Puberty at age 6 please help

[sayna]

Hi,

My daughter looks like she may be going through early puberty. Breast buds, some light pubic hairs and underarm and easily upset.

Looking back I think she started showing signs months ago but I didn’t realise and did not think this could happen so young.

She has been referred to see a paediatrician so waiting for this.

Has anyone else experienced this so young? What was done about it? Did you require treatment, was this hormone therapy or anything else? Did it help? How are your kids now? Any advice would be really really appreciated.

Feeling awful right now and hoping I’m not too late to help her and really worried about whether there is help for her.

Thank you in advance

Not as young but my daughter developed buds at 8y4m. We went to a paediatric endocrinologist where she was given various blood tests, X-ray of the hand for bone age, pelvic ultrasound and given a risser score. The consultant talked through option of puberty blockers but I was totally against them. As it happens she didn't start her period until 10y8m and is now final height at 5'5. It's a very personal decision but do make sure you're seeing an endocrinologist not general paediatrician.

We has to see an paediatrician about something along the same lines and they referred us to an endocrinologist who was fantastic. So your paed will sort that out if you need it.

It's such a worrying time. My daughter was 6 or 7 when we saw the dr.

The paediatrician was very pro puberty blockers and I think we would have taken his advice should we have needed to. But things paused naturally and then when they kicked off again about 9 months later she was 8 so no longer counted as precocious puberty so it was too late anyway.

My reassuring words would be (a) you're doing the right thing with the referral (b) things could pause like my DD if you're lucky and (c) if she does start her periods early, she'll cope.

Also, there are period pants now which are an absolute game changer. Cramps pains and hormonal moods are stil around though!

@34and3 Thank you. Did you see one privately or nhs? I have a general paediatrician appointment coming up and trying to also see endocrinologist. I’m worried it could take too long and be late to start treatment if required.

@musicmum75 do you mind if I ask how old your daughter was and if treatment was required and helped?

@CheshireSplat Thank you for being reassuring. I feel so sad and overwhelmed.

What kind of symptoms did she have when you first went to see the doctor and what came after the pause?

Is everything well now and height ok?

I was 6-7 when I started my period. Instincts kicked in and I figured it out and coped well on my own. My mum wasn't paying attention and only noticed I'd been bleeding one morning when I was 12.
I'm now in my late 30s and turned out fine.
In hindsight, I dealt with issues like not knowing what meds to use for cramps and how to get them, and I didn't have the resources to buy pads too. I'm sure your daughter won't have to deal with these unnecessary worries. She has you all the way.

Defo get a referral to endo.
My dd was 6 too.
There's a difference between puberty and early onset adenarche (Bo, greasy hair, pubic/underarm hair).
They want to rule out anything nasty too.

Our situation was different as it was more about late on-set of puberty but both the paed and the endocrinologist were very helpful.

@paradyning Thanks. I have asked for endo but not sure when they will see her, everything feels so slow. When looking online seems that the symptoms are similar to early puberty. Did your DD have the same and was she treated? How is she now?

@Boundlessjoy thank you for sharing your experience. I’m sorry you had to go through it so young. I hope you don’t mind me asking, do you feel it affected your height or anything else? I get worried as read it can.

She had breast buds and some fine pubic hair. I saw a private endocrinologist (had private medical insurance through work) who referred us back into the NHS.

I'd say she was developing for about 12-18 months, paused for about 9 months and she started her period on day one of Year 5, aged 9.

I wouldn't have chosen it, I'd forgotten how bad period pains were, but she is coping really well. School let her have calpol melts whenever she needs, she has to miss swimming every four weeks and her body shape is very different to her friends. Height wise she's a bit taller than her friends. She's 11 now and still growing but I don't know how much longer she'll grow for.

I will try to be reassuring as children can be resilient so remember this will be her normal. Had my DD been a couple of years younger I would have considered puberty blockers to prevent nasty cramps at such a young age and because of height worries.

My dd had early adenarche as no breast budding at that time. Probably needs a review though. Possible link to pcos.
They did a 24 hour urine catch plus hand x-Ray and clinical examination.

I grew tall much earlier than my peers. I remember just sticking out like a sore thumb due to my height. But then the growth plateaued by the time I was 13 or so. I'm 5'7.

One worry that I had was that because I started my period very early in life, I might run out of eggs early/ reach menopause early if you know what I mean (myth). Well, wrong! Last year, I did an ovarian reserve test as part of freezing my eggs and was told I have over 60% more than what's expected for women my age and the we were able to collect and freeze a sufficient number.

OP, it's good your DD is going to see the paediatrician, who hopefully will refer her to an endocrinologist. Can I recommend the Child Growth Foundation for support and advice? They have an excellent helpline and also an annual parents' convention. They cover lots of different growth issues, of which Precocious Puberty is one. Their website is www.childgrowthfoundation.org and they have a facebook page you can ask to join too. Best of luck.

@sayna NHS but I did my own research and asked the GP to refer us to this specific consultant. Not sure where you are but if Surrey/SW London happy to share his details.

My daughter ended up starting her period in January of year 6 which was fortunately lockdown so she had a few months at home with it. By the time she was back at school she certainly wasn't the only one.

Now year 8 and all her friends have it. Most are around her height of 5'5, a few a bit taller.

@34and3 We are in London. I would appreciate the details thank you.

It’s good that her height is 5’5. Most people are around this anyway at adult height.

We have been told that we will have investigations now so hopefully will get these done soon and think about options.

@Boundlessjoy thats good to hear and reassuring. All the best

Can you afford to go private?

@BungledBundle thank you, I will have a look

My daughter started signs of puberty at 6/7 and started periods a month before her 8 birthday. Luckily she has been seen by endo and is on injections to stop puberty & periods. So relived as a mum that she access to this - really makes you appreciate the NHS

Have you looked at premature adrenarche ? My daughter had it from age 3

@pigwood I don’t think you have breast buds if that ?

@rainydaysandcake I’m sorry to hear she had to deal with this. Did the injections start after she had her period at 8? Has it been long since she started the injections and how is she getting on?

Yes she had her first injection after her 1st period. She was not expected to start so soon.

She had one bleed after the 1st injection, and since then has been fine. She has been absolutely fine with the injections even though they are every 8 weeks. She seems happier, more settled, less emotional. She's had about 6 injections so far

Her growth which was my original concern has started to slow down. Whilst she is only 8, she is the height she should be at 11.

I've been told that we will all jointly agree with the consultant, dd, us when to stop the injections and restart puberty