What Causes Girls to Enter Puberty Early?

[Alyssa]

I got my period at 11 and started developing breasts in 6th grade. This was the early '90s. I do remember a lot of girls coming back from Summer vacation between 7th and 8th grade and they suddenly looked like young women. I always thought I started on the young side. Now I guess I would be considered average. My daughter is 5, and I'm definitely worried about this happening to her in the next few years.

[Daria Morgandorffer]

Feb 5, 2015 13:50:49 GMT -5 eclaires said:

I remember being one of the last in my class. I was the youngest too, but I was 13 and in 8th grade when I got my first period. It seemed like we had one girl around 9/10 in 4th and then the rest were mostly 5/6/7 at the 10-13 range.

This was me- point for point. I vividly remember sitting in 8th grade English class and realizing that I had just started. I nearly cried tears of joy. 

[Velar Fricative]

I wish we knew for sure what actually causes early puberty. Even my family is weird. Both my baby sister and I got our periods at 11 (although I was a week shy of 12). Middle sister got hers after just turning NINE. I remember my mom (and my sister) freaking out.

My sister did hit a very early growth spurt and then stopped growing in height fairly early, so she was pretty tall at the age. I was too but I continued to grow into the Jolly Green Giant through high school too.

[lys]

Weight, heredity and ethnicity play huge rolls.

[pt716]

Feb 5, 2015 11:56:10 GMT -5 ijack said:

So what's actually really interesting is that puberty is also tied to when you get your teeth as an infant (for both boys and girls). If you're an early teether, you're going to hit puberty earlier.
I was BF and didn't hit puberty until I was 14. My first friend was 10, we were in 5th grade and it sucked for her
I thought there had been studies that showed that hormones in milk and meat were connected to earlier puberty?

Huh. I got my teeth early, but got my period at 14. Lol, I actually had all my wisdom teeth before my period.

[anastasia517]

For horror stories, my sister's best friend in high school started her period when she was 8. While being babysat by a teenage male cousin. And she had no idea what a period was at the time. So her male cousin had to explain it all to her at the time because she was (obviously) freaking out.

*shudder*

[MrsAxilla]

Feb 5, 2015 19:34:40 GMT -5 pistolshrimp said:

Feb 5, 2015 10:14:04 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

I have the anecdotal feels, too. I'm suspicious of milk, in particular. It contains growth hormone, for Pete's sake! At least it won't hurt anything to give the kiddos organic, non-hormonal milk.

There is no such thing as non-hormonal milk, unless you're talking about a plant-based milk (soy, almond, etc.) If your milk comes from a mammal, it contains hormones.

I was talking about growth hormones.

[MrsAxilla]

Feb 5, 2015 20:13:42 GMT -5 pistolshrimp said:

Feb 5, 2015 20:04:48 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

I was talking about growth hormones.

So was I. All milk contains growth hormones along with all the other hormones produced by the mammal's body.

Artificial growth hormones - rBGH. The organic milk I buy doesn't have rBGH.

[MrsAxilla]

Feb 5, 2015 20:52:44 GMT -5 pistolshrimp said:

Feb 5, 2015 20:41:15 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Artificial growth hormones - rBGH. The organic milk I buy doesn't have rBGH.

How do you know it doesn't? 

I test all my milk in my lab in my basement.

[taratru]

Feb 5, 2015 21:05:28 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Feb 5, 2015 20:52:44 GMT -5 pistolshrimp said:

How do you know it doesn't? 

I test all my milk in my lab in my basement.

You've got that set up right next to your meth oven, yeah?

[MrsAxilla]

Feb 5, 2015 21:12:35 GMT -5 taratru said:

Feb 5, 2015 21:05:28 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

I test all my milk in my lab in my basement.

You've got that set up right next to your meth oven, yeah?

What else should I do with all that sudafed?

[doobeedoo]

Feb 5, 2015 11:56:10 GMT -5 ijack said:

So what's actually really interesting is that puberty is also tied to when you get your teeth as an infant (for both boys and girls). If you're an early teether, you're going to hit puberty earlier.
I was BF and didn't hit puberty until I was 14. My first friend was 10, we were in 5th grade and it sucked for her
I thought there had been studies that showed that hormones in milk and meat were connected to earlier puberty?

Great.  Both DDs were VERY early teethers.  So much so that with DD1, when I told the Ped that I suspected she was teething at her 12 week appt, the Ped looked at me like I had 3 heads.  But sure enough...the little teeth started poking out.  She is almost 10 and yea, changes are happening.  I guess I need to have the "talk" soon, huh?

[Deleted]

I was 10 when I got my period but my boobs had been sore for almost two years before that. Pinky started hers last month and has been wearing a bra for about two years.

Since this is now the anecdote thread lol

[origami]

I started mine at close to 14 (I actually don't remember when it was) but it felt like I was 104 because I was the very last in my class. I still don't need a bra except to give myself fake boobs.

Anyway, I'm confused about soy. My friend's DD had to see a doctor for precocious puberty and was advised to eliminate soy. Do people now think soy helps delay puberty in girls?

[starlily]

I got my period when I was 10. I wasn't even slightly overweight and didn't need a bra, or got body hair, for another year or two. I didn't drink a lot of milk, but what we did drink was rGBH free, and soy wasn't A Thing yet back then. My mom didn't start her period that early. I think I just had shitty luck.

I hope that teething thing is true. Both my girls were/are late teethers, and I'd love it if they got their periods later than I did. It sucked.

[stealthmom]

Feb 5, 2015 13:06:06 GMT -5 elleblue said:

So if stress could be one of the factors, perhaps all the academic pressure kids are facing earlier and earlier is contributing in some way?


That's interesting about the teething link. I was an early teether but didn't get my period until I was fourteen. #anecdoteftw

yes. If it's stress korean and chinese girls should be getting mega early periods. Personally I don't buy it.

[macmars45]

I got my period in March of 1996 (5th grade) when I was 11. It sucked so bad. My twin sister didn't get hers for 2 more years. Lucky duck. We're fraternal and have totally different body types (me with curves, her very slender).

[schitzengiggles]

Feb 5, 2015 11:56:10 GMT -5 ijack said:

So what's actually really interesting is that puberty is also tied to when you get your teeth as an infant (for both boys and girls). If you're an early teether, you're going to hit puberty earlier.
I was BF and didn't hit puberty until I was 14. My first friend was 10, we were in 5th grade and it sucked for her
I thought there had been studies that showed that hormones in milk and meat were connected to earlier puberty?

That is interesting! Although, there must always be exceptions lol
My DD1 was a late teether...no teeth until after 12 months. She is turning 8 this month and is already starting to develop a little. She's very self-conscious about it :-(