@ Puberty starts earlier. No one knows why.

[Velar Fricative]

TW: Some mentions of sexual abuse. The article mostly focuses on girls.

www.nytimes.com/2022/05/19/science/early-puberty-medical-reason.html

A decade later, she published a study of more than 17,000 girls who underwent physical examinations at pediatricians offices across the country. The numbers revealed that, on average, girls in the mid-1990s had started to develop breasts — typically the first sign of puberty — around age 10, more than a year earlier than previously recorded. The decline was even more striking in Black girls, who had begun developing breasts, on average, at age 9.



The medical community was shocked by the findings, and many were doubtful about a dramatic new trend spotted by an unknown physician assistant, Dr. Herman-Giddens recalled. “They were blindsided,” she said.


But the study turned out to be a watershed in the medical understanding of puberty. Studies in the decades since have confirmed, in dozens of countries, that the age of puberty in girls has dropped by about three months per decade since the 1970s. A similar pattern, though less extreme, has been observed in boys.

...........

No one knows what risk factor — or more likely, what combination of factors — is driving the age decline or why there are stark race- and sex-based differences. Obesity seems to be playing a role, but it cannot fully explain the change. Researchers are also investigating other potential influences, including chemicals found in certain plastics and stress. And for unclear reasons, doctors across the world have reported a rise in early puberty cases during the pandemic.

[Saudade]

I did my psych BA thesis on this in the early 2000s.

There was significant evidence back then but it was very difficult to find. The main source had published a paper in the mid 90s suggesting that it was a evolutionary change, specifically in girls from low-income or unstable backgrounds, as it would allow them to reproduce sooner, thus ensuring their DNA is passed along.

[mcsangel2]

I could have sworn that years and years ago (like 20+?) I heard it was attributed to the hormones given to dairy cows, thus being present in cow's milk. Is that theory debunked now?

[fernweh]

May 19, 2022 12:36:07 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

I could have sworn that years and years ago (like 20+?) I heard it was attributed to the hormones given to dairy cows, thus being present in cow's milk. Is that theory debunked now?

This is what I had heard back then too. But now that I think about it I haven’t heard anything since that time so maybe they did debunk.

[fivechickens]

@@@

My kids are 11 year old triplets.

D2 was fully developed by 9 and started her period a week after her 10th birthday.

D1 & D3 are no where near as developed today as D2 is.

[msmerymac]

I haven't read the full article, but I've also heard musings of screen time and whether blue light affecting circadian rhythms plays a role, which would certainly fit into the pandemic issue.

[Velar Fricative]

May 19, 2022 12:36:07 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

I could have sworn that years and years ago (like 20+?) I heard it was attributed to the hormones given to dairy cows, thus being present in cow's milk. Is that theory debunked now?

I remember this theory but it seems like hormones are less available in milk these days, but there's no evidence that this is being reversed on a large scale. So I don't know.

[picksthemusic]

@@@

DD turned 10 in September, and had been developing breasts since she was 9. She has had armpit hair since she was 6 due to adrenarche (not precocious puberty).

She started her first menstrual cycle on New Years.

Her pediatrician did not seem worried, and just said that once the breasts start developing, the period isn't far behind.

[dulcemariamar]

I couldn’t get behind the paywall of the article. Is this true worldwide or just in the States?

[abs]

Can confirm.

DD started her period at 10 (3 months away from her 11th birthday). I saw stress mentioned as a possible reason and that would definitely check out.

I do definitely recommend starting puberty talk with your girls early.

[macmars45]

I started my period in March of 5th grade (I was 11) back in 1997. I had breast buds in 3rd/4th grade. My twin sister didn't start hers for a few more years.

Please start puberty talk early for anyone with daughters! I thought I was dying for 3 days until I finally went to my mom. The menstruation movie & chat at school that only girls had to attend was May of 5th grade so too late for me.

[konapoppy]

May 19, 2022 13:38:36 GMT -5 dulcemariamar said:

I couldn’t get behind the paywall of the article. Is this true worldwide or just in the States?

