Full Answer
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 disease, or certain rare genetic syndromes. In many cases, no cause can be found for the disorder.
There are three types of precocious puberty that may affect a child: central precocious puberty (the most common type), peripheral precocious puberty and incomplete puberty. Central precocious puberty: Central precocious puberty occurs when sex hormones are released too early.
Central precocious puberty is a condition that causes early sexual development in girls and boys. While puberty normally starts between ages 8 and 13 in girls and between ages 9 and 14 in boys, girls with central precocious puberty begin exhibiting signs before age 8, and boys with this disorder begin before age 9.
Precocious puberty. Premature onset of pubertal changes (i.e. breast buds, testicular enlargement, pubic hair) -girls: onset before the age of 8 (age 6 in African Americans, age 7 in Caucasians) -boys: onset before the age of 9.
These terms include premature thelarche, premature adrenarche, premature pubarche and premature menarche.
Peripheral precocious puberty occurs when sex hormone glands start working earlier than they should. Central precocious puberty is treated with a medicine that slows production of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) by the pituitary gland.
Thyroid or ovarian problems also can trigger early puberty. In these cases, other symptoms usually happen that point to a more serious problem. Precocious puberty is less common in boys, and more likely to be related to another medical problem. For about 5% of boys, the condition is inherited.
Puberty is the body's natural process of sexual maturation. Puberty's trigger lies in a small part of the brain called the hypothalamus, a gland that secretes gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).
Hormones from the brain trigger the start of puberty. Hormones are chemical messengers that tell the body what to do. In males: The hormones tell the testicles to make the hormone testosterone and sperm. In females: The hormones tell the ovaries to make the hormone estrogen and triggers the growth and release of eggs.
The opposite condition is delayed puberty.
Tanner stages summaryTanner stages in malesAge at the startNoticeable changesStage 2Around age 11Pubic hair starts to formStage 3Around age 13Voice begins to change or “crack”; muscles get largerStage 4Around age 14Acne may appear; armpit hair formsStage 5Around age 15Facial hair comes in1 more row
Among adolescent girls, early puberty is associated with more depressive disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders and disruptive behavior disorders. Of those disorders, "the clearest and most consistent link is between early puberty and depression in girls," Graber says.
Treating central precocious puberty This treatment, called GnRH analogue therapy, usually includes a monthly injection of a medication, such as leuprolide acetate (Lupron Depot), or triptorelin (Trelstar, Triptodur Kit), which delays further development. Some newer formulations can be given at longer intervals.