Breast: Common Breast Problems in Children /

Premature Thelarche: Breast Development in Girls Under 8 Years Old

01 In Brief

This is a normal condition when breast tissue develops in a girl before the normal age of puberty (birth to 6 years). It is usually not associated with any other signs of puberty and there is no abnormal rate of growth. The levels of oestrogen in the blood are normal. It is considered a normal finding, and is often asymmetrical. It usually resolves within 6-12 months. It doesn't mean that the girl will have larger than usual breasts at puberty or that she will begin puberty early. The cause is not known but it is thought to be due to unusual sensitivity of the breast to low levels of normal oestrogen.   

 

 

02 What Do I Need To Know?

KEY POINTS

  • Over 60 per cent of girls who develop Premature Thelarche are aged between 6 months to 3 years;
  • In most girls it resolves within 6-12 months and is often asymmetrical;
  • Careful clinical assessment for other signs of puberty will determine if further investigations are required;
  • Close monitoring over 1-2 years to document resolution is usually all that is required;
  • Onset of Premature Thelarche in girls older than 3 years may warrant further investigation depending on the clinical signs;
  • There have been concerns that premature breast development may be related to hormones in food but this has yet to be proven;
  • Studies of infants who have soy based formula show slowing of breast resolution that results from the effects of high levels of oestrogen in the uterus.

03 What Others Say

KidsGrowth.com an independent US website written by an Expert Medical advisory Board

Premature Thelarche: Early breast development

Panorama Pediatric group Rochester US

Premature Thelarche

04 I Want To Know More

Australian Paediatric Endocrine Society Booklet: Hormones and me Booklet series : Puberty and its problems

Common Variations of Pubertal Development: Premature Thelarche

Good discussion of the possible  effects of soy formula on breast development contained in the Draft National Toxicology P

NTP Program Brief on Soy Infant formula

The information published here has been reviewed by Flourish Paediatrics and represents the available published literature at the time of review.
The information is not intended to take the place of medical advice.
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Last updated: 30/05/2011