, it can be difficult for a girl – physically, emotionally, and socially.
What causes early puberty in girls?
There are a few potential causes of early puberty in girls:
– Genetics – If a female family member went through puberty early, a girl is more likely to as well.
– Obesity – Girls who are overweight or obese are more likely to go through puberty early. The excess fat leads to higher production of the hormone leptin which can spark puberty.
– Radiation or chemotherapy – Cancer treatment at a young age may damage ovaries or pituitary glands and impact hormone levels, influencing the start of puberty.
– Hormone disorder – Issues with the pituitary gland or other glands that make hormones controlling growth and sexual development can lead to early maturation.
– Brain tumor – Very rarely, a tumor affecting the parts of the brain that regulate hormones can cause early puberty.
– Low birth weight – Some studies find girls who were born early or at a low birth weight tend to enter puberty sooner. The reasons are not entirely clear.
What changes occur during early puberty?
The same physical and hormonal changes happen in early puberty as regular puberty, they just occur at a younger age. Early signs of puberty in girls include:
– Breast development – Budding of breasts and nipple/areola darkening typically happens first. Full breast development takes several more years.
– Pubic and underarm hair – Coarse, dark hairs growing due to rising levels of androgens.
– Acne – Increased hormone production leads to more skin oil production and clogged pores.
– Body odor – Apocrine sweat glands become activated, leading to a new body odor.
– Vaginal discharge – Higher estrogen causes secretions from the vaginal lining.
– Rapid growth – Girls can grow 5 inches per year during puberty due to the effects of estrogen and growth hormone.
– Menstruation – The first period usually happens 1-2 years after breast development begins. The average age is 12, but can be earlier in early puberty.
What are the effects of early puberty?
Early puberty can impact a girl both physically and psychosocially:
Physical effects:
– Short stature – Since puberty causes the growth plates at the end of bones to fuse earlier, girls who go through puberty young often do not reach their full adult height potential.
– Weak bones – Reaching peak bone mass requires optimal levels of estrogen late in puberty. Early puberty may interfere with maximum bone density.
– Weight gain – Hormonal shifts encourage fat storage in the body rather than muscle building at this age. Girls with early puberty have increased risk of obesity.
Psychosocial effects:
– Poor self-esteem – Developing far before peers can lead to body image issues, low self-confidence, and depression.
– Risky behavior – Girls with early puberty may act out sexually, abuse drugs, drink, or have eating disorders.
– Bullying – Looking older than classmates makes girls prone to teasing, relational aggression, and sexual harassment.
– Isolation – Feeling different from friends causes some girls to withdraw from peers.
– Pressure to mature quickly – Since their bodies look like young women, these girls may be expected to act older than they are emotionally and socially ready for.
Should you be concerned about early puberty?
Since most girls follow a predictable sequence of puberty starting between ages 8-13, any breast or pubic hair development substantially before age 8 warrants an evaluation by a pediatrician. Menstruation before age 10 should also be investigated.
Blood tests can determine if a girl’s hormone levels are truly in the pubertal range early. If so, the doctor will consider if an underlying condition is causing the premature development, and determine if treatment is recommended.
Sometimes early development reverses and stabilizes, but girls should be monitored and supported through the process either way. Ongoing checkups, tracking growth, monitoring bone density, and screening for emotional issues are important.
How can early puberty be treated?
If early puberty happens due to an identified medical problem, treatment focuses on resolving the underlying cause when possible. For example, hormone therapy can help if the early puberty is linked to a pituitary or thyroid disorder.
If there is no underlying problem, the goal becomes slowing down or temporarily halting progression of puberty. Medications called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists suppress estrogen and testosterone production to pause development. These medications are safe for short term use in childhood. Once a girl reaches an appropriate age for puberty, treatment is stopped and puberty resumes.
Counseling and emotional support are also critical to help girls cope with body changes and social challenges relative to peers. Building self-esteem and teaching healthy ways to respond to appearance-focused teasing can make a big difference.
What happens once puberty starts early?
Once breast budding, pubic hair growth, and the adolescent growth spurt begin, it is very difficult to reverse the progression of puberty. Height potential and bone health may already be impacted.
The focus shifts to guiding development in a healthy way. A girl whose periods start at age 9 will need education about menstrual products and tracking her cycles sooner than peers. Discussing sexuality and relationships will be an earlier necessity. Doctors track hormone levels, growth patterns, and bone density. Therapists can help build resilience.
Supportive families provide information without pushing their child to act older than her emotional maturity. They reinforce that growing up quickly physically does not mean sacrificing childhood. With compassionate care, most girls who develop early can thrive through the transition and enjoy the vibrant years of adolescence ahead!
Conclusion
Early puberty is a complex process, but can be managed under a doctor’s care. While the physical changes are irreversible once begun, the social and emotional effects can be alleviated through education, counseling, family support, and helping girls find their own confidence.
With extra guidance, girls who go through precocious puberty can grow into secure, strong young women despite dealing with mature issues years before peers. Monitoring health impacts and promoting self-esteem help ensure healthy development through the teen years and beyond.