Thelarche
Thelarche means the development of breasts in human females during puberty (sexual development).[1]
Development
changeGenerally, the left breast is the larger of the two.[2] This usually begins when girls are about 9.[3] A lump that is a bit hard appears in each breast under the areola, which is the dark ring around the nipple. The lump in one breast may grow before the other one.[4] This is called breast budding.[5] Within 6-12 months, both breasts will have started growing. The swelling can be felt and seen outside the edges of the areolae. About 1 and a half to 2 years after the breasts first start growing, they are close to the shape and size of an adult woman's breasts. The nipple and areola may be on a smaller mound on each breast. This small mound usually goes away when each breast is fully grown.[6] Breast size depends on the body's amount of fat.[5][7]
Thelarchic stage
changeIt is the Tanner 2 stage of breast development (a scale used to analyze changes in people from childhood to adulthood). The first stage is the non-developed prepubescent state of breasts. Thelarche is usually the first sign of puberty. It usually occurs after age 8, and is the first evidence of puberty in 60% of women. It usually ends at age 13.[8] However, it can sometimes happen earlier. When this happens, it can be by itself (called isolated premature thelarche).[9] It could also be a wider pattern of precocious puberty (sexual development happening too early).
Hormones
changeThe process is started by estradiol, the primary female sex hormone. Many young women are not prepared for thelarche, and this may result in stress.[10] Teaching materials on breast development for elementary and middle schools has been suggested to promote breast health by reducing shame.[11]
References
change- ↑ Merriam Webster defintion http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/thelarche
- ↑ Loughry C.W. et al 1987. Right and left breast volume and volume distribution comparisons in normal and tumor-containing breasts. Cancer Detect Prev, 10(3-4):215-21. [1]
- ↑ Olson, Ginny Teenage Girls: Exploring Issues Adolescent Girls Face and Strategies to help them https://books.google.com/books?id=miQ5iJnXDKkC&pg=PT30&dq=girls+breasts+start+growing+10+years
- ↑ Marshall, Human Growth, p. 187.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Anne Byers (2007). "How do Girls' Bodies Change during Puberty?". Frequently Asked Questions about Puberty. New York, N.Y.: Rosen Publishing. pp. 26–33 at 27. ISBN 978-1-4042-0966-4..
- ↑ Marshall, Human Growth, p. 188.
- ↑ See also "Normal breast development". 007 Breasts. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ↑ Glass' Office Gynecology, edited by Robert Glass et al, page 15.
- ↑ Isolated Premature Thelarche http://www.health.am/gyneco/more/isolated-premature-thelarche/
- ↑ Golub, Sharon (ed) 1983. Menarche: the transition from girl to woman. Lexington Books, Toronto.
- ↑ Sex Hysteria. https://sexhysteria.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/breast-shame-tradition-deception-and-the-money-trail/
