Health Topics

Signs of precocious puberty are the same as signs of normal puberty. However, each child may show signs differently. Signs of puberty include:

• girls:
• breasts
• pubic and underarm hair
• menstruation
• boys:
• enlarging penis and testicles
• pubic and underarm hair
• facial hair
• spontaneous erections
• production of sperm
• development of acne
• deepening of the voice

Both boy and girls can experience the following during puberty:

• moodiness because of hormonal changes
• increased aggression
• taller than peers, at first

Early puberty may be caused by tumors or growths of the ovaries, adrenal glands, pituitary gland or brain. Other causes may include defects in the brain, spinal cord or other parts of the nervous system,a family history of early puberty, or certain rare genetic syndromes. In many cases, no cause can be found for the disorder.

Two types of early puberty include the following:

Gonadotropin-dependent Precocious Puberty
Also known as central precocious puberty. The puberty is triggered by the early release of hormones from the brain that are responsible for puberty. These hormones are called gonadotropins. This is the most common form of early puberty, affecting most girls with the disorder and half of boys with the disorder.

Gonadotropin-independent Precocious Puberty
This is a form of precocious puberty that is triggered by the early release of hormones from the ovaries or testicles that are responsible for puberty (estrogen and testosterone).

In addition to a complete medical history and physical exam, a diagnosis of precocious puberty might require the following tests:

• X-ray - test which uses a machine to take a special picture of tissues, bones and organs. A bone X-ray may be performed to determine bone age.
• blood draw – to measure the puberty hormones (LH, FSH, estradiol, testosterone) and / or thyroid hormones
• ultrasound (also called sonography) of the adrenal glands and ovaries and testicles -- a test which uses high-frequency sound waves and a computer to create images of blood vessels, tissues and organs.
• gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test – a special blood draw that looks at the puberty hormone to determine the form of precocious puberty (gonadotropin-dependent or gonadotropin-independent)
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) -- a test that uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body.

Specific treatment for precocious puberty will be determined by your child's physician based on:

• your child's age, overall health, and medical history
• extent of the condition
• your child's tolerance for specific medicines, procedures, or therapies
• expectations for the course of the condition
• your opinion or preference

The goal of treatment for precocious puberty is to stop puberty from progressing. Treatment will also depend on the type of precocious puberty and the underlying cause, if known.

The medicine used to stop puberty is called Lupron. It is usually given by a shot once a month. There are a few other options for treatment of early puberty that your doctor will talk with you about.