Signs of Pre-Puberty in Girls

Overview

Puberty is the time of life in which a child's body begins maturing into that of an adult. This process involves rapid changes, including skeletal and muscular growth and maturation of reproductive organs. Pre-puberty is another name for precocious puberty. This is a condition in which children undergo puberty earlier than most of their peers. In females, it is considered precocious if a girl enters puberty before age eight. Disadvantages of pre-puberty include a child not being emotionally ready for the changes her body is undergoing, the possibility of teasing by peers and the physical effect that precocious puberty prevents the child from obtaining her full height. Most of the time what causes pre-puberty in a child is not identifiable.

Underarm And Pubic Hair

Girls entering puberty notice the appearance of both underarm and pubic hair. This hair growth alone does not establish that puberty is taking place but, coupled with other signs, is a strong indicator. Many times the development of underarm and pubic hair is accompanied by body odor that is mature in nature rather than simply a sweaty or dirty smell. Many girls who develop this hair and body odor also develop acne. These signs together signal what is called "adrenarche", which is an increase in output of the adrenal glands of the body. Parents of girls under the age of eight who enter adrenarche should watch for other signs of pre-puberty. Parents should consult a physician if any additional symptoms are present.

Breast Development

The growth of breast tissue is a classic sign of puberty in girls. It typically begins with what are often referred to as breast "buds," which are often tender due to the fast growth caused by the increase in female hormones. Parents should be able to distinguish true breast budding from an excess of fat in the bosom area, as the buds are generally pronounced, and the child will report them as being very sensitive. The appearance of breast buds alone does not provide a definitive diagnosis of pre-puberty. Even toddlers and babies can undergo a small amount of breast development if their bodies produce a temporary increase of estrogen. In many cases the early "development" of breast tissue will shrink once the production of estrogen decreases.

Accelerated Growth

A period of rapid growth in girls that includes both skeletal and muscular components is often an indication of pre-puberty. A physician can measure the extent of skeletal maturation and compare it to population standards of the same age group to determine whether a girl is truly growing more rapidly than is "normal" (based on those statistics). While girls who undergo rapid growth may tower over their peers at an early age, if the growth is due to precocious puberty, she will likely stop growing earlier and will ultimately be shorter than most of her peers. The sex hormones that cause pre-puberty result in quick growth, but, according to Neumors' KidsHealth website, these same hormones are in charge of the process that stops growth. Many girls who undergo precocious puberty are no more than 5 feet tall as adults.

Menstruation

The hallmark of puberty for girls is menstruation (menarche). First periods generally signal the last stage of puberty for females, including those who are precocious. While females who are on the "normal" track may take years following puberty's onset to progress to menarche, those who are precocious are on an accelerated journey and a first period follows quickly after breast development and adrenarche. Parents of a girl who menstruates early should have a physician's evaluation. The Mayo Clinic reports that precocious puberty (that does not have an underlying medical cause such as a tumor) can often be treated with medication in what is known as "Gn-RH analogue therap." This treatment halts pre-puberty and can be employed until the child reaches an appropriate age to begin sexual maturation.

Emotional Changes

Puberty begins when the brain manufactures the hormones necessary for sexual maturation. The brain is, of course, also responsible for emotions children experience. Aside from the physical changes, parents may notice emotional turmoil occurring in daughters undergoing pre-puberty. Moodiness, similar to the swings experienced by teenage girls, is a common emotional reaction to precocious puberty. Young girls may struggle with the fact that they are maturing faster than their peers. They may be embarrassed, or even angry, that they no longer possess the same body type as most of their friends. Parents of girls who enter pre-puberty need to educate their daughters regarding the changes their bodies are undergoing. Parents also need to remember that while their child may now possess a "maturing" body, she is still a little girl and should not be treated as more mature than her chronological age.