Charlotte noticed signs of early puberty in her daughter Olivia, including breast buds and body odor, which led to a diagnosis of precocious puberty after medical tests. This early onset of puberty, increasingly common among girls, is reflected in recent studies showing a decrease in the average age of menstruation from 12.5 years in the 1950s to 11.75 years today. Factors such as childhood obesity are linked to this trend, though other causes remain unclear. The NHS defines early puberty as signs before age 8 for girls and before 9 for boys. Although the timing of puberty has historically become earlier, with girls now starting periods around 12 years old compared to 16 in the 1800s, concerns about early development persist. For instance, Sarah’s daughter Alice began developing early, but initial tests were inconclusive, and Sarah decided against using puberty blockers due to concerns about side effects.
https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/daughter-period-nine-girls-starting-puberty-younger-3196246
