Thelarche is the first stage of secondary (postnatal) breast development, usually occurring at the beginning of puberty in girls. Thelarche is usually noticed as a firm, tender lump directly under the center of the nipple (papilla and areola). Thelarche is also referred to as a "breast bud", or more formally as Tanner stage 2 breast development (Tanner stage 1 being the entirely undeveloped prepubertal state). Thelarche may occur on one side first, or both sides simultaneously. For other uses, see Breast (disambiguation). ... Puberty refers to the process of physical changes by which a childs body becomes an adult body capable of reproduction. ... This article is about the anatomical structure. ... A papilla (plural: papillae) can be: A small projection, such as a nipplelike projection on the skin, at the base of a hair or the root of a feather; the base of a new tooth. ... Cross section of the breast of a human female. ... The Tanner stages (also known as the Tanner scale) are stages of physical development in children, adolescents and adults. ...

Thelarche is usually the first physical change of puberty in girls, and is a result of rising levels of estradiol. Estradiol (17β-estradiol) (also oestradiol) is a sex hormone. ...

Although breast development can occur as a part of normal male puberty, it is termed gynecomastia, and the term "thelarche" is not used with reference to male breast development. Gynecomastia, or gynaecomastia, pronounced is the development of abnormally large mammary glands in males resulting in breast enlargement, which can sometimes cause secretion of milk. ...

When thelarche occurs at an unusually early age, it may be the first manifestation of precocious puberty. If no other changes of puberty or sex hormone effects occur, it is referred to as isolated premature thelarche, and needs no treatment. Precocious puberty means early puberty. ... Sex hormones are hormones that affect the reproductive system. ...

Isolated Premature Thelarche

Premature thelarche is a benign, self-limiting condition which is characterised by breast development with no other signs of sexual maturation.

There may well be two types of premature thelarche.

The classical type commences during the first year of life and tends to resolve by the age of 2.

There is a second form of premature thelarche, of which the age of onset is over 2 years of age and this tends to be more persistent and with a higher incidence of uterine bleeding.

See also

• Adrenarche
• Gonadarche
• Menarche
• Pubarche
• Puberty

Adrenarche refers to a stage of maturation of the cortex of the human adrenal glands. ... Gonadarche refers to the earliest gonadal changes of puberty. ... Menarche (IPA: ) is the first menstrual period, or first menstrual bleeding in the females of human beings. ... Pubarche refers to the first appearance of pubic hair in a child. ... Puberty refers to the process of physical changes by which a childs body becomes an adult body capable of reproduction. ...

References

• Isolated Premature Thelarche