PLEASE, Please, Please have your daughter screened by a knowledgeable physician (preferrably an endocrinologist) for a possible thyroid imbalance!

I too started developing very early at 9 and started menstruating at 10. It wasn't until I was 17 and 18 and clinically depressed, suicidal, unable to function at school, and sleeping all the time that my loving and very concerned parents found the right doctor who put me on thyroid medicine. Within 6 months I was back to normal. I felt kind of like Sleeping Beauty awakening from a long, weird sleep! We found out at this time that early puberty is a symptom of thyroid disorder in girls.

I'm not lying, this really happened to me!

It may not be what is causing your daughter's early puberty, but I would hate for her to have to go through what I did.

Be sure you find a doctor who is knowledgeable about thyroid disorders. It is probably best if you ask for a referral to an endocrinologist than try to go through your pediatrician or family doctor. Thyroid disorders affect so much of our health and well-being and are very prevalent (10-20% of the population), as well as hereditary. Yet medical knowlege seems to be slight about its signs and syptoms in the general medical population.

mbg1968, your reply is right on target. My sister suffered for 10 years before finding a physician (in the emergency room) who recognized the cause of her symptoms - Graves Disease (thyroid). She is in remission; however, a great deal of damage had already been caused - osteoporosis for one. She is 50 but has the bones of someone 85.

As you mentioned, problems with the thyroid often go undiagnosed. We are thankful for an overworked emergency room doctor who took the time to really talk to my sister and do the necessary tests.

It is also possible to go through puberty that early and have everything be just fine (I did).

While this mother shouldn't alarm her daughter ("we have to get you to the doctor to make sure nothing is wrong with you!"), a checkup is still smart. A caring female doctor can explain to the daughter the changes that her body will continue to go through over the next few years.

Meanwhile, take every opportunity to praise your daughter for things she does well, because going through these changes early is VERY difficult. There's the teasing from classmates, and then the fact that growing limbs can make a young body extremely clumsy. Be supportive, loving, and encourage her to talk about ANY body worries with you or another trusted female (a caring aunt, family friend, or older sister).

Another factor in young girls developing early is race and weight. African-American girls usually develope earlier and if your daughter is overweight that also induces puberty early. My daughter is 8 and has started to develope breasts and is growing pubic and armpit hair. Her doctor says she is fine, but overwieght and that is what started her development. She also has friends (who are twin girls) who are 10 and they have started their menstral cycles, they are a little overwieght and African-American. I was concerned when I saw them starting to develope so early, but my mom reminded me that I also started young, so genetics also play a role. So I would suggest to have her checked out and discuss your concerns with her Pediatrician. But don't be overly worried as she will read your concern and start fretting over things herself and being self-conscience, this would be a bigger hinderance to her growth than developing early.

Wow, thanks for posting that...unrelated, but I also suffered from a thyroid problem from several years, and after having my thyroid gland surgically removed and starting replacement pills, I too "felt kind of like Sleeping Beauty awakening from a long, weird sleep". I'm so glad to hear someone else felt that because no one I know can relate! Thanks.

I agree. I developed at age 9 and began menstrating at age 10. I was not overweight by an means and was very physically active. I had no problems except extreme cramping in high school. Boys were attracted to me in grade school due to my bust size (B cup). They tried to "touch" them until my father went to the school and put a stop to it. I knew at a young age what boys were interested in. Eventually, other girls caught up and I wasn't emotionally scared.

I have three daughter and each one began menstrating in 5th grade. All three are now in high school and every thing has been fine with them as well.

Don't be too concerned. It does happen. It may be genetic or just how your daughter was wonderfully created!

Could the shock be more from society's perception of when puberty occurs vs nature's actuality? Consider how long it took for American television to show a married couple in the same bed together? Little Ricky had to come from somewhere or "Lucy, you got some 'splaining to do."

Perhaps accepting that sexual maturity occurs early than what we would like to believe it does, is a great opportunity to teach sexual responsibility before disaster happens.

I do not see any scare in your daughter developing so young. I am 23 years old and I too got my period when I was 10. I had the biggest boobs in my class and was teased a little about it, no big deal.

Today I am not the least bit overweight, I am in great shape and have never had a problem

Dear worried mother,

Please don't worry so much and assume anything. I started at a very early age as did 2 other sisters. I was only eight when I started menstrating. Although the age for this is between 12 to 14, it is not uncommon. This doesn't mean there is something wrong with your daughter. Taking your daughter in for a full checkup is the right thing to do. But don't scare her with unknown symptoms until you know for sure. This is a scary for her as it is.

I was interested in learning that race may affect the development age of young ladies. I am the adoptive mother of a young girl from India. We have no knowledge of her medical background other than she was malnourished in her young formative years. She began menstruating recently at age 9 and I was very concerned. We have had her in for regular physicals and check ups and knew she had begun to develop very early, she too had armpit hair and body odor and breasts very young. Does any one know if Asian women tend to develop early? She has been a trooper about the whole thing and we speak very frankly about the changes going on in her body when she started wearing bras before all of her classmates. She has had her thyroid checked and there seem to be no other physical problems relating to this. I'm very relieved to know I'm not alone in this.

My mother started early...around 10 years old. This was back in 1951. Her mother had never told her about her body or the changes that were coming because she was so young. Not only did she start menstruating young, but she had severe pain, significant blood loss, and endometreosis. However, she was perfectly healthy otherwise. My mother was concerned the same thing would happen to me, so she prepared me for it at around age 9. Unfortunately for me, I had to wait until I was 12 for it to finally happen. I developed breasts before the other girls and they were envious. I would definitely get her checked out by a physician and educate her about her body, but it is very possible that she is perfectly healthy and the other girls only tease her because they are jealous.

I too started menstrating at 10. I dont know if I was the first in my class because I was very shy and didnt talk much so never asked. My aunt started when she was nine. I also developed large breasts early on and when boys noticed I started wearing very baggy clothes. It wasnt until I was 21 that I started wearing girlier clothes. I too have a thyroid problem (graves disease) but am not sure that had anything to do with the menstrating "early". I put early in quotes because I am not sure 10 is early. I agree that you both should have a talk with her pediatrician. I also think you should have a talk with her about dealing with bullies and teasing. Children can find any difference to tease a child about. Whether it is glasses, weight or breasts.

Is there any particular reason you are resurectting long dead threads?