Girls hit puberty earlier than ever, and doctors aren't sure why

By Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

"It's a lot of stress": Cheyenne Sturm, 12, with her parents, Rory and Beth of Chesterfield Court House, Va.

EnlargeCloseBy Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

"It's a lot of stress": Cheyenne Sturm, 12, with her parents, Rory and Beth of Chesterfield Court House, Va.

SAVING CHILDHOOD: Keeping her a kid as long as possibleBOYS, TOO: Chemicals affect male developmentGALLERY: Upload your childhood photos and share your storyJOIN THE EXPERTS: Discuss early puberty, 2 p.m. ET"All of our friends told us to cherish every moment," Claudia says. "When I started planning her first birthday party, I remember crying and wondering where the time had gone."

Even so, Laila's parents never expected their baby to hit puberty at age 6.

They first noticed something different when Laila was 3, and she began to produce the sort of body odor normally associated with adults. Three years later, she grew pubic hair. By age 7, Laila was developing breasts.

Without medical treatment, doctors warned, Laila could begin menstruating by age 8

View the Original article