Premature Puberty

Ten-year-old Christina Carter (not her real name) hides in her room when she wants to play Barbies. Although she has the mind of a 10-year-old, Christina has the body of a sexually mature woman. She started developing breasts and pubic hair at the age of eight, and just began menstruating. She is five feet, nine inches tall, and wears a ladies' size 10 shoe. People expect her maturity to match her appearance-not her real age.

"She should be playing with dolls because she is only 10," says Christina's mother, Natalie. "But she is embarrassed because people think she is much older. Christina is so confused because she doesn't fit in with other children, and she doesn't fit in with adults, either."

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