Precocious Puberty?!

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Youngest DD, aged 7 has had body odour for the last six months, I'd read a bit about it and understood that it could be a sign of early onset of puberty so have been keeping a beady eye for any other symptoms. Noticed yesterday that she's started developing underarm hair. Spoke to the doctor this morning by phone and initially he said it was nothing to worry about and we should just wait and see but to go back if she starts her periods! When I pressed him to try and get him to explain what could be causing it he said that they could do a blood test to check her hormone levels. Eldest DD is almost 13 and puberty progressing normally but she hasn't started her periods yet.

Have scared myself silly looking at internet and now feeling upset and worried, anyone here been through this?

1 of mine had this she was 7 we were referred to an encrinologist (sp) a hormone Dr, she had blood tests and a scan of her hand this is to determine bone age apparently hers was 2years ahead . Don't be fobbed off if you are worried get her checked out.

Oh dd was 10 when her periods started which is within normal range.

I don't know about the body hair but it's quite normal to have a but if a hormonal burst at around 7 which can cause body odour ,then it all settles down again until later. I remember it with ds.

DD1 is 8 and we're under an endocrinologist. She has premature adrenarche - her adrenal glands are doing puberty and have been since she was 5-6, when I noticed hair growth and reported it. My GP had a conversation with the endocrinologist and was told to refer her if any more symptoms developed, so when I reported BO we were referred.

She's going to be seen regularly through to puberty-proper at the outpatients. I think it's every 6 months. There's a possibility that her timings could al be messed up, and also an increased risk of polycystic ovaries, so when she does start her periods she'll have ulrasounds to check for that.

Body hair, BO, spots, bone growth, mood swings (she's about 12ish hormonally, but over 8 year old things. Poor love).

MrsJayy thank you - I did feel he was very dismissive initially and felt I had to press to get more info. Left feeling confused whether the blood test is the right thing to do or not - that said I would feel much better if I knew what was causing it and what the impact might be.

Dd was to do with her adrenal glands too she is an adult now so details are a bit hazy sorry forgot to mention that

Thanks Elfycat - that makes me feel much better that I'm not overreacting. Should I press for a referral do you think or go ahead with the blood test at the GP's?

Hi op, my dd is 6 and a half and I recently noticed she had started to grow some pubic hair. I too scared myself silly looking on the internet. The GP referred her with a blood test, she was given special cream to put on an hour before the test and she didn't feel a thing. All hormone tests were normal and we were told these things happen sometimes. So I would suggest just get the bloods done and try not to worry.

Dd sprouted at 8 she grew like a mushroom but she is 5ft3 and a bit now she all her growing was done by the time she was 12.

Forgot to add, GP did say they would only refer on to specialist if bloods were abnormal.

Good - feel better now to have a clearer idea what the steps should be - blood test then referral. It's hard not to freak out when you read the horror stories on t'internet isn't it?! I'm approaching menopause and eldest DD is going through puberty. Hormonal whirl around here ATM!

Your house must be a hoot

I thought it was relatively normal these days for girls to start puberty around 8? She’s probably got a year or two at least before periods, and 10 isn’t that unusual?

There was a thread recently about someone telling her dd about periods age 10, and the general response was that was far too late because lots of girls start around 9 or 10.

I teach swimming and underarm hair isn’t uncommon in my 7-8 year old class. Tends to be mixed race or middle eastern children, but that is my observation only.

I've been reading this which has reassured me - that said DD was 8lb 13oz at birth at 38 weeks, she is only on 50th centile for height and is a skinny little thing. Helped me to understand that the hormones that kick off body odour and hair growth are different to those that start periods and boobs which is reassuring even though the two are connected.

They should do a bone age xray of her wrist to check ahe isn't going to stop growing too young which could have an impact on her final height. See child growth foundation for advice on precocious puberty.