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Children's health

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Original poster

Just noticed 6YO DD has a few pubic hairs. Bit worried about it...

57 replies

Bitzer · 23/07/2016 21:28

Noticed when we were changing at the beach earlier. She hadn't mentioned it and is a bit shy about changing in front of anyone other that DD1, me or DH. She's tall for her age - slim athletic build. Has always been quite an early developer ie early first teeth, early talker, way ahead of most of her peers academically. But this was a bit of a shock. No idea how common it is, when I googled it the results were all about early onset puberty, which she isn't showing any other signs of. Anyone have any experience of this? Don't really want to take her to the Dr because I think that would just make her worry about something that doesn't currently seem to be bothering her. All advice gratefully received :)

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Doinmummy · 23/07/2016 21:46

There is a condition called precocious puberty, we normally take X-rays to check the bone growth. Has she got buds at all ?

Original poster

Bitzer · 23/07/2016 21:51

No. No signs of them at the mo. Have just been reading a bit about precocious puberty. It sounds tough :(

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Original poster

Bitzer · 23/07/2016 21:58

Also now freaking out having read that it can be a symptom of a serious condition such as a tumour.

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Doinmummy · 23/07/2016 22:05

It's fairly common , I work in a hospital so probably see it more than others would . I would take DD to the GP , maybe explain when you make the appt so the doc is aware of your daughters embarrassment .

dog4x4parkingloobrushwanker · 23/07/2016 22:07

I would take her to the gp to get checked out to make sure there is nothing else going on, I've heard they can delay puberty if it is early onset puberty.

Original poster

Bitzer · 23/07/2016 22:09

Ok, thanks. Appreciate you responding. Thing is she isn't currently embarrassed as far as I know. She doesn't like changing in front of people but that predates the hair growth. A bit wary of making her more conscious of the whole thing - still I guess I need to get it checked out.

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LokisUnderpants · 23/07/2016 22:11

Does she drink a lot of milk? It contains natural growth hormones meant for calves and if humans drink it, it can stimulate early puberty.

Original poster

Bitzer · 23/07/2016 22:13

Not loads. She has some semi-skimmed with breakfast cereal most days (but not every day), but that's it

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sjane03 · 23/07/2016 22:13

My DD had the same and we were told it was normal as long as no other developments (ie breast buds) she has alot of hair now at 11 and has hit puberty on the early side but nothing abnormal.

Doinmummy · 23/07/2016 22:14

Hopefully you have a sensitive GP who will take your word about the pubic hair and won't need to look. If you say you suspect precocious puberty and explain about the public hair your DD won't really understand too much . She may have to have a blood test .

Original poster

Bitzer · 23/07/2016 22:16

Ok, thanks doit I guess I will just bill it as some kind of check-up

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Original poster

Bitzer · 23/07/2016 22:17

Thanks sjane reassuring to hear from others who have been in the same position. Was your DD bothered by it? Did she talk about it?

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Whenwillwe3meetagain · 23/07/2016 22:21

Loki if that is true shouldn't there be loads of kids going through early pregnancy? And surely it would be banned??

unlucky83 · 23/07/2016 22:27

DD1 had pubic hairs at about this age -she said her bottom was tickly and asked me to look...think it was a way of showing me.
I took her to the GP to get checked out - she didn't have to show the GP but was referred to the hospital. The consultant was really good - he did look but it was all done in such a way that she wasn't embarrassed. She also had an ultrasound and a blood test (which she did create a fuss about). Conclusion was it wasn't precocious puberty but adren? something. Basically it was a side effect of a growth spurt but normal. She didn't get any more but didn't lose them - then she went on to develop at a normal rate and started her periods age 12-13.

Get her checked out - there are rare cases where it is a sign of something serious -but more likely to not be...

allinp0ems · 23/07/2016 22:36

Hi
My daughter had the same. Took her to GP/consultant and everything turned out fine.

The only problem was that she began to sweat, and smell, while still at primary school and was bullied because of it. It was hard persuading her to use anti-perspirant as she didn't like it, or really understand why she had to use it.

JennyOnAPlate · 23/07/2016 22:39

Have a chat with the GP but without your dd there. I did this initially because I didn't want to subject dd to it if it wasn't necessary.

My dd is now undergoing treatment for early puberty (an injection every 3 months) otherwise she risked starting her periods by the age of about 9 according to her consultant (too early imo). The diagnostic process was pretty stressful, I will admit (she had an MRI of her head which was pretty traumatic for her) but this is outweighed by the risks of going through puberty too early.

