Patient's question:
Chatting with the neighbor, she said that her child had already started menstruating at the age of ten this year. The child is still in elementary school, and it has made her very worried. First, the child doesn't understand anything yet. Second, the child won't be able to take care of themselves at school. Third, she is worried that the child is maturing so early, whether it's precocious puberty, and whether it will affect their height and intellectual development. Fourth, she is concerned that the child's studies will be affected. Hearing her say this, I felt frustrated for her. Is this phenomenon normal? Is it precocious puberty? What should be done in this situation?Doctor's answer:
The irregular menstruation in young girls is due to the fact that they have just entered puberty, and the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis has not yet fully developed and matured. Although they begin to menstruate, they do not ovulate and only produce estrogen, which leads to the proliferation of the endometrium. However, the estrogen levels are very low, causing the endometrium to stop fibrosis and shed its lining. As a result, some young girls may have menstruation followed by several months before their next period, while others may experience irregular shedding or prolonged periods of amenorrhea followed by excessive shedding. This is the reason for the menstrual irregularities in young girls.