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"What is Thelarche?"

By Tracee Cornforth, About.com

Updated: October 24, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Definition: Occurs near the beginning of puberty in girls when breast development begins. A small, tender, and firm breast bud or lump felt under the breast nipple signals the occurrence of thelarche. Thelarche may occur in both breasts at the same time or in one breast before the other.

Common Misspellings: the larche, thelarch, the larch

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