Beware of Increased Estrogen Exposure

The expert explains the causes and dangers of early menstruation: Beware of increased estrogen exposure

In recent years, the world has been talking about the decline in the age of puberty. In a study published last May, it was stated that the average age of menstruation for individuals born between 2000 and 2005 was 11.9. So what is early menstruation? Why does early menstruation happen? Does early menstruation lead to serious health problems in the future? In Sputnik's news.

In recent years, the world has been talking about the decline in the age of puberty. A study published last May showed that the average age of menstruation for individuals born between 2000 and 2005 was 11.9 years. The rate of early menstruation increased to 15.5. So what is early menstruation? Why does early menstruation occur? Does early menstruation cause serious health problems in the future? What are the rates of early menstruation? How is early menstruation treated? What is early puberty? Turkish Gynecology and Obstetrics Society (TJOD) President Prof. Dr. İsmail Mete İtil spoke exclusively to Sputnik.

'To define precocious puberty, one must first define puberty'

Prof. Dr. İsmail Mete İtil, President of the Turkish Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (TJOD), states that in order to define early puberty, it is first necessary to define puberty and begins his words:

“Puberty is the process of reaching sexual maturity and is a period of physical and psychological development with hormonal changes. In girls, puberty begins between the ages of 8-13 on average and the first menstruation (menarche) usually occurs after breast development (telarche) and other physical changes. Menstruation usually occurs in mid-puberty, about 2-2.5 years after breast growth. If you ask what precocious puberty is, it is when the body goes through puberty at an earlier age than normal. The onset of breast development or menstruation in girls before the age of 8 is medically called “precocious puberty”. The diagnosis of precocious puberty is usually characterized by an early increase in gonadotropin-releasing hormones. These hormones are activated when the hypothalamus in the lower brain stimulates the pituitary during puberty to initiate the release of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. It is extremely important to recognize this condition in time and treat it when necessary.”

'Increasing obesity rates among children is one of the causes of early menstruation'

İtil said that increasing obesity rates, especially among children, is one of the causes of early menstruation and listed the reasons for early menstruation as follows:

“Family history, in other words genetics, is an important determinant of early menstruation. Children whose mothers or sisters have early menstruation are also likely to have early menstruation. One of the reasons for early menstruation is the increasing body fat rate and nutrition in children. Because fat tissue produces estrogen hormone. Obesity and high body mass index can accelerate puberty by increasing estrogen levels. Today, the prevalence of processed foods and foods high in sugar and fat also contribute to the onset of early puberty. Finally, situations such as high stress and conflicts between parents can disrupt hormonal balance in children. Studies show that girls who grow up in stressful home environments enter puberty earlier. This can be interpreted as a rapid adaptation mechanism of the body to environmental challenges.”

'Appearing physically more mature than their peers may cause social adjustment problems'

Prof. Dr. İsmail Mete İtil, President of the Turkish Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (TJOD), said that early menstruation can have some negative consequences on both physical and psychological development, and noted that the fact that children with early menstruation appear physically more mature compared to their peers may create social adaptation problems:

“Early menstruation can have some negative consequences on both physical and psychological development, with height development being the most prominent one. Early menstruation can cause the growth plates in the bones to close early. This causes children to be shorter in height. The hormone estrogen closes the growth plates quickly, so children who menstruate early may complete their growth before reaching their potential adult height. Peer pressure and adjustment problems also have a negative impact on psychological development. Children who experience early puberty may appear physically more mature than their peers. This can create social adjustment problems. Children may be exposed to changes in their bodies at an early age before they are emotionally ready. All these experiences can also create a basis for psychological problems such as anxiety, depression and low self-esteem in girls experiencing early puberty.”

Can early menstruation lead to serious health problems in later life?

İtil stated that early menstruation can increase the risk of some serious health problems in later life:

“Menstruation at an early age leads to increased estrogen exposure. So what does this mean? It prolongs women's lifelong exposure to the hormone estrogen. This increases the risk of developing breast cancer. This is especially because estrogen is a hormone that promotes the growth of breast cells. In order to prevent the negative consequences of early menstruation, it is important to pay attention to environmental and nutritional factors and to control the process with medical intervention when necessary.”

'In some cases, the process of early menstruation may need to be stopped or slowed down'

Prof. Dr. İsmail Mete İtil, President of the Turkish Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (TJOD), said that early menstruation is not always a condition that requires treatment, and whether treatment is needed depends on the severity of the patient's condition, the underlying causes that lead to early menstruation and the general health of the child, while in some cases it may be necessary to stop or slow down the early menstruation process:

“Early menstruation may not always be a condition that requires treatment. However, in some cases, early menarche needs to be stopped or slowed down. In such cases, the first preferred medical treatment method is to use Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Analogs (GnRH). These medications can temporarily stop the puberty process and slow down the development process until the normal age of puberty. They are usually administered as injections once a month or once every three months. Obesity and overweight are important triggers of early puberty. A balanced diet and healthy living habits can help delay this process. It is especially recommended to avoid fast food and high-calorie, fatty foods. In addition, regular exercise is important for both general health and hormonal balance in children.”

'Children need to be equipped with the right information to cope with the physical changes they experience and to overcome this process in a healthy way'

Finally, İtil stated that in order for the child to cope with the physical changes they are experiencing and to get through the process in a healthy way, a simple and supportive language should be used while equipping them with the right information:

“Since children have different levels of knowledge according to their age and developmental level, it is important to avoid complex medical terms and use simple, understandable language when providing information. It is useful to talk to a young child, emphasizing that growth and change are normal during this process. For example, 'Your body is starting to grow and develop, this is normal and healthy'. Of course, the child will also have questions about this process. He/she should be encouraged to ask his/her questions and everything he/she is curious about should be answered. Early menstruation may cause anxiety about the child's appearance and development. For this reason, it is important to support the child's self-confidence and give them a positive perspective on their body. The child can be reassured with sentences such as 'Your body is developing exactly as it should, this is part of a healthy growth process'. Finally, the bodies of children experiencing early puberty develop earlier than their peers. In this case, teach the child that they need to protect their personal boundaries, that their body is private and deserves to be respected. It is also important to inform them about their personal boundaries to protect them from malicious people or inappropriate behavior.”