Is Early Puberty Linked to Increased Risk of Breast Cancer?

In 1860, the average age of puberty in the female population was 16.6 years. By 1980, the average age of puberty had dropped to 12.5. According to a recent study, girls are starting puberty as early as age seven, as of 2010. The steady decline in pubescent age would theoretically parallel a steady decline in menopausal age. Early menopause could mean more women are using hormone replacement therapy to curb menopause symptoms and thus, increase the risk of breast cancer.

What is causing early puberty?

There are several theories about why young girls are entering puberty nearly 10 years earlier than they did in 1860. Among the top two concerns are high-fat diets and exposure to environmental elements, including certain types of plastic, that may cause early puberty. Many research studies are focused on revealing the potential causes and prevalence of early puberty, but it may be the after effect that should truly be the medical focus.

Early puberty could be linked to early menopause.

Women are born with a set number of eggs. When puberty starts and menarche begins, women start releasing those eggs; at a typical rate of one per month. Theoretically, if menarche or puberty starts early, menopause will develop early as well. When women enter menopause, they often take hormone replacement therapy to reduce the physical signs and symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, mood swings and menopause migraines. Hormone replacement therapy has been linked to increased risk of developing aggressive breast cancer.

How to avoid increased risk of breast cancer with early menopause.

When I entered menopause at the age of 31, I immediately started researching natural alternatives to hormone replacement therapy. My doctors supported this choice 100-percent, because they knew I would be spending about 20 more years on therapy than the average woman in menopause. More time spent taking hormone replacement therapy equates to an even greater risk of estrogen-based cancers, like breast cancer.

Exercise, healthy eating and patience are the best alternative choices for early menopause therapy. Women don't need estrogen to live a healthy, happy life. They often take estrogen after early menopause, however, because it is easier than learning to live with menopause symptoms.

As the average age of menarche or puberty continues to steadily decline, women will likely be faced with some very tough decisions. Will women have to start families early in the next 50 years? Will healthy, effective alternatives to hormone replacement therapy be developed that help reduce early menopause symptoms without increasing the risk of breast cancer? Only medical science and time can answer these questions.

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