5 (almost 6) year old has slight pubic hair.

[FelicityPike]

I noticed after her bath tonight that my 5 year old (6 in late July) has a small number of dark pubic hairs.
Is this something I should take her to the doctors for? I had a quick Google but it was talking about 8/9 year olds.
I’m also conscious that our GPs aren’t really seeing patients still.
Also, she was premature....if that matters any.

What do you think a doctor will do about your child growing pubic hair?

She's concerned about precocious puberty (obviously).

NHS says

'There's not usually any need to worry if puberty does not start around the average age, but it's a good idea to speak to your GP for advice if it starts before 8 or has not started by around 14.'

I'd say give your GP a ring.

Take her to the GP definitely, it might be nothing or she may need some medication to stop puberty starting too early.

It’s important to investigate precocious puberty actually Grandslam.

Presuming it’s not the downy hair that children who were early have (my DS still has a furry back!) I’d give the GP a ring OP.

I would see GP. She may have a hormonal imbalance or something.

You don't need to take her in.

You can have a phone chat. Take it from there.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/early-or-delayed-puberty/

We noticed this early on with our DS. When he was 7 he had a seizure (completely unrelated!), but while the doctors where checking him at the hospital we mentioned it and they didn’t seem concerned that it was early.

Yes take her. It sounds like precocious puberty. My DD had this.

The Mayo clinic website has some useful information. I’m not in uk but was referred to a paediatrician. First step was an ultrasound to rule out it being caused by a cancerous growth (this is extremely rare but they need to check). Then she was just monitored for further changes. There were none so nothing else was done but there are injections they can give to delay puberty if she continues to develop.

In my DDs case she didn’t develop any further at age 6 but was an early developer - age 10.

As others have said @Grandslam21 I am concerned about precocious puberty. Hope that clears that up for you.
I will definitely ring the GPs, even if just to put my mind at rest.
Thanks all.

Hi, we had exactly the same thing last year, had a chat with my GP on the phone, they had us in for an appointment then referred us to the hospital, they were great, did lots of tests and diagnosed her with premature adrenarche, no treatment needed but was good to know why it was happening and we felt reassured.

What do you think a doctor will do about your child growing pubic hair

Best not to comment on health-related threads when you have no knowledge of the topic at hand. Could be very dangerous in the event that you actually convinced an OP not to seek medical help for their child.

OP, yes definitely get this looked into. Our surgery is doing phone consultations and appointments only if absolutely necessary. I'm guessing they may need to take bloods etc so would probably want to see her following the phone consultation.

I would take her to the doctor. Very early puberty can stop a child from attaining their full adult height as bone growth stops when puberty is complete. Treatments are available to help counter this. A referral to a paediatric endocrinologist could be necessary.

Absolutely GP

Just to add please don't panic, premature adrenarche is much more common than precocious puberty and can they can present in the same way early on, if there are no signs of breast buds then it isn't true puberty, a blood test will tell you either way, very rarely there can be some pathology but again this is easily ruled out.

Yes, go to the doctor. There is something that can be done for that.

It would be a good idea to discuss with your GP as very early signs of puberty can be indicators of some (treatable) underlying conditions. There's no need to panic but better to have it checked out so that you know what's going on, even it turns out to be nothing significant.

Hello
It's not related to puberty but to adenarche (bo, hair, mood swings). Puberty is just related to oestrogen and breast tissue.
My dd has just been diagnosed with benign early adenarche.
You need to go to your GP and get a referral to a paediatric endocrinologist. They will then examine and probably do a 24h urine test. They need to rule out some very rare other diagnoses so it is v important that you get a referral

Hey my DD also started having public hair just before her 7th birthday and then body odour started too. We had all the blood tests and then had 24 hours urine test too and they confirmed it as benign early adenarche, not the precocious puberty.

But I'm still worried if this is dangerous or she might get her 1st period so early than her friends.

@paradyning How old is your daughter when she developed symptoms??

I heard that they will get their 1st period after 2 years of the symptoms started, is that true??

Anybody any clues?

She was 5.
Best to talk to your endocrinologist. Early periods isn't something she made me aware of. But potential for increased risk of pcos

What's her weight like, once girls are 7 stone they can start their periods?

@Spud13 She is 30kg now, its long way to reach 7 stones hopefully.

Thanks for the reply @paradyning. My Paediatrician said its common now a days and even if we see any symptoms after 8 years, its all normal and no treatment needed