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Precocious puberty, or early puberty, means puberty that begins before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys. The cause of early puberty depends on the type. Treatment for the condition includes medications that can turn off the production of certain hormones.
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Precocious puberty means early puberty. It’s the term for puberty that begins much earlier than usual — before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Puberty is the process during which your child has a growth spurt and develops the sexual and physical features of an adult. In your child’s brain, their hypothalamus releases chemicals (hormones) that cause their pituitary gland to release hormones called gonadotropins. Gonadotropins stimulate the growth of the sex glands (gonads). In male children, their gonads are their testicles, which release testosterone. In females, their gonads are their ovaries, which release estrogen.
Puberty usually starts between the ages of 8 and 13 in female children and between the ages of 9 and 14 years in male children. Children affected by precocious puberty undergo this process much earlier.
There are two main types of precocious puberty: central precocious puberty and peripheral precocious puberty.
Central precocious puberty is the more common type. It occurs when your child’s brain releases releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) too early. This causes their testes or ovaries to release sex hormones (androgens) too early.
Peripheral precocious puberty occurs as a result of problems with your child’s reproductive organs (ovaries or testicles) or adrenal glands. Sometimes it results from hormone exposure from their environment. Other names for peripheral precocious puberty include gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty and peripheral precocity.
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Any child can develop precocious puberty. The condition happens more often in females than males.
Early puberty affects about 20 out of every 10,000 children female children. It affects fewer than 5 in every 10,000 male children.
Precocious puberty has different causes depending on the type.
Central precocious puberty occurs when your child’s brain releases GnRH too early, in turn causing their testes or ovaries to release androgens too early. In most cases, the cause of this — especially in female children — is unknown. Causes may include:
Issues with your child’s reproductive organs or adrenal glands cause peripheral precocious puberty. Causes may include:
Sometimes, exposure to hormones from sources outside your child’s body causes peripheral precocious puberty. For example, exposure to products like creams, medications or supplements containing estrogen, testosterone or androgen.
The signs and symptoms of precocious puberty in both sexes include acne, body odor and a growth spurt. Precocious puberty also causes sexual characteristics to develop early. In females, these include:
Early puberty in males may cause:
Precocious puberty tends to affect certain groups more often. Children who are at a higher risk of developing the condition include:
Early puberty may cause a growth spurt in a child, but when puberty ends, the child stops growing. Therefore, they may be shorter than other children of the same age. Precocious puberty may also be embarrassing for children who are developing more quickly than other children.
These issues can lead to behavioral, emotional and social issues. Children may have trouble with anxiety and depression. They may be at a higher risk of developing substance use disorders and engaging in high-risk behaviors.
Your child’s healthcare provider will perform a physical examination and ask questions about your child’s medical history.
They may order an X-ray of your child’s hand and wrist to check their bone age. If your child’s body overproduces reproductive hormones, their bones mature earlier than normal, which suggests precocious puberty.
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Your child’s provider may also order blood tests to measure your child’s hormone levels. These tests will check your child’s pituitary hormones — luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). These hormones control puberty. They’ll also check the levels of your child’s sex hormones.
Your child’s provider may recommend a brain MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). This test can help rule out issues in your child’s brain like tumors.
Your child’s provider may order a pelvic ultrasound if they suspect your child has peripheral precocious puberty. This test checks for ovarian or adrenal tumors in your child’s pelvis and adrenal glands. These growths sometimes cause early puberty in female children.
Based on their findings, your child’s provider may refer you to a pediatric endocrinologist.
Precocious puberty treatment depends on the type.
Turning off the pituitary gland’s production of LH and FSH is the main goal of central precocious puberty treatment. Turning off production will slow down the signs of puberty and delay menstruation. Treatment typically includes a GnRH agonist (puberty blocker), a synthetic (human-made) hormone that works by halting the production of reproductive or growth hormones. Your child’s provider will give your child an injection of the medication at regular intervals until it’s safe for puberty to begin.
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Eliminating the source of reproductive hormones is the treatment for peripheral precocious puberty. Some children need surgery to remove a tumor or another mass that’s causing the symptoms of early puberty. Others may need medication like a steroid called a glucocorticoid. Removing an outside source of reproductive hormones, like estrogen creams, may be enough to stop early puberty.
You can’t prevent most early puberty cases. Limiting your child’s exposure to reproductive hormones from outside sources may prevent it. These sources may include estrogen or testosterone creams, lotions or other medications.
Your child’s outcome will depend on several factors, including:
Early treatment with medications or surgery usually stops precocious puberty. This treatment allows a child to develop and grow into adulthood at a more normal rate.
Call your child’s healthcare provider if they’re showing any signs of precocious puberty, especially if they’re younger than 8 years old.
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In the United States, it may seem like more and more girls are hitting puberty early. This trend may be related to the increasing rate of obesity in the country. Researchers link a higher body mass index (BMI) to early breast development. Eating a lot of processed, high-fat foods may cause early puberty.
Race and ethnicity also play a part in the early timing of puberty. Black and Hispanic female children typically begin puberty earlier than other ethnic groups. Because obesity typically affects these groups more prevalently, this may add to the increase in cases of early puberty.
Puberty can be a stressful time in a child’s life — especially when it comes early. But if your child shows signs of early puberty, it can be even more stressful. If you see any signs of precocious puberty in your child, reach out to their healthcare provider right away. They can help you decide if treatment is necessary.
As your child grows, you need healthcare providers by your side to guide you through each step. Cleveland Clinic Children’s is there with care you can trust.
Last reviewed on 10/20/2023.
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