Why more girls are experiencing earlier puberty

[ArabellaScott]

An interesting (and long) article in the New Yorker. Seems the pandemic may have had an effect on puberty onset.

www.newyorker.com/science/annals-of-medicine/why-more-and-more-girls-are-hitting-puberty-early

I also wasn't aware of this:

'During the lockdowns, many children got less sleep and more irregular sleep, and they spent vastly more time in front of the blue light of screens, which inhibited their ability to secrete melatonin. A drop in melatonin can contribute to symptoms of anxiety and depression; it also activates an increase in a protein called kisspeptin, which is another of the trigger hormones for puberty. The melatonin-disrupting effects of blue light may have persisted long past the acute phase of the pandemic.'

I'm 58, and started my periods when I was two months shy of my 16th birthday. My Mum told me she was a similar age. I was (and am) small and slim, as was my mother.

I was still having periods when I was 56.

What is disappointing in the article is that the writer dismisses concerns about Lupron so lightly. She had an opportunity (and in my view an obligation) to look into the use of puberty blockers for precocious puberty, because the evidence base there is almost as poor as it is for using PBs in gender dysphoric children. But I guess that's a step too far since the use of PBs for precocious puberty is what forms the basic justification for its use in treating gender dysphoric children. Can't criticise the former without running the risk of being accused of criticising the latter.

Yes. There was much more to unpack there, I thought, than calcium levels.

I’m very tall and was 5’11 in year 7 but I didn’t start till 15. I was very underweight and was told it was weight not height that has the effect. From memory it was 7.5 stone that was the weight that would trigger periods.

@rainydaysandcake wow 7 that's incredibly young the poor girl I do feel it takes some of their childhood away when they have to deal with periods so young. Things like not being able to go swimming etc when childhood should still be carefree. Never tried them ourselves but I believe you can buy period pants which may help her feel more relaxed and not worry about leaking so much.
My cousin now in her 60s started at age 8.
I'm in my 40s and started at 14 dd was 12. I've been having periods for over 30 years and still hate them and find them a massive nuisance so I feel sorry for girls that are so young.

Period bikini bottoms were a game changer for us for DD! She started hers the month before we went on holiday. Bikini bottoms from Modibodi could be worn with an ordinary bikini top and she could still swim.

@Alcemeg there was much mention in the book also about animals and amphibians being found to have increased numbers of Hermaphrodite individuals, in places where background levels of plastic related pollution were high. Low speed count in humans and many other species was thought to be related also. I should try and find a copy of the book it was really interesting. It was by Deborah Cadbury.

@rainydaysandcake
have you seen a paediatric endocrinologist- 7 I’d think is I the precocious puberty bracket and she may need medical intervention to stop the periods and allow her to achieve her full height and protect her bones.

My dd started her period at 11, she was underweight and short, still is at 18. I was a slightly bigger build than her and definitely weighed more at age 11 when I also started my period.

My twin boys were late to start puberty, first signs were aged 14. They still aren't fully through puberty at 16 much to their annoyance.

Yes. Really fascinating!

I mean, there are species like parrot fish that have always changed sex to compensate for unbalanced M:F ratios. But what's going on now seems to be entirely differentl

Do you live in America? Most people on Mumsnet are British and the practice of injecting livestock with hormones is illegal in the UK I believe

Do you live in America? Most people on Mumsnet are British and the practice of injecting livestock with hormones is illegal in the UK I believe

I was 11, as was my mum, as was my gran (who was born in the 1920s). My DD also started hers at 11 too.

Modibodi teenage ones come in very small sizes. Those have been the biggest hit with my DD. As have their period swimsuits. She is a competitive swimmer and they have been great.

I've been asking this question for years about HRT the peri and menopause but never found an answer. I'd love to know if there is a link to when you started your periods to when you will enter and go through menopause.

Logically my brains says we have xxx amount of eggs so they must have a set timeframe? Fascinating.

You're right! I'm out of date!
Sorry.
Plastics, however, are quite interesting!

Back in the early 1970s, my best friend at school started her periods at age 11. But she was unusual.

I recently found a photo of me aged ~16 ad honestly, by today's standards I look about 9 or 10!

Interesting, I was just discussing the ‘spermageddon’ with DH (no idea how we got onto that!). I started my periods at 13, which seemed average in the early 2000s. I definitely think something is messing with women’s hormones. Which is why they’re much more likely to be overweight and have reproductive issues. The female ‘shape’ has also changed - a lot of fat stored round the middle, thinner limbs, wider shoulders etc.

@ArabellaScott it’s very anecdotal but I know if a few young teen who started their periods just after catching covid. All around 10~12yo. It seems it was also a bit if a surprise for all the mums I know.

What fir me is surprising is that they all seem to have had just one Orion and then stop for several months before starting again. Not the whole cycle is sometimes short/long etc… but 6~9 months Wo anything at all.

I d8nt think that’s surprising seeing that covid has some impact on women menstruation in the first place….

@rainydaysandcake , @MaryGubbins is right. Your daughter falls into the age bracket for precocious puberty. That has implications for her height and her mental wellbeing. I would read up on precocious puberty, talk to an endicrinologist and make an informed choice, in case you have not already done so.

We have two family members who had precocious puberty. One was not medicated. She had body image problems for a while, because she looked so different from her friends. She did not want to do any activities which showed her body (like swimming, gymnastics, etc.). The hormonal changes were also very challenging for her and her family. At a very young age, she had to deal with boys and men hitting on her, because they thought she was much older.

The other girl was medicated and that worked out much better. She never looked much different from her friends, always felt good about her body and her brain had more time to develop before having to deal with puberty. She had more time being a child. There are a lot of things to consider.

Started my period a couple of months before I turned 11.

I'm 50 now and still fucking bleeding.

I'm starting to think it'll never end. 40 fucking years.

Plus the fact that drs don't seem to know (or care) about any implications long term of early menarche.

King John married in 1200, his wife was is thought to have been 12, but could have been anywhere between 9-17. The general rule of thumb for a girl to marry in medieval times was once puberty had started so from roughly age 12.

I don't how or if this changed during the industrial revolution through to modern day.

That was his second wife...whom he 'nicked' from the French king IIRC.

The female ‘shape’ has also changed - a lot of fat stored round the middle, thinner limbs, wider shoulders etc. I have three daughters and I don’t think this describes them or their friends. I started very late and am still waiting for menopause.

I was . DD was nearly 14 and I was so relieved, it totally felt like the right time, she was ready for it