Precocious puberty is when a child’s body begins changing before 8 years in girls and 9 years in boys. It is commonly seen in girls.
The reasons behind these early changes in girls today are not yet known but sometimes in rare cases, the basic causes are infections, hormone disorders, tumors, brain abnormalities, or injuries. Another cause for the same can be a problem in the ovaries or thyroid gland. This issue may also run as hereditary in mothers and sisters.
In some cases, girls also face partial precocious puberty i.e. the growth of hair in the underarms or public areas but no sexual changes as such. Another thing which is observed among the girls of age groups between 6 months to 3 years is the development of breasts.
These changes affect the children in many ways. Firstly, after the finishing of puberty, the girl stops growing as the bones get mature and the growth stops immediately which can make the child not reach her ideal adult height. Secondly, Precocious puberty can also cause girls to face emotional and social problems which can eventually make them more self-conscious. They may also be embarrassed about having their menstrual cycle and breasts before than other peers. They become more irritable and moody. Besides that, there is a risk of girls going into depression. The hardest part to deal with is the teasing that these children face at times.
A recent example of a cause of Precocious puberty is of an 11-year girl who gave birth to a “healthy” baby in Britain making a new record of being the youngest mother in the United Kingdom which was not applicable based on the UK laws.The girl became pregnant at the age of 10 and went through labor earlier in this month i.e. June. According to the sources, the most astonishing thing was that none of her family members knew that she was pregnant and now this issue is under investigation by the social services.It was reported by The Sun that the lady is now being surrounded by expert help and the main thing is that she and the baby are okay!
Previously in 2006, Tressa Middleton was the youngest mum to be in the UK and was only 12-year-old but was compelled to give up her child after knowing that the child’s father was Tressa’s brother, who had raped her.
The common age when Puberty starts in girls is normally between the age of 8 and 13 but nowadays, girls are hitting puberty earlier than before because of many biological and environmental situations, including the modern diet which causes changes in the daily life activity patterns.
The treatment of early puberty is necessary especially when it is the guidance of the doctor to do so. Children with “partial” precocious puberty may need to be diagnosed. Doctors can help the children to achieve the full adult height and also stop the social as well as emotional problems that they might face.
At times, a Pediatric endocrinologist (a doctor who specializes in growth and hormonal disorders in children) can also help in overcoming the early puberty depending on the requirement of the child. It may be that the situation might require no treatment or medications to lower down the hormonal levels or to delay sexual growth.
Many more questions need to be answered related to the 11-year-old “Britain's youngest ever mum” and also regarding the advent of precocious puberty among today’s generation especially girls.