Definition

Girls enter puberty between the ages of 8-14. Boys enter this stage between the ages of 9-14. Sometimes the physical changes may happen earlier. This is called precocious sexual development or premature puberty.

For girls, this means that before the age of eight they may:

• Develop breasts
• Have armpit or pubic hair
• Have mature sex organs
• Experience their first period

• Enlarged sex organs
• Armpit, pubic, or facial hair

Causes

In about 25%-75% of affected boys, this condition is due to an underlying medical conditions. However, for many girls and some boys there is no known cause.

Some known causes of premature sexual development include:

• Hormone-secreting tumor (gonadotropin-secreting tumor)
• Severe hypothyroidism
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• McCune-Albright syndrome (females)
• Adrenal tumor
• Tumor or lesion
  • Central nervous system
  • Pituitary gland

Pituitary Gland Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Causes specific to girls:

• Having ovarian tumor or cysts
• Taking estrogen

Causes specific to boys:

• Having tumors on the testicles
• Taking male sex hormones (androgens)

Other causes:

• Acute head trauma
• Central nervous system infection
• Radiation treatment

Risk Factors    TOP

Factors that increase the risk of precocious puberty include:

• Sex: girls are 2 to 5 times more likely to experience premature puberty than boys
• Family history—some cases may run in families
• Taking sex hormones
• Head injury
• Radiation of head
• Infection in brain
• Some studies have suggested a link between obesity and premature puberty

Symptoms    TOP

One symptom common to both boys and girls is a premature growth spurt in height. Children with this condition may be taller than their peers. As an adult, they may be shorter. The rapid growth also makes their bones stop growing sooner than normal. Other symptoms include:

• In girls, early arrival of:
  • Breast development
  • Pubic hair
  • Armpit hair
  • Onset of period
  • Ovary enlargement
  • Cysts on ovaries
• In boys, early arrival of:
  • Facial hair
  • Armpit hair
  • Pubic hair
  • Penis growth
  • Increased masculinity
  • Testicle enlargement
• In both girls and boys, early arrival of:
  • Body odor
  • Acne
  • Behavior changes
  • Growth spurt

Diagnosis    TOP

The doctor will ask about your child’s symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. An assessment of puberty milestones and growth will be done. An x-ray of the left wrist bone may also be taken. This will help to assess if the bone growth is normal for your child’s age.

Depending on these results, other tests may be ordered, including:

• Adrenal and pelvic ultrasound —images of kidneys and sexual organs created by sound waves
• Testicular ultrasound if testicular enlargement is uneven
• MRI of the brain—detailed images of the brain
• Blood tests to measure the levels of hormones such as:
  • In girls: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH)
  • In boys: testosterone
  • Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels—hormone that affects growth
  • Thyroid hormone levels—if hypothyroidism suspected
  • Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) stimulation test
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels—early form of sex hormones

Treatment    TOP

The treatment depends upon the cause.

If the bone age is about the same as the child's actual age and there is no known cause, there is no treatment. The child will continue to be monitored. Psychological support may be recommended if a child is struggling.

Other children may require treatment. This may include medication or surgery.

Prevention    TOP

Most precocious development cannot be prevented. To help reduce the chance, make sure your child is kept as healthy as possible. This includes making sure they are eating well and getting all the nutrients they need. Help your child maintain a healthy weight. Avoid exposure to sex hormones.