A three-year-old girl began experiencing puberty after coming into contact with her mother's hormone replacement therapy (HRT) patches, doctors have said. Samantha Ashworth, 52, from Southport, Merseyside, noticed her daughter Freya developing pubic hair, breast buds, and severe mood swings at the age of three.
Freya was diagnosed with precocious puberty, a rare condition where puberty starts unusually early. Medics believe the condition was triggered by exposure to Samantha's HRT gel, used to alleviate menopause symptoms. Samantha said: 'The theory is that she'd come into contact with the gel from me. So it could have been transferred from cuddling her.'
Samantha, a newborn hearing screener and trained nursery nurse, first noticed changes when Freya was three. 'It was horrendous watching her have the mood swings and not being able to cope with her emotions at such a young age,' she said. 'Her breast buds were very visible through tight tops. She was tall for her age and wore age six to seven clothes.'
Freya, now five, was formally diagnosed in February 2025 after a year-long struggle to get answers. 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.' Freya now has check-ups every six months to monitor her symptoms.
Samantha is sharing her story to raise awareness about the risks of HRT gel. 'I was never once told to wear gloves or avoid contact after applying the gel,' she said. She urges parents and doctors to take early signs of precocious puberty seriously.
