WE all fear our children are “growing up too fast”.
But for Samantha Ashworth that was a reality… Her little girl grew pubic hair and breast buds before she’d even started school.
And while all youngsters have their fair share of tantrums, there was more to little Freya’s moods.
According to the NHS, girls begin puberty around the age of 11, with anything between eight and 13 considered normal.
But, Samantha was first alerted to changes in Freya when she was four years old.
Freya was diagnosed with precocious puberty, a rare condition where puberty starts unusually early.
And to Samantha’s shock, doctors believe the cause was related to Samantha’s menopause treatment.
They believe Freya came into contact with Samantha’s hormone patches, used to alleviate menopause symptoms.
“I was almost in denial when I noticed her breast buds and pubic hair because I wanted my daughter to be healthy,” says Samantha, from Southport, Merseyside.
“It was hard not letting her be a child when she wanted to take her top off in front of friends and family as the breast buds and pubic hair were so obvious.
“Her breast buds were very visible through tight tops.
“She was tall for age and wore age six to seven clothes.”
Samantha adds: “Her meltdowns were very hard to manage as she just came across as a child having a tantrum when she was actually dealing with pubescent hormones.
“She had uncontrollable outbursts, taking herself off to bed and being very frustrated.
“It was a daily battle to try and avoid the meltdowns. Her mood swings were typical of a teenager.
“She was slamming doors, shouting, crying and generally not knowing what was going on in her body.
“She followed a cycle like that of a period so you knew why the outbursts were worse.”
However, Freya has not started her periods and scans show there are no changes to her uterus.
Samantha adds: “It was horrendous watching her have the mood swings and not being able to cope with her emotions at such a young age.
“She was suffering greatly and I didn’t explain it to her because she wouldn’t understand.”
Samantha, who works as a newborn hearing screener and trained as a nursery nurse, had heard of precocious puberty through her professional background.
Concerned when the symptoms appeared, she took Freya, now five, to their GP.
The referral was escalated when she changed practices and pushed for answers and Freya was formally diagnosed with precocious puberty in February 2025.
Samantha said: “By that time, a full year had passed and she could have been getting treatment.
“It was a very stressful and emotional time and we just wanted answers.
“I knew what it was but I didn’t feel like I was being listened to.
“Freya missed a lot of school due to all the investigations she had to have.
“It was heartbreaking. She was missing out on being a normal child.”
Samantha claims that medics suggested the condition may have been triggered by her hormone therapy treatment (HRT), used to treat menopause symptoms.
She started using a gel in September 2023, which she rubbed on her upper arms.
The gel contains oestrogren, the female sex hormone which declines in menopause.
Samantha, who co-sleeps with her child, said: “Freya is a very tactile child, she loves cuddling and snuggling into you.
“The theory is that she’d come in to contact with the gel from me.
“So it could have been transferred from cuddling her.”
Other causes of early puberty include a problem in the brain, such as a brain tumour or damage caused by infection, or a problem with the thyroid gland or ovaries.
Treatment involves reducing hormone levels, especially if the child is distressed.
Freya hasn’t had any treatment, and Samantha says the consultant is hoping they can reverse it without the need for medication.
In cases of accidental exposure – in this case, from HRT – if contact stops, the child’s hormones should drop naturally.
Freya has a check-up every six months to monitor her symptoms and see if anything has progressed.
Samantha is sharing her story to raise awareness and urge parents and doctors to take early signs seriously.
She added: “I want to raise awareness of women taking the HRT gel and the effects it can have.
“I was never once told to wear gloves or avoid contact after applying the gel.”
What is precocious puberty?
Early puberty, also called precocious puberty, is when girls have signs of puberty before the age of eight.
They may develop some signs of puberty at a young age, but not others.
For example, their period may start but they have no breast development.
Doctors don’t usually know what causes early puberty.
But it could be genetic or a problem with the brain, ovaries or thyroid gland.
A GP may recommend seeing a specialist if they think the cause should be investigated.
In some cases, doctors prescribe medication to reduce hormone levels and pause sexual development for a few years.