Totally freaked out, just found pubes on my 5 year old dd

[felttippens]

She's a baby :( !!!!

Hi again. Yes, they're going to leave it. It's not puberty in her case, just a hormonal thing. I don't know the exact details, sorry, but it isn't likely to develop further.

I do think it is worth seeing your GP and asking for a referral. As I say, my friend has very skilled medical background, and she is the first person I ask if I have a medical question. She insisted on a referral, and GP agreed - I think she was worried it was early puberty. She wasn't "worried" but wanted a definite answer.

Sorry. Seems I completely misjudged. I had no idea a 5 year old could grow pubes

it's sometimes known as precocious puberty, and can happen in children even younger.

It might not be precocious puberty, i am not sure how they test, if they do or whether it's a watch and wait at that age.

You must be in shock, op and not surprisingly. My dd has been early for everything, she was seven when she got her first pubes, and 9 1/2 when she got her period.

This was just early as opposed to precocious puberty.

oh and at age 7 my dd got that line you get from navel to groin in pregnancy, it was hormonal, the gp dismissed me as mad, but it was there!! It went after a couple months.

go see your gp. x

some info here

My DD is 7.5 and has had some pubic hair for a little over a year. We took her to see a paediatrician who said she is pre-precocious puberty so we have to monitor her weight gain and development and we go back in September. We don't make a big deal of it to her but I was really worried. She is a little overweight due to medication she takes for epilepsy (very high glucose content) and it could be why she is developing early so we have to try and control her diet to slow everything down a bit.
Take her to the GP to start with and try not to worry (I know that's easier said than done though!)

Dont know what would upset me more -predicament OP and little one find themselves in - or crazily stupid and unhelpful comment of 'why are you inspecting her crotch' totally bizarre thing to say to the mum of a 5 year old needing advice / reassurance.

OP - I'm sorry fellow mums and women can be so unkind, have a hug and do please take constructive advice of others on here regarding GP

Treading, yes you need to see your GP & ask for a referral to a pediatric endocrinologist. It may be premature adrenarche which doesn't need any treatment & only symptoms are early hair growth & maybe some mood swings due to hormones.
However I would push for a bone age x-ray regardless of whether there are no other signs of puberty.
We've been going through investigations with DD(2.11) for 10months now (ridiculously unhelpful consultant) so please don't be fobbed off if you feel something isn't quite right.

It absolutely needs checking out by an endo. While it probably is 'just' precocious puberty, there are a couple of conditions which must be excluded as they need treatment.

Thankyou everyone, I've made an appointment with doctor at 11am today so ill update later hope she takes me seriously x

Hi treading I hope you got some reassurance at the GPs. Your poor DD. very confusing for her.

Good luck at the doctors. It must have been a shock.

My dd is 8 and I have been going through the same thing, my GP said it is fine but I am still concerned. It is possible to have an androgen response and trigger pubic hair, without it being precocious puberty, so hopefully that will be true of your dd. She may well need a blood test and they will x-ray her hands I think, to establish bone growth. My dd aged just 6 had a blood test recently (for something else) btw, and although I was dreading it she was fine and it was very quick and straightforward. DH and I are trying to get more advice on my dd, but 8 is the borderine seemingly. below 8 they take it much more seriously. I posted on this recently so if you search you will find my thread, there were some really helpful responses.

I feel confused by the doctors visit.

When we went in I explained that Id found pubic hairs on her and she seemed instantly concerned and commented that she was tall for her age.

Yet when she examined her she said she wasnt concerned as there werent many hairs (1 is too many for me!!! never mind the little crop of black hairs she has)

She said she was still a long way off puberty and she would be more worried if she had underam hair, periods and breasts too.

She then went on to try and give me a leaflet about precocious puberty but she couldnt get it to download so suggested i went home and googled precocious puberty.

No refferal or follow up

Not sure whether to feel reassured or concerned that its not been taken seriously.

The doctor is asian and said oh dont worry, most asians are born with more than that and its fine - again not sure whether to be reassured by that- my dd isnt asian (is very pale and blonde) and wasnt born with them!

So, still confused and worried x

I don't think I would be satisfied with that. Can you see another doctor? Does she have a school nurse or health visitor? (Sorry mine are tinies still so not sure)

I would make another appointment with a different GP, sorry but that's not good enough.

I agree with another appointment, at five ,if it is precocious puberty they will give her drugs to halt it as otherwise it will affect her height and bones. She does need to see an endocrinologist. I would call the surgery, either make another appointment with a different gP, or just say to the one you saw that actually you really want to get her properly checked over to make sure it isn't puberty.

I would not be satisfied with that. If it was me I'd make an appt to see another doctor and push for a referral to see an paediatrician. We have just been referred for DD 2.0 with budding breasts (premature thelarche probably). Just for reassurance and possibly some tests.

Oh no treading that's very disappointing. Second opinion I think.

Just lost a long post. But summary:

GPs are just that. Generalists and the first port of call, but in unusual situations they should not be the only one - then they are the gatekeepers to the experts.

Unfounded/inappropriate reassurance is dangerous, and doctors in training are warned about that.

You are still worried and this is potentially a big thing for your daughter to deal with.

Ask to be referred to a specialist. As you have just seen the GP, you may be able to do this by phoning the practice. Otherwise, make an appointment with another partner if you can. In any case, make sure you are referred. Trust your instincts and insist - it's fine to do that, in this case.

I came away thinking if there is nothing to worry about why are you referring me to literature on precocious puberty, which tbh, is full of worrying stuff so i was trying to avoid Dr Google - my husband works in a local hospital wonder it would be worth him trying to get her in with someone there.

Yes, trading mixed messages I think. Why refer you to the literature when she didn't think it was that

Firstly, as it pissed me off hugely, what a ridiculous thing to say Yoni. The daughter is 5, not 15. It is completely normal for a mother to be familiar with all parts of her child, whether it be a fanny or a foot!

Anyway, OP, I can completely understand your shock. I would agree with the suggestion to take her to he GP but not to let your daughter pick up on your anxieties. Hopefully it won't develop further yet.

Agree - not good enough. As I mentioned up thread, my friend (who is a specialist medical professional working for NHS, does not google anything and is the most pragmatic person I know), insisted on a referral.

If it is puberty, you do need to know.

A referral. Five years old is too too young to even begin to understand the psychological ramifications of this. Insist upon speaking to another doctor and ask to be referred to a Paediatric Endocrinologist.