THERE IS a wide range of ages at which children start puberty. Girls now develop breasts and then pubic hair between the ages of eight and 13 years. Menstrual periods typically start at 12 to 13 years of age.
Boys usually have testicular enlargement and pubic hair between the ages of nine and 14 years. Underarm and facial hair, as well as deepening of the voice, typically occurs between the ages of 13 and 16 years.
Sadly, early sexual development - precocious puberty - seems to be happening everywhere. It's common these days to see nine and 10-year-old girls with developing breasts. Something is seriously amiss. Reports of early puberty have come from many countries including the US, Canada, Britain and the Caribbean. The problem appears to be worse among black children.
In one study of eight year-olds, one in seven white girls and one in two African-American girls had started puberty! This compares with one in 100 a generation ago. Not long ago girls began menstruating between the ages of 14 and 16. Today, the average age of the first menstruation is well under twelve years of age. In another study, 50 per cent of 10 year-old girls were already menstruating.
BOYS AND EARLY PUBERTY
Boys are also experiencing their version of precocious puberty. Today, one in 14 eight year-old boys had pubic hair, in contrast to one in 150 boys of the previous generation.
The development of sexual characteristics in girls signals the onset of major physical and emotional changes. Before they have outgrown dolly houses, many young girls are being faced with the mood swings, hormonal changes, sexual urges and the attention that accompany physical maturation.
Girls who reach puberty earlier tend to have sex earlier, have an increased risk of pregnancy, experience more psychological stress, more behavioural problems, and are more likely to drink, smoke, and commit suicide. For boys, it can mean more aggressive, violent behaviour, learning disabilities and more drug and alcohol abuse.
But the most disturbing consequence of early puberty in females is the increased risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. According to research, the cancer risk associated with menstruation that starts at the age of 10 is about twice that associated with a menstruation starting at the age of 16. In addition, girls having early puberty have increased risks of polycystic ovarian syndrome, menstrual irregularities, acne, excessive facial hair and infertility. Early puberty in boys can increase their incidence of testicular cancer, lower fertility and impaired growth leading to shorter stature.
CAUSES OF PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY
Although authorities act as if this is 'normal', research points to two main culprits for early puberty:
1) Childhood obesity. Precocious puberty seems to be linked to childhood obesity. The increase in obesity in children and the lack of exercise have direct relationship to this problem. Shockingly, 25 per cent of today's children between the ages of six and 19 are overweight or obese.
2) Chemical pollution. There are thousands of manmade chemicals that behave like hormones. Scientists call them hormone disrupters. These chemicals are everywhere - in the food we eat, the water we drink and bathe with and in the air we breathe.
Hormone disrupters, like silent saboteurs, have invaded the highly-sensitive hormonal systems of our children. Whether from toxins in the environment, or hormone-laden meat, poultry and dairy products or chemical-laced foods and household products, exposure to dangerous chemicals has reached a level unprecedented in the entire history of human civilisation.
Researchers in Puerto Rico discovered that girls as young as two years old were developing breasts. This was linked to industrial chemicals used to make plastics. They are found in food packaging and food wrap, toys, medical devices, garden hoses, shoe soles, wires and cables, carpet backing, vinyl tiles, artificial leather, canvas tarpaulins, notebook covers, flea collars, insect repellents, skin creams, hairsprays, nail polish and perfumes.
Commercial beef, poultry and dairy products have the highest levels of hormone disrupters. Livestock today are receiving double the dose of hormones previously allowed. European countries have now banned the importation of hormone-treated US meats although Jamaica still allows such imports.
Unbeknown to many parents,
a few hair products especially some marketed to black women contain small amounts of
hormones. Often listed as having 'placenta' or 'natural hormones' it is possible that they could
also cause premature sexual development in girls.
You may email Dr. Vendryes at Vendryes@mac.com or listen to An Ounce of Prevention on POWER106 FM on Fridays and Saturdays at 8.00 p.m.
