Is anyone experienced with Precocious Puberty?

renerian, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2003

Wow I don't think I would put my kid on them. My dtr wore a trainer bra in the 5th grade but she should have wore one in the 4th grade but she hated them.............................should be interesting to read if others have experienced what your Dr. is talking about doing?

renerian

mario_ragucci · Jun 7, 2003

Diet may be a factor. Does she eat alot of meat? I heard about the steriods and growth hormones in the meat, when eaten by kids before puberty, and make them tall. Like when Asian boys grow very tall on a western meat diet. Just an idea.

Also, it could be plain old American society pushing being a grown up "girl" to the max and then beyond. Not too much time is spent being a girl for a girl today. Everything is the "ultra mature" women.

I hope it all works out, and I would just leave it alone while she is growing up.

memphispanda, RN · Jun 7, 2003

My preacher's daughter was diagnosed with precocious puberty several years ago...before I was in the whole nursing school thing. I know they did an xray of her hand to determine the rate her bones were growing. Then then started her on injections to stop the puberty and give her time to grow up. 8 is very young to have to deal with the responsibilities that go along with having periods and such. If it was my daughter I'd have it stopped. There are more issues than just the physical one when it comes to going through puberty, and I know my amost 7 year old daughter isn't going to be ready at 8...probably not at 9 or 10 either.

AHarri66, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2003

Coming from a family of early bloomers (average age of menarche = 9), I'd say she's pretty normal. Breast buds are only the first sign, and generally menarche takes about another 2 years. From what I've found, before 7 is now considered precocious as opposed to the earlier boundary of 8.

You may want to check with a pediatric endocrinologist to be sure, but if it were me, I'd probably leave it alone...I'd be more afraid of the potential side-effects of the "cure", and would rather let Mother Nature take her course.

Interestingly, "early bloomers" (ie. before 12 years old) have an increased risk of breast cancer, but diet, exercise, and breast-feeding all have the potential to lower it.

I don't think any pubescent child, whether 9 or 14, is emotionally "ready" for it...emotional lability comes with the territory.

MishlB · Jun 7, 2003

My daughter also had breast buds at an early age, but bones were not growing too fast according to x-rays. She is now 11 and still does not have her period, although she is very well developed. as was I at her age. Don't panic! I think some children start to mature earlier nowadays, but it doesn't mean she will begin menstruating at age 8. I agree with letting nature take its course!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2003

I've read an article in some news magazine that's it's becoming more and more common these days for girls to mature at early ages. My niece looked like Brittany Spears when she was 10. I've read the theory that someone mentioned above about diet. That our meat supply has so many hormones that it is affecting girls that way. But it's only a theory.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jun 7, 2003

It seems with every generation, menstruation and female puberty is coming earlier and earlier. A research study was done which showed this to be true (sorry don't remember the title or stats). Dr. John Lee (aka the "menopause" doctor) states that there is an over-abundance of estrogens in our environment (everything from plastics to pesticides to hormones in meats) and too much estrogen is at the root of a LOT of the problems we're seeing in the female population.

passing thru · Jun 7, 2003

I read the meat theory also. There were stats that daughters of vegetarians usually begin puberty and menses at the age of 13-15.

Chicken & beef== massive amounts of hormones.

Also, if a girl is overweight, she is far more likely to begin puberty than a normal for height/weight girl.

Obesity in pre-teens jump starts their development.

The wrist bones tell the tale of whether normal growth has ceased.

If her weight is normal, I would let nature run it's course.

If she is overweight , I'd get her in shape.

I've seen moms who want their daughters to " be the first"

in their class to wear a bra, etc.

These moms simply can't wait.

And these moms are stuffing their little chicks.....

Normal precociousness is extremely rare.

Precociousness brought on my obesity is not, regretably.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jun 7, 2003

Oh, another thought--were you taking oral contraceptives when you were pregnant with your daughter? This can happen if you were taking the pill and unaware of the pregnancy (especially if you take an antibiotic while being on the pill--can negate the contraceptive effect, resulting in an unplanned and often "hidden" pregnancy). OTCs are notorious for the teratogenic effect of precocious puberty to infants exposed in utero.

Browneyedgirl · Jun 7, 2003

Thank you all sooo much for the replies.

I was an early bloomer. I had taken the depo shot about 3 months before she was conceived. And we eat chicken or beef 1 or 2 times a week each.

*Student budget* = chicken and beef are cheap.

The test results should be in by Thursday and I'm "almost" positive her bones are developing fine for her age. She's not overly tall and until recently was the shortest in her class.

Again, thanks for all the responses. I definitely lean toward letting "mother nature" run its course.

RN2007 · Jun 7, 2003

Gosh, I would hate to give her anything to stop her from developing right now because later down the road she might not develop like she should and that certainly would not make her feel very confident knowing that something she took as a child stunted her growth. Weirder things have happened, ya know?