Adolescence can be confusing for everyone, and even difficult for some. Adapting to physical changes does not make the task easier due to emotional changes. It's all about hormones after all. Puberty typically begins between the ages of 8 and 13 for girls and between the ages of 9 and 14 for boys.
However, recent research shows that Indian children
“Studies have shown that early puberty has increased 15 times over the past 20 years,” says the Department of Urology, Robotic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation at Max Super Specialty Hospital in Vaishali, Ghaziabad. said Dr. Vimal Dassi, Director of .
Although there are multiple possible causes, the recent increase in early puberty is most commonly due to hormonal disturbances in children due to obesity, lack of physical activity, and intake of high-calorie foods. “Many children are becoming obese these days due to lack of physical activity and increased screen time. This is causing early pubertal changes in many children,” Gurugram explains Dr. Ritu Sethi, Deputy Director, Gynecology, Max Hospital, and founder of Aura Specialty Clinic, Gurugram.
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Watch out for the signs
The signs of early puberty are the same as puberty, just the timing is different. According to experts, the signs for girls are breast development, onset of menstruation, and growth of pubic and armpit hair. Similarly, signs in boys include a deepening of the voice, growth of facial, pubic, and axillary hair, enlargement of the penis and testicles, and muscle development.
Common signs for boys and girls include acne, body odor, and growth spurts. So parents should be on the lookout for these signs, says Dr. Sethi.
In some cases, precocious puberty can be a sign of something more serious. “This could be one of the signs of an underlying serious illness, such as in the brain or other tumors or in the gonads. Once a child is diagnosed with precocious puberty, a detailed examination is performed to look for the cause. A thorough family history, testing, and evaluation are required,” explains Dr. Dassi.
While these are concerning, there are other possible physical and emotional effects as well. “A child's growth may accelerate rapidly during early adolescence, but once adolescence ends, a child's growth stops. Therefore, they are likely to be shorter than other children of the same age.” Yes,” says Dr Aruna Kalra, a gynecologist at CK Birla Hospital in Gurugram. “It can also be disconcerting for children who develop faster than other children. These problems can lead to emotional, behavioral, and social problems, and children can suffer from anxiety and depression.” “These children may also be at higher risk of developing substance use disorders and engaging in high-risk behaviors,” she added.
It can also make children more susceptible to stress, eating disorders and disruptive behavior disorders, and may cause them to avoid social situations and lose interest in things they usually enjoy, experts say.
Long-term reproductive health may also be affected, Dr. Dassi says, by increasing “the risk of developing reproductive system cancers, including testicular cancer in men and breast cancer in women.” He also added that “boys who go through early puberty have the potential for sexual abuse.” Some studies also suggest that early puberty in girls may slightly increase their risk of developing breast cancer later in life.
Is there a cure?
Before delving into the treatment, it is important to understand the physiology behind it. There are two main types of precocious puberty.
Central precocious puberty: The more common type of central precocious puberty is exactly like normal puberty, which occurs earlier than normal puberty. This causes the pituitary gland to start producing hormones, causing the ovaries to produce estrogen and the testicles to produce testosterone. These are sex hormones and cause changes during puberty.
Peripheral precocious puberty: Then there is peripheral precocious puberty, which is caused by the hormones testosterone and estrogen and does not involve the pituitary gland or the brain. Generally, this is a problem with the testicles, ovaries, or adrenal glands.
In the case of central precocious puberty, “the main goal is to stop the pituitary gland from producing luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),” Dr. Kalra explains. Both LH and FSH act on processes in the reproductive system. “Treatments include gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, puberty blockers, which are synthetic hormones that work by stopping the production of reproductive and growth hormones,” the expert added.
Although it is impossible to prevent precocious puberty in most cases, “limiting a child's exposure to external reproductive hormones may help prevent precocious puberty.” Such sources may include estrogen and testosterone creams, lotions, and other medications,” says Dr. Kalra. Also, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is key here. “It is preventable in some cases if you maintain a healthy diet and exercise, and your child's BMI is within the normal range,” Dr. Sethi says.
Parent's role
It can be confusing for children, so parents need to take a step forward. “Explain to your child simply and truthfully what is happening. Explain to her that this change is normal and happens to everyone. It's just a little too early. It's also important to watch for teasing and other signs of problems that may be affecting your child's emotions. And avoid commenting on your child's appearance. Please,” suggests Dr. Dassi.
Also, just listen without criticizing and show that you understand. “Your child may compare her body to other peers and feel insecure about her development, shape, and size. So listen to her concerns,” says Dr. Kalra. I will explain. Also, “accept your child's need for privacy and the fact that your child may be exploring their own body through masturbation,” she added.
Children need to be educated about adolescence, early or otherwise, especially in a country like India where reproductive and sexual health is rarely discussed, so children are exposed to information from unreliable sources. There is a possibility that you will start looking for it. Therefore, “talk as openly as possible about the emotions that come with adolescence and its changes. Parents may be shy about discussing these sensitive topics, but children often find it helpful to let them take the lead once in a while.” It’s often a relief,” says Dr. Sethi. So, for parents, it's helpful to brush up on this subject. So before you answer your child's questions, be sure to get answers to your own questions. If you don't feel comfortable talking about adolescence? , practice what you want to say first. Tell your child that it may be a little uncomfortable, but it's important to talk about it,” she added.
