Conditions
Precocious Puberty
Puberty normally starts at around 10 in girls and 12 in boys and lasts for about five years, during which time all those physical, emotional and psychological changes kick-in that turn children into young adults. With all those hormones boiling away, puberty can be a challenging time for kids and parents alike. But what if those physical changes start happening earlier than usual? And what’s the best way to help kids who seem to be growing up a bit too fast?
In cases of precocious (which just means ‘early’) puberty, boys start developing at nine and girls at eight, and sometimes as young as six. That means a noticeable growth spurt, the appearance of pubic hair and, in girls, the development of breasts and the onset of periods.
Experts have speculated on some possible causes, ranging from stress to a high fat diet, but the simple answer may be that it’s just ‘one of those things.’ It’s much more common in girls than boys, though kids seem generally to be reaching puberty earlier. According to a study in 2000, one in six girls now reach puberty before eight. Precocious puberty is rarely a symptom of any other medical problem, but one possible consequence of an early growth spurt is that kids don’t eventually grow as tall as they might have done. Certain forms of treatment are available to delay and even turn back development for a couple of years. If you are anxious about this, talk to your doctor or paediatrician.
The changes that puberty brings aren’t just physical, of course. They’re also psychological, and younger children may not have the emotional maturity to deal with the sudden onslaught of new feelings, particularly if these are sexual. Again, if necessary, your doctor or paediatrician can advise on possible treatment, but in the vast majority of cases kids manage to weather hormonal storm, and aren’t adversely affected by the early onset of puberty.
Comments and Questions
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Im 13 and havent started my period I have had a discharge on and of for the last 6 months is this normal ?
Hello guys , im still in primary school but i started puberty when i was nine , through two years i have zoomed through puberty and now at the stage of white discharge. I already have loads of pubic hair and stuff. Because i zoomed through it so fast there is a 99% chance that i will start my period very soon. My friend doesent have discharge but she has ph and breasts (i also have them) please help me guys.
one of my nipples has a lump on it and when i squeeze it pus comes out what do i do? it is rather sore aswell.
I have this lump that's under the skin on my nipple it's on both of them and when something hits it hard like me playing the guitar it's hurts
normal, the body is producing your regular puberty hormones. best time to shape up and bulk up those chest muscles. your hormones are kicking. excellent time to work on those pectorial muscles for chest development. buff, define those muscles. It's called: pubertial gynecomastia
iv started my pubity but how do i tell my friend at school and how will i get changed for p.e as we have one big changing room not cubicalls what should i do
Go and get changed in a toilet or stand out the way of big groups of people :D
Ell how old are you if your a girl an your round about 10 that the average age so proberly most of them have if your a boy round 12 proberl most of ur friends have started as well
If you have a real friend you will be able to tell her no problem , if she is a really good friend you should trust her! I was exatly like you once but then i thought , shes a good friend so i told her and then it turned out she was in puberty too! But she was shy to tell me , i think you should tell her and even if she doesent have it she will support you.
Urmm well some times I got too the wee and I have like a wet patch I'm my knickers but I haven't weed my self and I worried its not normal an I'm 13 and I have started my period can you help please :)
could be a weak bladder, are you holding your urine in long before you go? would then jus be a leakage especially if you laugh or do heavy exercie on a full bladder.
I think it is discharge, which is normal.
It's discharge, don't worry I had this problem and so has my family, in which are female. It's normal, just take a spare pair of knickers around with you or wear a small pantyliner. It mainly happened for me about a week or so before my period, keep track of your period and then when you get the discharge then you can make sure that you can absorb the discharge without it getting in your knickers hope this helped :D
I'm scared of starting my period at school any tips ?
hey just take some pads or panties into school in a little pencil case and some clean knikers then you should be fine. hope this helps x
OMG! once you do maybe after a few weeks or so it doesn't bother you it's like a normal routine which you go through every month, Don't worry hunny!
The tips of my breasts change regularly- I sometimes have the normal tip but when I go under cold water or when I've just woken up, the tip gets really small and there's a small pink lump underneath it. Is this normal?
its normal, just your body reacting to temperature.
I haven't started my period yet and I'm scared I'm going to start it in school then my friends would no but I don't want everyone to know?any help
I was scared of this also, and when start school (secondry) I made sure I had pads on me everyday, so when I did begin by period no-one new except my mother and sisters. Later my friends did find out and it was okay because they had also started theirs, we now joke about our periods and its cool to now that my friends are their for me during it ! It gets bettter :) xx
Take a spare change of knickers and a sanitary towel to school in a little pencil case and leave it in your bag. You don't have to tell anyone if you don't want to!
I'm 17 and not hit Puberty yet. Is this normal?
Usually people have had puberty by the time that they are 16 years old. But it depends on your gender, really. But if you are quite worried see your GP.
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