I skimmed. The article talks a lot about trends in Copenhagen. Certainly the obesity/weight link is more prevalent here.

It also says this:
And for unclear reasons, doctors across the world have reported a rise in early puberty cases during the pandemic.

[Gato]

May 19, 2022 14:27:40 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

May 19, 2022 13:38:36 GMT -5 dulcemariamar said:

I couldn’t get behind the paywall of the article. Is this true worldwide or just in the States?

I skimmed. The article talks a lot about trends in Copenhagen. Certainly the obesity/weight link is more prevalent here.

It also says this:
And for unclear reasons, doctors across the world have reported a rise in early puberty cases during the pandemic.

They thought the change in Denmark girls' puberty might be due to an increase in phlatates, but there haven't been any comprehensive studies of this yet.

[chickadee77]

Yup - my oldest is about to turn 8, and while the pedi says she doesn't have breast buds or physical signs of precocious puberty, she complains of breast ache and feeling like they're "moving around when I run." Combined with a few other not-quite-symptoms, I'm expecting her to menstruate on the early side. I know I started between grades 5/6, so I figure it's coming.

[rupertpenny]

Could part of this just be better nutrition in general? I was going to say that I don't think many kids in the US or Denmark were malnourished in the 70s, but I actually have no idea. I'm sure most had better food access than their parents did during adolescence in both countries (depression, WWII, etc).

[sent]

I had my child tested. She was stinky and getting acne at age 6/7. The pediatrician mentioned it was a world wide trend mainly because of better nutrition. She is 8.5 and we are ok for now. I got mine right after I turned 11. I was so mad, I really wanted to be one of those girls who were 16 or 17 when it happened. 

My hypothesis is that there is bad stuff in everything these days messing with our systems. Even if milk doesn't have hormones, our meat and veggies have chemicals added while growing. Buying organic doesn't necessarily mean organic. Everything we touch and also eat is wrapped in plastic. It would be interesting to know what is happening with the girls in communities that don't have so much modernization, like maybe the Amish.

[NewOrleans]

I am paywalled. But I think we are evolving. Or maybe devolving. I think it is a trauma response.

[TR]

May 19, 2022 16:58:44 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

I am paywalled. But I think we are evolving. Or maybe devolving. I think it is a trauma response.

I feel like delayed puberty would make more sense in that case. Like, the species trying NOT to procreate bc things are terrible. Like how extreme stress or illness can stop ovulation/menstruation.

[penguingrrl]

That’s curious. My family has had a long history of early puberty (my mom got her period at 10, as did my sister and my middle child), but I definitely feel like my kids were less alone in going through puberty early than I was. I’m interested to see if we can figure out what’s causing it.

[AdaraMarie]

My anecdote is that my older kid, who went through traumatic stuff, seems to be developing at the same rate as I did. She hasn't gotten her period yet, but she is a couple months younger than I was so I think she will be the same as me or later (almost 12).
My younger kid had breast buds at 7 and has actual breasts now at 9/3rd grade. They are tiny but for sure more than "buds." I am just hoping that she doesn't start her period while she is still in elementary (5th grade here) but I think it is a real possibility.

[momof2ms]

I largely side eye this as truly happening and/or that anything we determine as “early puberty” is truly a concern. Way too many factors in play, even as I totally understand people see the data trend from certain angles.

[missva]

Societies with longer lifespans procreate later and when lifespan was lower, it made sense to procreate earlier. So this trend does not seem to line up with our increasing lifespans. It is interesting.

Anecdote - I have the opposite problem with my DS. He's almost 14 and no signs of puberty,

[StrawberryBlondie]

May 19, 2022 14:14:51 GMT -5 macmars45 said:

Please start puberty talk early for anyone with daughters! I thought I was dying for 3 days until I finally went to my mom. The menstruation movie & chat at school that only girls had to attend was May of 5th grade so too late for me.

Ours was in spring of 6th grade. 6th!!!

I specifically remember our teacher starting out the discussion with "this is probably too late for the bulk of you" but onward we continued.

