Are Girls Starting Puberty at a Younger Age?

By L.L. Locker

Puberty occurs when kids develop into young men and women. We think of this happening at adolescence, around ages 10-12. However, it’s not uncommon to see little girls 8 or younger, showing signs of puberty such as breast development. And for some African American girls, signs of budding breasts can start as young as age 7.

Along with breast development, the signs of oncoming puberty in girls are: pubic or underarm hair development, rapid height growth - a growth "spurt", onset of menstruation (getting their period), acne, and body odor.

In boys, signs of puberty, which may begin as early as age 9, are: enlargement of the testicles or penis, pubic, underarm, or facial hair development, rapid height growth - a growth "spurt", deepening voice and enlarging Adam’s apple, acne, and body odor.

Is puberty starting at a younger age? According to Dr. L. Kurt Midyett, M.D., a Pediatric Endocrinologist with Children’s Mercy Hospital, not necessarily. “If you look at national health studies, it does show a slight decline in the age that girls begin their periods. It’s still around 12 years of age.”

“Puberty is a process with a start and an end,” explains Dr. Midyett. “The end of puberty is sexual development and fertility which is, for girls, menstruation.”

What the parents are seeing as signs of early puberty may be the result of excess weight. What they think are budding breasts may be accumulated fat tissue.

Extra weight tops the list as the cause of “The Falling Age of Puberty” according to a 2007 study of the same name by the Breast Cancer Foundation . The study also lists exposure to chemicals, low birth weight and formula feeding as other possible causes for earlier signs of puberty.

While early menstruation is a known risk factor for breast cancer, no one knows what earlier breast development means for the future of girls' health. Early puberty may affect a girl’s height. But as early puberty becomes more the norm, a bigger concern is how girls handle the physical changes, especially when their playmates remain flat-chested, or when they attract unwanted attention from boys.

In some rare cases, early puberty may have a physical cause such as a cyst or tumor. Dr. Midyett recommends if your child is showing the signs of puberty before age 8, you may want to see your pediatrician.

For more information on puberty, you can contact your health care provider. Or, go online to www.childrensmercy.org and click on Your Child’s Health, using the keyword puberty.

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