Precocious puberty is the unusually early onset of puberty—before age eight in girls and before age nine in boys. Precocious puberty can be treated, so if you think your child is beginning puberty too early, talk to his or her healthcare provider.
In many cases, there is no identifiable cause of precocious puberty, but it can be caused by a structural abnormality in the brain that triggers puberty too early. In addition, the following conditions may lead to precocious puberty:
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- McCune-Albright syndrome
- Tumors or disorders of the testicles, ovaries, or adrenal gland
- hCG-secreting tumors
- Hypothalamic hamartoma (HH)—a rare benign brain tumor near the hypothalamus
-
Severe
hypothyroidism
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.
The following factors may increase your risk of a precocious puberty:
- Gender: female
-
History of
radiation
therapy to the brain
Symptoms of precocious puberty in
girls
may include:
- Development of breasts, pubic hair, and underarm hair
- Increased growth rate
- Menstrual bleeding
Symptoms of precocious puberty in
boys
may include:
- Growth of penis and testicles
- Development of pubic and underarm hair
- Muscle growth
- Voice changes
- Increased growth rate
- Acne
Your doctor will ask about your child's symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. Your child may be referred to an endocrinologist, which is a doctor who specializes in hormonal, glandular, and metabolic disorders. Other tests may include:
- Tanner staging may be used to assess the degree of pubertal development
- Blood tests (eg, hormone, insulin tests)
- Brain imaging tests
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include:
Medications can be used to treat precocious puberty by blocking hormones that cause pubertal development. Treating precocious puberty can help children reach their full height potential and avoid the psychological reproductions of puberty-associated physical and hormonal stages occurring too early.
If an underlying condition is the cause of precocious puberty, treatment will revolve around treating the specific medical problem.
There is no known way to prevent precocious puberty.
Last reviewed August 2007 by Kari Kassir, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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