A mother has issued a warning after her daughter began puberty at the age of three, with doctors linking the condition to contact with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) gel. Samantha Ashworth, 52, from Southport, Merseyside, noticed physical changes and severe mood swings in her daughter Freya, now five.
Freya was diagnosed with precocious puberty, a rare condition where puberty starts unusually early. Doctors believe it was triggered by exposure to Samantha's HRT gel, used to alleviate menopause symptoms. Samantha said: 'It was horrendous watching her have the mood swings and not being able to cope with her emotions at such a young age.'
Samantha, a newborn hearing screener and trained nursery nurse, recognised the symptoms from her professional background. She took Freya to their GP, but it took a year and a change of practices to get a formal diagnosis in February 2025. 'By that time, a full year had passed and she could have been getting treatment,' she said.
Medics suggested the condition may have been triggered by the gel HRT. Samantha added: 'The theory is that she'd come into contact with the gel from me. So it could have been transferred from cuddling her.' She was never told to wear gloves or avoid contact after applying the gel.
Freya now has check-ups every six months to monitor her symptoms. Samantha is sharing her story to raise awareness and urge parents and doctors to take early signs seriously. 'I want to raise awareness of women taking the HRT gel and the effects it can have,' she said.
