The causes of premature sexual development
Sexual development in girls is considered premature, if some secondary sexual signs appear before the middle age of their appearance in the population of healthy girls. And now translate from medical to human language. Secondary sex signs are the appearance of menstruation, pubic hair, growth of the mammary glands. According to medical standards, it is considered premature:
- the appearance of menstruation at the age of 10 years and 8 months;
- pubic hair in the age of 9 years;
- Growth of mammary glands under the age of 8 years and 9 months.
The term "early sexual development" is used in cases of the beginning of growth of mammary glands in girls between 8 and 9 years. The causes of premature sexual development in girls may be an increased concentration of female sex hormones with ovarian and adrenal tumors. In such cases, false or peripheral premature sexual development develops. And the true form of premature sexual development occurs most often due to functional changes in the central nervous system. Frequent acute or chronic infections, malnutrition, stress, lack of sleep, high school loads, mugs, sports sections can lead to a malfunction in the central nervous system and "run" the production of female sex hormones at a much higher concentration for a given age. Much less often the cause of the true form of premature sexual development may be brain tumors.
What to do in case of premature sexual development
Undoubtedly, it is a disease that requires careful observation and treatment in a pediatric gynecologist, an endocrinologist, and sometimes a neurologist. The problem is that if a girl starts prematurely menstruation, she stops growing or her growth slows noticeably. Estrogens, produced in a high concentration, not characteristic for a given age, "cover" the growth zones in the epiphyses of tubular bones. Without treatment, the girl will remain short for life. Not to mention the fact that the cause of premature sexual development can be tumors of the brain, ovary or adrenal glands. And these terrible diseases require surgical treatment.
In addition, the psychological moment is also important. Imagine a six-year-old girl with developed mammary glands, pubic and axillary hair, with developed hips. She should use gaskets and very often she simply does not understand what is happening to her. She is different from other children, laughing at her, pointing with her finger. After all, children are often cruel.
Premature sexual development can be complete, when the girl has all the secondary sexual characteristics. In this case, hormonal treatment is required. And it can also be partial (not complete), when only the mammary glands are isolated in isolation or only the hairiness appears. With these conditions, hormonal treatment is not advisable. Such girls should be observed in the children's gynecologist and endocrinologist.
If hormonal treatment is necessary, it must be started as soon as possible, when diagnosing. Prescribe drugs that inhibit the production of female sex hormones in the ovaries and adrenal glands and "turn off" the menstrual function. Finish hormonal treatment for bone age 11.5 - 12 years. If the cause of premature sexual development in girls is a tumor - you need surgical treatment. After treatment, secondary sexual characteristics gradually pass, usually within 6 - 9 months. In addition, a diet, exercise therapy, sanation of chronic foci of infection, adequate nutrition, sleep 8 - 9 hours a day, the elimination or minimization of stress, psychotherapy is shown.
The main thing when setting the girl's diagnosis of premature sexual development is not to panic! Be patient and unquestioningly follow the recommendations of doctors. The prognosis with timely and correct treatment is favorable. Girls, as a rule, grow up healthy and happy. Is this what we want for our children?