Daughters & PCOS

alexander4372 · 04-14-2008, 12:02 AM

I was just wondering if any of you that have daughters when did you notice them start to go through puberty? My 8 year old is getting pubic hair already. Is this normal or does this seem early to you all.

sarahgmac · 04-14-2008, 12:08 AM

8 is a little early. I had pubic hair at 5. Thank God my daughter does not have that problem. I am not sure exactly what age, but I know it is supposed to be the first step towards puberty. I would watch her for signs of PCOS.

alexander4372 · 04-14-2008, 01:14 PM

I was thinking its a little early too.

Just hoping she doesn't get PCOS too.

Bianca · 04-14-2008, 05:42 PM

I am pregnant with a little girl right now and I seriously hope that she doesn't end up with PCOS.

sarahgmac · 04-14-2008, 05:56 PM

I hope your daughter doesn't have pcos. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. But if she does, or one of my three girls has pcos, at least they will be informed. It will still suck, but it won't take until they TTC for them to be diagnosed. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 28. And I have had pcos symptoms since 11. My mother knew there was "something" wrong, but the drs never even considered pcos.

Jashobeam · 04-15-2008, 07:16 PM

Early puberty doesn't seem linked to PCOS by itself. Low birth weight on the other hand, can be associated with early puberty, IR, and PCOS symptoms.

There is a debate about how "early" is early for puberty. Some say 8 is fine, others say all should be checked for endocrine and other disorders.

DD had her insulin levels tested, and will have it done again before Kindy. PCOS runs in our family, so we are going to watch DD for signs of it.

Check out this site: Your child and PCOS, info and support thread

I think we can pass it to boys, also, so all moms should be aware of the possible risks to their children even if they don't have girls.

sallyn · 05-18-2008, 12:14 AM

i'm 27 right now and i hit puberty really early. by the time i was 8, i started getting my boobs, lol (ironically, i was always small chested until recently) and AF made her first wonderful visit to me when i was 10 (on a family vacation of all times). i have had symptoms of pcos since around that time. i had the wonderful mustache thing going on by then and i'd always had body hair. it just got more around that time. i've been hearing though that the average age to hit puberty now is a little bit younger than it was when i was an adolescent. at that time, the average age was around 14 or so. i don't know if that helps you any, but it's a little bit more info i guess. i hope your daughter doesn't end up with pcos. but i've heard that catching pcos way early and treating it in its early stages may spare new cysters some of the *joys* that we've been sharing on this board. so, even if (bite my tongue) she does have it, maybe catching it early on would prevent it from being a negative experience (after all, there are 2 or 3 positive elements to pcos, lol).

Sarah2008 · 05-18-2008, 06:22 PM

i have had pubic hair since i was six ... freaked me out a little.... i would watch her closely!!! good luck to you ( i really hope she does not have PCOS i really really DO!!!

Melvin'sWifey · 05-18-2008, 06:39 PM

I got boobs at 8 and pubic hair by 9. Didn't have my period until I was 12 though! Nothing we can really do to stop puberty, but I think 9 is very normal to start.

blackrosetwo · 05-18-2008, 08:24 PM

My oldest daughter just turned 7 and had pubic hair for about 3 months of so. I have been searching the net because I was worrried it was so early. Everything I have found is that in caucasion girls 7 is now considered normal and 6 in african american girls is normal, don't know about others yet(can't find much) but this was on different sites that are for medical searching. But, I am watching her and her younger sister very closely for PCOS. Good Luck

sallyn · 05-27-2008, 04:36 AM

i don't know if this is at all information that could be helpful for the mommy's watchful of their daughters and pcos, but my mom just mentioned this to me today and i am sharing in case it could be helpful. i was born with a full head of hair. apparently, they could put it up when i was a newborn. knowing that pcos affects hair growth (even if it is on the head), i don't know how much of a predictor or a piece of the puzzle it is, but i'm just sharing. for me, the most severe symptoms have always been hair related. mostly on my body and face, being way too much, thick, and growing really fast. to the point that i was going home crying every single day in grade school because the kids at school were making fun of my mustache nonstop. my sweetheart of a mom (who is hairless herself) took me to get waxed every week and made me start shaving my legs by the time i was 10 just so i wouldn't be tormented (and yet i couldn't tweeze my brows till i was 14 despite the unibrow...guess she let me do enough to not be considered a total freak). i don't know, maybe little indicators of pcos are always around even before puberty hits.

Jashobeam · 05-27-2008, 04:45 AM

Sallyn- I asked my doctor (w/endo experience) and he said the only hair growth that is testosterone related is on the face and chin. He said hair on the arms, legs and even stomach is not related to too much testosterone. Head hair can be LOST due to testosterone being too high, but cannot be grown due to testosterone levels. So, too much head hair at birth is not an indicator. I had hair at birth. My cousins didn't and they also have PCOS. DD was pretty much bald at birth, as was DH I think (and I think he has male PCOS).

tina_d · 05-27-2008, 10:38 AM

I was wondering if there was a link to excess testosterone levels to males born to women with PCOS. My son, who is now 16, has been shaving his chest since he was 12. He's also had dark hair on his legs since he was around 3 or 4. Once he hit puberty, his eyebrows and facial hair have been out of control.

Jashobeam · 05-27-2008, 02:25 PM

Male PCOS and/or health problems of male relatives of cysters:
Brothers of women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Women With PCOS, Siblings Have Same Gene Defect
Hey Cysters, do you have a BROTHER? He may be at risk...
Brothers of women with PCOS may be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease
Article Excerpt: IS THERE A MALE PCOS?
Male equivalent of polycystic ovary syndrome?
Male relatives of PCOS'ers may be affected, too
Brothers of women with polycystic ovary syndrome
PCOS and Genetics (short easy read)

You can also google Syndrome X. I think that's close to male PCOS IIRC.

FLJill · 05-27-2008, 03:33 PM

I too am concerned for my 2 dd (7 & 8) - they both have tons of hair (blonde) on their legs & arms - & my 8 y/o has some pubic hair. I am so afraid they will have PCOS .. but at least they will know very early - unlike me who is finding out now at 38! Someone said there are a few positives about PCOS .. I am having a hard time coming up with ONE - please inform!! =)