[sonrisa]

May 19, 2022 23:47:43 GMT -5 momof2ms said:

I largely side eye ... that anything we determine as “early puberty” is truly a concern

This is a strange response.

As someone whose child started sweating like a teenage boy at the same time she potty trained (late on one, very early on the other), and has been monitored by the doctor's office for signs of precocious puberty since preschool, I promise you precocious puberty is a real thing. And it has real health implications. We have been lucky that so far it's only been sweating, not precocious puberty. 

[bears]

May 19, 2022 14:14:51 GMT -5 macmars45 said:

Please start puberty talk early for anyone with daughters! I thought I was dying for 3 days until I finally went to my mom. The menstruation movie & chat at school that only girls had to attend was May of 5th grade so too late for me.

Turning Red was my reminder to explain periods *again* to my fourth grader, in a lot of detail, so she wouldn't be frightened when it happened to her. I'm hoping her experience is like mine--developed breasts around 12 and didn't get my period until 15 or 16.

[dancelnow]

May 19, 2022 16:15:28 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

Could part of this just be better nutrition in general? I was going to say that I don't think many kids in the US or Denmark were malnourished in the 70s, but I actually have no idea. I'm sure most had better food access than their parents did during adolescence in both countries (depression, WWII, etc).

I need to find the article that I read. One part of puberty starting is sufficient body fat (which is why anorexic or over exercised athletes may not get theirs). Higher body weight in kids fulfills one of those prereqs for puberty.

[basilosaurus]

May 19, 2022 13:15:05 GMT -5 picksthemusic said:

@@@

DD turned 10 in September, and had been developing breasts since she was 9. She has had armpit hair since she was 6 due to adrenarche (not precocious puberty).

She started her first menstrual cycle on New Years.

Her pediatrician did not seem worried, and just said that once the breasts start developing, the period isn't far behind.

I got my breast buds at 10. Period at 14. I do remember the pediatrician asking about discharge.

I think no one really knows.

[basilosaurus]

May 21, 2022 22:49:21 GMT -5 dancelnow said:

May 19, 2022 16:15:28 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

Could part of this just be better nutrition in general? I was going to say that I don't think many kids in the US or Denmark were malnourished in the 70s, but I actually have no idea. I'm sure most had better food access than their parents did during adolescence in both countries (depression, WWII, etc).

I need to find the article that I read. One part of puberty starting is sufficient body fat (which is why anorexic or over exercised athletes may not get theirs). Higher body weight in kids fulfills one of those prereqs for puberty.

I was taught this, too. My personal experience was that I menstruated before I hit that magic weight. IIRC it was 96#. I think I was somewhere around 80# at menarche. I think there is a lot of inexact science going on here.

[Jalapeñomel]

May 19, 2022 14:14:51 GMT -5 macmars45 said:

I started my period in March of 5th grade (I was 11) back in 1997. I had breast buds in 3rd/4th grade. My twin sister didn't start hers for a few more years.

Please start puberty talk early for anyone with daughters! I thought I was dying for 3 days until I finally went to my mom. The menstruation movie & chat at school that only girls had to attend was May of 5th grade so too late for me.

I’d also say you should talk to your sons about menstruation as well.

[macmars45]

May 22, 2022 5:56:18 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

May 19, 2022 14:14:51 GMT -5 macmars45 said:

I started my period in March of 5th grade (I was 11) back in 1997. I had breast buds in 3rd/4th grade. My twin sister didn't start hers for a few more years.

Please start puberty talk early for anyone with daughters! I thought I was dying for 3 days until I finally went to my mom. The menstruation movie & chat at school that only girls had to attend was May of 5th grade so too late for me.

I’d also say you should talk to your sons about menstruation as well.

For sure. My H and I are having continuing conversations with our DS(6) about puberty for all sexes.

However, as in this discussion I was speaking to my experience as a young girl who needed to know about it so I wouldn't think I was dying at 11. I'd prefer other people who menstruate young don't have that same experience. My son will not be bleeding from his non existent vagina at 11.