The little girl who got her period at just four years old

Little girl facing menopause at five after starting her period at four years old and developing excessive amounts of body hair.

Five-year-old Emily Dover, from Gosford NSW, has now become “very conscious of her body” after her breasts started to grow when she was a toddler.

Emily was diagnosed with central precocious puberty and Addison’s disease, which means her adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones.

Her mum, Tam Dover, is frustrated that she “hasn’t had a chance to be a little girl”.

dover

Emily has been forced to learn how to put “panty liners on for menstruating” at such a young age, while dealing with strong body odour and cystic acne.

The mum finds it difficult to explain what is happening to her, even though little Emily has now become fully aware that she is different.

Recalling the moment Emily started her period, Tam told Mirror Online: “Because she has trouble toileting, she thought she had done a poo in her undies.

“We used panty liners and it didn’t last more than a day.”

“There are so many aspects of her life, that thankfully, she is too young to be completely aware of that are going to impact her.

“That impact will be when she starts school next year, and will have to face being the kid that is so different to others.”

She is due to start hormone replacement therapy, which requires her to receive an injection every three months.

Tam set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the “astronomical” costs of her daughter’s treatments and medical care.

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27 Comments

- - mom101628 said
  - 02 Nov 2017
    2:12 pm
What a traumatic situation to be facing for both mum and child. No time to be a little girl and the things that a girl looks forward to – marriage, children, etc., – already taken away before being aware of even thinking about it. Do hope that the school treats this little girl kindly and makes sure that no bullying happens.

- - tessie said
  - 14 Oct 2017
    9:19 am
What a terrible situation for this poor little girl and her mother to be going through. Here’s hoping that she gets all the help that is out there. I pray that she doesn’t get teased at school too

- - mom64736 said
  - 12 Oct 2017
    5:37 pm
Such a horrible situation for all around really.

- - nadine_hill said
  - 12 Oct 2017
    1:56 pm
Oh my! How traumatic for the poor girl – getting her periods at such a young age when barely being able to understand what it all means – and to be facing menopause already too … I can only imagine the distress she will feel when starting school! I sincerely hope the treatment helps her condition.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 12 Oct 2017
    12:01 pm
That’s horrible! I have heard of a 5yr old getting her period but they found that was due to the high amounts of chicken that they were eating – due to all the steroids they pump chooks with these days that was able to cause an excess in hormones and caused the early periods. They were able to rectify that by not eating chicken.

- - mom81879 said
  - 12 Oct 2017
    9:39 am
Here’s hoping the hormone replacement therapy helps to settle things down for her. 4 is do young, way too young, to be dealing with all that. My niece was 10 when she got her first period and I was stunned, but 4!!!! Poor little darling

- - Ellen said
  - 12 Oct 2017
    7:57 am
Aw bless, that would be nearly emotional traumatic for such a young child !!

- - rachel1970 said
  - 12 Oct 2017
    6:34 am
oh poor little princess, not only does she have to deal with getting her period but she has Addison’s disease as well. My heart goes out to the family.

- - mom162203 said
  - 11 Oct 2017
    9:56 pm
Poor little darling, to go through all this at such a young age. Our health sure can be cruel.

- - mom206279 said
  - 11 Oct 2017
    8:15 pm
Poor girl. Its hard enough dealing with periods as an adult.

- - rovermum said
  - 11 Oct 2017
    6:00 pm
Oh wow, I’ve never heard of this before. This is so not fair. Getting your period is not pleasant for anyone (albeit a necessary evil!), yet alone a 4 year old who has no understanding of what it is. And HRT? I have no words really. This just makes me sad that she does not get to be a child for long enough.

- - pottsy said
  - 11 Oct 2017
    5:49 pm
Why is this little girl’s name and suburb being posted publically? Surely she has a right to privacy? There is no reason to name her.
- mom93821 replied
  
  12 Oct 2017 , 5:53 am
  This shocked me too -not sure why these details needed to be in the public domain.
  - mom90758 replied
    
    12 Oct 2017 , 12:53 pm
    
    Indeed, writing Gosford, NSW. She won’t be so difficult to identify!!
- - mom104749 said
  - 11 Oct 2017
    5:39 pm
Poor little girl, this would be heart breaking to have to deal with as a parent. At least now that they know whats going on with their daughters body they can “plan” for the challenges ahead.

- - misscalais said
  - 11 Oct 2017
    5:37 pm
This breaks my heart, I got mine in year 6 ( 11 years old ) and that was hard enough I can’t imagine what it would feel like for a toddler! I hope her treatment helps her ❤️❤️❤️

- - mom90758 said
  - 11 Oct 2017
    5:03 pm
This is so unusual. I can imagine how upsetting this is for the mother, and the little girl of course. And having to face menopause and hormone replacement therapy????
Will this be a genetic disease?