Too Young to Feel So Old

The typical age for the onset of puberty is getting younger and younger in America — and it’s starting to become concerning.

Premature breast development in young girls was associated with a higher risk of depression.

Middle school is already a haunting time for most adolescents, and early onset puberty is not something that’s ever wished on anyone — especially children who are too young.

The medical term is called precocious puberty, and it refers to puberty that occurs before the typical age. Natural puberty occurs in girls between the ages of 8 and 13, and in boys between the ages of 9 and 14, according to WebMD. Girls who have signs of puberty earlier than 8 and boys earlier than 9 are considered to have precocious puberty — and may be at risk for certain conditions as a result.

Early onset puberty can cause a whole host of issues, such as a higher risk of depression in young girls, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics. The study found that premature breast development in young girls was associated with a higher risk of depression. The cause, according to the study, could be due to the effects of hormones, social pressures, or both.

Dr. Biro, a professor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Ohio, said he wasn’t sure girls could go through puberty any earlier.

“We may be approaching a biological minimum,” Biro told The Wall Street Journal.

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Early onset puberty may be a result of rising childhood obesity rates, many sources believe. Childhood obesity has doubled in children in the past 30 years and more than quadrupled in adolescents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Excess fat leads to the release of the hormone estrogen, which can in turn lead to early breast development in young girls, according to WSJ.

The average age for menarche (the start of menstruation in females) has declined from 16 or 17 years to less than 13, according to a National Health and Nutrition Examination survey. This trend of decreasing age is consistent across various ethnic groups and socioeconomic status, according to the study.

Some of the risks of early onset menarche are increased risk of breast cancer, shorter adult stature, reproductive cancers, and behavioral and psychological disorders, the survey reported. Young children who experience earlier puberty can also be subject to teasing or increased pressure to engage in sexual activities they are not mentally prepared for.

Related: Are Our Kids Really That Physically and Emotionally Unhealthy?

The following are some ways for you and your child to get through the difficulty of early onset puberty together.

1.) Talk to Your Pediatrician
Taking your child to the doctor and getting blood tests done is one way to know whether he or she is actually experiencing precocious puberty. Blood tests can determine the increased production of hormones associated with pubertal changes in children, according to Everyday Health.

2.) Discuss Treatment
Available treatments typically arrest the hormones that start puberty and can prolong development until a more appropriate age. Some of the treatments include an injection of leuprolide acetate, or an oral medication known as letrozole, according to Everyday Health.

3.) Talk to Your Child
Puberty is a scary time for children as their bodies begin to change rapidly and hormones run amok. Being honest with them about what they’re experiencing is the best tactic — you can answer their questions and ease any discomfort they may be feeling. Teasing and sexual confusion are likely and parents’ honesty can be incredibly helpful.

Related: You Can’t Talk to Girls About Their Weight

Although it can be frightening, precocious puberty can be treated — and children will benefit from caring parental support during this exciting and important time in their lives.