What is precocious puberty?Puberty that happens early is called precocious puberty. This means a child's physical signs of sexual maturity develop too soon. This includes breast growth, pubic hair, and voice changes. These are known as secondary sexual characteristics. Precocious puberty happens before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys. Most children with the disorder grow fast at first. But they also stop growing before reaching their full genetic height potential. Show
What causes precocious puberty?It may be caused by tumors or growths on the ovaries, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, or brain. Other causes may include central nervous system problems, family history of the condition, or certain rare genetic syndromes. In many cases, no cause can be found for the disorder. There are two types of precocious puberty:
Who is at risk for precocious puberty?A child is at risk for precocious puberty if they have any of these:
What are the symptoms of precocious puberty?The signs are secondary sexual characteristics that happen early. Common signs in girls can include:
Common signs in boys can include:
Other signs of the disorder include:
The signs of precocious puberty can be like other health conditions. Make sure your child sees their healthcare provider for a diagnosis. How is precocious puberty diagnosed?The healthcare provider will ask about your child’s symptoms and health history. They may also ask about your family’s health history. Your child will also have a physical exam. Your child may have blood tests to measure levels of hormones such as:
Gonadotropin-stimulating hormone (GnRH) is made by the hypothalamus in the brain. It causes the pituitary gland to release gonadotropins. These then cause sex hormones to be made by the ovaries in girls, or the testes in boys. The GnRH blood test may show the type of precocious puberty. Your child may also have tests such as:
How is precocious puberty treated?The goal of treatment is to stop the onset of early puberty signs. In some cases, the signs can be reversed. Treatment will depend on the type of precocious puberty and the cause. Treatment may be done with medicines called synthetic gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists. These can stop the sexual maturity process by stopping the pituitary gland from releasing the gonadotropin hormones. What are possible complications of precocious puberty?Early puberty will cause a child's body and moods to change much sooner than their friends and classmates. This may make a child feel self-conscious and embarrassed, or be teased by other children. How to manage precocious pubertyYou can help your child by treating them like normal, boosting their self-esteem, and seeking a child counselor if more help is needed. When should I call my child's healthcare provider?Call your child’s healthcare provider if you see signs of sexual development in a girl before age 8 or in a boy before age 9. Key points about precocious puberty
Next stepsTips to help you get the most from a visit to your child’s healthcare provider:
What is the best indicator of precocious puberty in girls?Key points about precocious puberty
Signs can include breast growth, pubic hair, and voice changes. It may be caused by tumors or growths on the ovaries, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, or brain. In many cases, no cause can be found for the disorder.
When is precocious puberty diagnosed?Overview. Precocious puberty is when a child's body begins changing into that of an adult (puberty) too soon. When puberty begins before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys, it is considered precocious puberty.
What is usually found in cases of precocious puberty in females?In girls, signs of precocious (prih-KOE-shiss) puberty include: breast development before age 7 or 8. start of menstruation (her period) before age 10. rapid height growth (a growth spurt) before age 7 or 8.
Which laboratory tests might be ordered if an adolescent female fails to show signs of puberty?Blood Tests
Your child's doctor may recommend blood testing to measure levels of hormones that affect the start of puberty. These include thyroid hormones, LH, FSH, prolactin, and human chorionic gonadotropin.
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