Puberty at AGE 3?

A recent news break reported the story of a girl in the United Kingdom who started puberty at the age of three. (1) Parents noticed a change in the young girl’s body odor, followed by the appearance of breast buds and pubic hair. As her fourth birthday approached, the girl's parents noticed signs that she would soon begin to menstruate. Finally, at the age of six, the child received a diagnosis of precocious puberty.

Fifty years ago, the mean age of menarche (first menstruation) was between 14 and 16 years old. Today in the United States, one in seven caucasian females and one in two African American females will begin menstruating at age 8. These reports are astounding.

Scientists point to many potential causes of precocious puberty, including obesity and increased prevalence of sexual images in media. Stress is also cited as a factor as it causes fluctuations in normal hormone patterns, specifically growth hormone, cortisol, and melatonin. Researchers also theorize that changes in hormones may come from excess electromagnetic radiation due to increased use of electronics.

The largest body of evidence, however, comes from issues concerning hormones found in our environment. Meat, dairy, eggs, plastics, and contaminated water all contain compounds known as xenoestrogens (outside estrogens). These estrogenic chemicals promote precocious puberty and, later in life, an increased risk of breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Resources

1. Daily Mail

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