Why Are Indians Facing Early Puberty? Medical Council To Investigate

The National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH), under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is planning a nationwide study to assess the rate of early onset of puberty in Indians. Paediatricians and gynaecologists across the country have observed a rise in precocious puberty, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Girls are facing puberty before the age of eight and boys are facing it before the age of nine, the report stated. The first-of-its-kind ICMR research is set to assess the reason and rate of this observation across the country. 

Speaking to The Print, ICMR scientist Dr Antara A. Banerjee stated, "We are in the process of designing the study and it will be a multi-centric project — a nationally representative survey — which could give us a clearer picture of the true burden and pattern of the condition."

ICMR To Study Puberty Trends

The Indian Council of Medical Research has planned to kick off a project this year that would study the trends of puberty among boys and girls across the country. NIRRCH-ICMR scientist Dr Antara Banerjee, who specialises in studying puberty, told the media that the reason for the study is that "many doctors report seeing more young kids getting diagnosed with precocious puberty."

Several doctors have observed this worrying trend, especially after the pandemic. While there is no recorded data for puberty trends before the COVID-19 outbreak, the ICMR researchers are planning to rely on anecdotal evidence from paediatricians and gynaecologists across India.

A 2017 cross-sectional study among girls in the age group of 11 to 15 years in two schools in Kollam, Kerala, put the prevalence at a significant 10.4%. Global research from 2020 has shown that the age of puberty across the globe has been dropping by about three months every decade over the past 40 years.

Puberty, the onset of sexual maturity, is noted by the appearance of secondary sex characteristics like pubic hair, breasts, and menstruation in girls, and for boys, it is characterised by enlarged testicles and penis, deepening of the voice and facial hair, mainly on the upper lip. Reportedly, precocious puberty is up to ten times more likely in girls than in boys.

Dr Banerjee said that parents often lack sensitivity towards the challenges faced by children undergoing puberty, which is especially worse in the case of precocious puberty. Doctors say that early puberty not only impacts the physical development of children, (like premature bone maturation and shorter adult height) but also engenders emotional and psychological challenges.

There are two types of precocious puberty-- central or gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty, where the child’s brain releases sex hormones or androgens too early; and peripheral precocious puberty or gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty, where the condition is triggered by the child’s sex organs. Most report the first type, doctors say.