Overview
Precocious puberty means early puberty. It’s the term for puberty that begins much earlier than usual — before age 8 in children assigned female at birth (AFAB) and before age 9 in children assigned male at birth (AMAB).
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 female 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.
Types of precocious puberty
There are two main types of precocious puberty: central precocious puberty and peripheral precocious puberty.
Central 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
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.
Who is affected by precocious puberty?
Any child can develop precocious puberty. The condition happens more often in females than males.
How common is precocious puberty?
Early puberty affects about 20 out of every 10,000 children female children. It affects fewer than 5 in every 10,000 male children.
Symptoms
When to see a doctor
Complications
- High blood pressure.
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Some types of heart valve disease.
Prevention
- Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Don't smoke or use tobacco.
- Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
- Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
- Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce and manage stress.
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