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Precocious puberty: an update on this phenomenon
They have adolescent bodies when they are still little girls. Precocious puberty is an increasingly frequent phenomenon which leaves parents and children often destitute. ” My 8 year old younger daughter already has breasts, it started a few months ago. Other comrades in the school are in the same situation », Confides this mother on our Facebook page. “ My pediatrician told me that my daughter was overweight and that it could promote the onset of hormonal problems like precocious puberty, since we are trying to change the lifestyle of the family Another mother reports. According to specialists, precocious puberty is defined by the development of the breasts before 8 years old in girls and the increase in testicular volume before 9 years old in boys.. It is more often seen in girls than in little boys. This phenomenon goes hand in hand with advancing age of first period that we observe in all industrialized countries. Today, adolescent girls are on average around 12 and a half years old, compared to 15 years ago two centuries ago.
Premature puberty: medical causes …
How to explain this phenomenon ? A serious medical cause is found in about 5% of cases in girls and more frequently in boys (30 to 40%). It can becyst, ofa malformation of the ovaries, which cause puberty early. More serious, a tumarara cerebral (benign or malignant) is sometimes at the origin of this disorder. Puberty is triggered by the secretion of hormones by two glands located in the brain: the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. A lesion (not necessarily malignant) at this level can therefore upset the process. All these medical causes imperatively justify consulting a pediatric endocrinologist.. It is only after having eliminated these possible anomalies that one can conclude to a ” idiopathic central precocious puberty », That is to say without a detectable cause.
Precocious puberty: the impact of endocrine disruptors
Precocious puberty is in many cases linked to the influence of environmental factors, such as weight gain or endocrine disruptors (EEP).
Gradual weight gain from an early age with a rebound in the body curve around 3-4 years is very often responsible for precocious puberty in girls. Very early on, weight gain causes metabolic and hormonal changes in the body that can disrupt the functioning of many organs.
As for endocrine disruptors, their impact is increasingly suspected : these substances released into the environment disrupt the hormonal system by mimicking the action of certain hormones. There are different types of PEE: some are of natural origin like the phytoestrogens present in soybeans, but the majority come from the chemical industry. The pesticides and industrial pollutants to which bisphenol A belongs, now banned in France (but replaced by its cousins the BPS or BPB hardly better), are part of it. These products can act either by mimicking a hormone and by triggering its receptor, such as estrogen, which activates the growth of the mammary gland, or by blocking the action of a natural hormone. Many studies have found an association between early puberty in girls and exposure to certain PEEs, mainly phthalates and pesticides DDT / DDE. They are also involved in the increase of genital malformations in boys (absence of descent of the testicles, etc.).
What to do if you suspect precocious puberty?
If your child is showing signs of puberty at an unusual age, it is important to see a pediatrician or doctor promptly. pediatrician endocrinologist. The latter will analyze the growth curve noted in the health record, have an X-ray of the hand and wrist performed to determine bone age and, in addition in the girl, request a pelvic ultrasound to measure the uterus and ovaries. . The specialist may also order a blood test and a brain MRI to confirm the diagnosis and clarify the cause. These examinations will make it possible to assess the risks of precocity and to decide on the management. One of the consequences of precocious puberty is short stature in adulthood, the growth peak having occurred prematurely. Currently, a very effective treatment acts directly on the central control of puberty (the pituitary gland) by blocking its activity and thus makes it possible to suspend the progress of puberty. However, it is useful to remember that the management of precocious puberty is actually done nyaya nenyaya. Because, beyond the physiological aspect, there is also the psychological dimension. The way in which the child experiences his physical transformations and the experience of the family must be taken into account. Psychological support is sometimes necessary to overcome these early physical and psychological upheavals.