Q: Does going through an early and irregular puberty really mean you will stop growing at an earlier age? My SB daughter started spotting at the age of 5 and had PMS symptoms for 4 years after that in cycles. These symptoms were reported to doctors but not investigated and now, at the age of 10, she has pubescent hair growth, breasts and is obviously maturing. I don't know if she has had a "real" period as they run very heavy in the family and her spotting has only lasted a day at a time. We have seen a few endocrinologists and after years of waiting hours to get the runaround and "come back in 6 months" we have decided to let nature take its course with her hormones (and save the regular trips to the specialists for emergencies). This past year we have really noticed a growth spurt in height. She is up to around 54". We would really like to see her reach at least 5' and are wondering, at this point, if this is a realistic height and how long we might expect to see this growth spurt last.

A:

According to Adrian Sandler, M.D., in his (1997) book, Living with Spina Bifida, many variables affect growth and ultimate height of a person with SB and short stature is common. Some of those factors include: level of lesion, other spinal deformities like scoliosis; and limb abnormalities.

Higher SB lesions often result in shorter stature. People with a lesion at L3 or higher typically reach less than the third percentile of height in comparison with their non-affected peers. This occurs in only about 40% of those with lower lesions.

Puberty also affects growth and height. Normal puberty begins around 11 years old. In precocious puberty, it occurs much earlier-before the age of 8 in girls; and before age 9 in boys. One major concern about precocious puberty is that in addition to premature sexual development, there is premature bone development, which causes the growth plates of the bones to mature and fuse early; thereby limiting further growth.

All children who experience precocious puberty should be assessed by an endocrinologist, especially if the bone age is advancing rapidly and there are concerns about restricted height. Some children receive hormone treatments to slow the progression of puberty. Other information on this topic, including the psychological impact of precocious puberty, can be found in Dr. Sandler’s book.

Dr. Sandler’s book can be found at amazon.com.

* This information does not constitute medical advice for any individual.As specific cases may vary from the general information presented here, SBA advises readers to consult a qualified medical or other professional on an individual basis.