Lots of pubic hair coming through - 7 yo daughter!

[mummabear1]

My girls have been on the hairy side all over since they turned 4 (now 5 and just 7).

Last night however I noticed that what was a small amount of pubic hair has increased dramatically on my 7 year old. I cant believe how much has grown in the last 6 months! I noticed one or two longish dark ones a while back when showering her and now theres a lot more of them. Its still fairly low down (TMI sorry!) and not too obvious but Im thinking in another 6 months or so it will be. She seems too young for it to be growing this fast!

I also thought it looked like her nipples were a bit more prominent in a singlet she had on yesterday and then today she came over to me and proudly announced that she was getting boobs so she must have noticed something too as I never said a word to anyone, not even my husband :(

I have been to the docs before when she started growing a lot of body hair (forearms, legs and back and the odd pubic hair). He ran some tests and sent us on to dermatologists, endos etc and as the tests were fine, none of them were at all concerned. I am however. But obviously if the doctors arent worried there is nothing more for me to do. We havent had a bone scan done on her wrist though which I see most doctors seem to do on the girls they suspect are going through early puberty.

I can remember having pubic hair early too (but possibly not this early) but being quite late to develop any sort of chest! Im wondering if its just because she is on the hairy side all over that it means that her body just produces hair well and the pubic hair is just part of it??

Any advice?

I thought that pubic hair is the body's first sign of puberty?
It usually means that the start of menstruation is about 1-2 years away, doesn't it?

I started getting pubic/underarm hair when I was 8yo. I developed the beginnings of breasts when I was 9yo (had proper boobs at aged 12) an started my periods when I was 11yo. I'm not particularly hairy (!) but I guess puberty just started early for me. Maybe that's what it is for your DD?

Maybe you could take her to see your GP if you're concerned. I'd be inclined to keep a keen eye on her; try not to make her feel like a freak (as I did ...). Educate her gently about changes that will happen to her body. It might come as a shock, otherwise.

mummabear1 sorry to hear you're still worried about DD. When you went through all tests what was their final dx? Did they give you any expectation of how things would progress as she grew or suggest any follow up?

With both the hair & possibly starting breast development it could be early puberty. I'd go back to GP & get referred back for another evaluation, be insistent if you need to. It'll drive you mad otherwise. Yes bone age x-ray does appear in lots of info but apparently it's not always done. Blood, urine & ultrasounds seem to be starting points, they provide lots of detail on what the body is doing.

I'm going through this with my 27month old & it's so worrying. Our ultrasound has just returned clear but still more tests & time till we get any kind of answers. There's another current thread called precocious puberty with several others experiencing the same

Thanks Molotov and MammyKaz. Im so stressed about all this. All the docs we have seen just seem so disinterested. I think unless she actually had a period at this age they wouldnt do anything but tell me to keep an eye on things :( Im pretty sure they would just still connect it to her being a bit on the fuzzy side all over. We have never done any urine tests - what do they show up?

The final diagnosis for my daughters was just a moderate case of hypertrichosis (excess body hair). The docs told me to expect it to get worse - esp at puberty when the hair thickens and darkens up. No follow ups unless I felt it necessary but even then the doc was more interested in whether she started getting pimples in her t-zone area (which she doesnt have).

I can even see a very downy covering of pubic hair on my 5 year old daughter as well - very light but the odd longer one and Im picking that she will be even hairier then my 7 year old in a few years time :( We are not a particularly hairy family .... but since its the pair of them I guess it could just be their genetic make up?

MammyKaz does your 27mo have pubic hair? What are they telling you the reason for that?

Mumma, I completely empathise with your frustration, but I think that the Drs are acting in the best interests of your DD based on the evidence they have: tests that have been die reveal that it's a case of excess body hair. Am I right in thinking that she's seen an Endocrinologist? That there's no hormonal issues?

To put your daughter through more tests if it's unnecessary to do so would be very stressful for you and your DD. Whilst I'm not saying that you should just listen to them because they're Drs, you do need to think why they're telling you what they are.

Maybe you need to do more research on what Mammy called 'precocious puberty' so that, if you identify any significant, numerous similarities between that and your DD, you'll be armed with the knowledge to not be palmed off. Also, youll be more more informed as to whether more tests for your DD are necessary.

I hope these thoughts help x

Sorry, 'tests that have been done'

Personally I would go back to the drs. My understanding of reading your post is that your dd was investigated a few years ago and at that point it was deemed not to be precocious puberty and something else. Just because she has 1 dx doesn't mean that she can't have subsequently developed precocious puberty. My dd is 6 and has rapidly developed pubic hair (no breast development at the moment) and a massive growth spurt that has taken her off the charts. She's currently being investigated for precocious puberty. NHS guidelines are that all girls presenting with signs of puberty before the age of 8 must be investigated and cause established. The current dx you have for your dd does not give a reason for why she's developing breasts. Therefore in your position I would be going back to the GP and demanding to be referred to a paediatrician. What I would say though is my experience so far hasn't be great and getting people to take it seriously is difficult and you do need to see a paediatrician with at least an interest in endocrinology because its very specialised.

Yes DD has pubic hair & BO. Endocrinologist paed has basically ruled out early/precocious puberty as there is no breast development & she would expect to see it. So our initial focus is adrenal glands that produce the hormones that can result in excess hair. The urine test is a hormone steroid test - that will tell us what hormones are being produced at what level to see if there's an imbalance.

expect it to get worse - esp at puberty She's only 7, that is early if she is developing breasts.
As a patient I feel your DD has every right to be seen by an appropriate specialist. Weren't you told you could go back if you were worried? You sound worried........ The initial tests don't have to be invasive (we've only done urine & ultrasound so far), so as not to worry or cause concern to DD & any embarrassment you could go to GP on your own first & argue your case. Even if its just to have the urine test done for peace of mind. But AMum is spot on about the age for investigation & the paediatricians interest in endocrinology.

Don't worry about being firm for your child or showing how stressed you are about it - sometimes that scares helps GPs take action

Thanks everyone.

Think I will get Christmas out of the way and then in the new year start back in on this with the docs. We have been to an endo but they said the same - pubic hair without breasts didnt mean much but as there seems to be a slight puffiness there now I think I had better keep on eye on it and something may be a bit more obvious in a couple of months time. I hope I am worrying about nothing. She says her breasts aren't sore or anything so surely thats a good sign. I do remember it being quite sensitive there in the early days. Shes also shot up in height lately but shes not the tallest girl in her class. Rapidly catching up to her 8 year old brother (who's not happy about it!) :)

I think I will at least get some urine tests done on her just to make sure I feel like all bases have been covered.

I know it’s an old post, but would any of you be kind enough to let me know the outcome. My DD is nearly 7 and showing some early signs of puberty too