Over the past century the average age of menarche (or the first period) has moved from 17 to 12.
In recent years, research has suggested some tweens are showing signs of beginning puberty at earlier ages, around seven or eight. The first signs of puberty are breast development and pubic hair growth. Precocious puberty is a term used only when puberty begins prior to the age of eight. While precocious puberty is still considered relatively rare it is thought to be becoming more common, with significant increases seen since 2020.
Causes of precocious puberty and how to avoid
If a child is diagnosed with precocious puberty a doctor will first rule out the possibility of a brain or ovarian tumour, genetic predisposition, or other disease related cause. If none is present, then it is commonly believed early puberty is brought about by several possible factors.
One factor is exposure to endocrine disruptors in the home such as house cleaning products, bathroom products, plastics, pesticides, and flame-retardant furniture or toys. Another factor is increased food intake and increased weight of younger children. Less physical activity and higher stress levels may also be factors, scientists have suggested.
Black children are more likely to experience precocious puberty than white children. Tweens with ovaries are much more likely to see early signs of puberty than tweens with testes.
Puberty begins earlier for most children
Children of eight and under and their parents are often ill-prepared for puberty or the earlier onset of breast development, pubic hair, and eventually menstruation. While in most tweens, there is about a two year gap between breast development and the first period, with precocious puberty there is a smaller gap and the two can happen in rapid succession.
Overall, the age of puberty has dropped for all children by about three months (or a quarter of a year) per decade since the 1970s. So, even if your child does not experience diagnosed precocious puberty, many children are starting puberty earlier than their parents’ experienced and earlier than many expect. Precocious puberty occurs in only one in 5,000 children, but puberty still comes earlier today than it did in years past for the majority.
What are the risks of precocious puberty?
Children who experience puberty earlier are more likely to develop mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. There is also research to suggest earlier hormone exposure leads to high risk of developing certain reproductive cancers in later life.
Our cultural menstrual taboo means that all tweens may experience emotional struggles when they get their first period, but psychological and social immaturity may mean those experiencing this when they are under ten will find the experience more stressful. When the body is maturing at a rate faster than the brain, this can make the child vulnerable in terms of their self-view, and how they are treated socially.
Why you should prepare your child for puberty early and not wait
With this in mind, it is a good idea to start discussing puberty body changes and periods at an earlier age than you may have planned as a parent. Discussing these topics when your child is six or seven and mentally preparing them for the transition will provide a good foundation if and when they do experience precocious puberty or simply an earlier start to puberty than you yourself went through.
If your child gets their first period at 12, as is the average, they will likely start showing signs of puberty at 10, including breast development and pubic hair growth. Rather than waiting til they are almost teenagers or even until after their period appears, starting age appropriate discussions early and adding additional layers of information year to year will provide a strong foundation for a positive, informed puberty experience. It may also support your child in avoiding the negative mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem, which are often seen in tweens whether they start their periods early or not.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/19/science/early-puberty-medical-reason.html