Whenwillwe3meetagain · 23/07/2016 22:39

Er sorry I meant puberty NOT pregnancy

Original poster

Bitzer · 23/07/2016 22:42

This is all really helpful, thank you v much :) Going to head to bed now but will check in again tomorrow. Thanks again

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sjane03 · 24/07/2016 08:17

My DD has never been too bothered by it she still does not want to remove underarm hair etc. She just sees it as the way it is but that's her character.

Original poster

Bitzer · 24/07/2016 10:37

Thanks sjane - great that she's been comfortable with it

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0AliasGrace0 · 24/07/2016 20:06

Hiya,

Currently going through the same with my DD who is 5. I noticed pubic hair a few months a go and decided to monitor it, she then started to smell of BO and so I rang the doctors. They saw us the same day and referred us, the hospital rang the next day with an appointment -which set me in a spin as it all happened so quickly and I felt like a shit mum for not acting sooner. I've googled. It did not help. I spoke with a private pead who recommended I stay on the NHS pathway due to the testing involved. We've been offered an earlier appointment in August, but can't make it due to being away. I'm still questioning myself over whether I should have just cancelled the holiday and taken the earlier appointment, but it's only 2 weeks earlier and I can't bear the thought of her missing out when I know she's going to have a tough time of it with testing etc. Hasten to add, she has sensory difficulties (couldn't even manage the nasal flu vaccine) so it's going to be traumatic.

The good thing was that the GP was lovely. I explained to DD before we went that the doctor wanted to have a look at her because she had some hairs on her front bottom and that this was fine, but that you usually get them when you're older, so we need to work out why she's got some already. Cue questions about breaking the underwear rule fuck my parenting and then enquiring as to whether the doctor was going to pull them out! I reassured her that she wasn't going to do that and she responded with 'good, because that might hurt!'. We've also been referred back to her old pead, who is lovely.

DD is also very tall, but height runs in the family. I currently want to smack anyone who mentions her height in the face - it's always been a 'topic' of conversation for people, but for me at the moment it represents so much more than her just being tall.

Sigh. Only 30 days until the appointment. And I am determined that we shall have a lovely holiday in the interim. I have a thread running and intend to update as we go - hoping it may be helpful for others in the same situation minus my wittering.

Original poster

Bitzer · 24/07/2016 22:44

0aliasgrace thanks for taking the time to post. It's really helpful to hear from someone in a similar position. I haven't noticed any BO yet but will keep an eye out for it.

Could you post a link to your thread so I can follow? Thanks, again.

PS yes the constant mentioning of height is tough. DD is the same height as her DD1, who is more than 2 years older...

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0AliasGrace0 · 25/07/2016 20:42

Hi Bitzer,

Yes, it's nice in a fucked up way to have someone going through something similar (sorry!). It all feels a little lonely and isolating, particularly as discussing her development feels so wrong - it's just not something you'd normally do is it? I sobbed at work after the GP appointment, so my colleagues are aware, but I don't feel it's right to tell people, not because I'm embarassed but because it's so personal for her. Fortunately my colleagues are wonderful, I'm a Social Worker so they're a fab bunch to have around when you're in difficulty.

I'm a single Mum and me and DD have walked a long path with her health due to her being born prematurely (and me passing on my bad genetics). We'd been hospital free for 8 months, so I'm sulking because I thought it was all finally falling into place. Anyway, sorry, I'm wittering again.

Have you decided what you're going to do?

Here's the link to my thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childrens_health/2681039-Precocious-Puberty-hand-hold-please

BusStopBetty · 25/07/2016 20:59

If she's always been tall that's unlikely to be a concern. A growth spurt would be more concerning. This might be helpful? www.karger.com/ProdukteDB/Katalogteile/isbn3_8055/_93/_36/endev022_04.pdf

Original poster

Bitzer · 25/07/2016 23:00

Thanks both.

alias I will follow your thread. Sorry to hear you guys have had such a tough time.

I haven't mentioned this to anyone in RL except DH, who is travelling but we spoke on the phone yesterday. I asked at the surgery today if DD's named doctor would call today and was told she would (but she hasn't). Will follow up with them tomorrow and see what they say.

busstopbetty thanks for that link. I'm slightly too tired now to get the most out of it but will have a proper read tomorrow.

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