"It was very alarming. She's a little kid," says Laura Christian, mother.
Laura Christian is talking about her daughter, who wants to be called "Cindy" for this story, is like any other 9-year-old in most ways...she likes to play video games and sports and hang out with friends.
What's alarming is, unlike many other girls her age, she already started to hit puberty. "Looking at your child and going, 'wait a minute, we didn't even have a chance to be a child practically. This baby hasn't been a baby for very long.'"
The change started during kindergarten, around five years old Cindy started getting body hair. Soon her breasts started growing. She developed breasts and she had a growth spurt.
Cindy noticed the differences between her and the other kids. "I'm taller than most girls because of the problem."
Laura brought her daughter to specialists at Children's Hospital LA, where bone and blood tests proved that she was maturing at a fast rate; something we're seeing more and more these days. "Nowadays, we're seeing girls start breast development earlier and earlier," says Dr. Pisit Pitukcheewanont, pediatric endocrinologist.
It's called premature puberty, and it's happening to girls all over the world. we are not sure why.
Some experts feel it may be because more girls are obese. "Obesity would trigger to get your puberty earlier because of the production of the sex steroid," says Dr. Pitukcheewanont.
Another possibility: chemicals in our environment, researchers are studying the effects of things we're all exposed to: flame retardants, pesticides, and plastics...on the hormone system of young children.
Whatever the cause, many girls start their period too early, and some experts say that leads to health risks.
It didn't happen to Cindy because she was diagnosed correctly and got treatment.
A patch was implanted under her skin which it releases hormones that keep maturity at bay for the time being.
Laura also helps, emotionally with honesty and support. "Always having that open door and being able to communicate about that has been very helpful, but yes, we very much had the birds and bees discussion early on."
Cindy is glad the treatment is working. "It makes me feel not different. It makes me feel I am the same as everybody else."
Girls should not hit puberty until around thirteen. If they mature too quickly it could harm their hearts and other organs; and of course it could be due to obesity which causes other risks.
If anyone in your family or anyone you know is maturing physically too quickly get them checked out. Simple tests can diagnose and lead to treatment.
Holding off puberty will protect them from health risks and help make sure their emotions and bodies mature at the same rate; which is also very important.
