Precocious Puberty (Early Puberty)
What is precocious puberty?
Precocious puberty means having the signs of puberty (development of breasts, testes, pubic and underarm hair; body odor; menstrual bleeding; and increased growth rate) earlier than usual. Precocious puberty is when the signs of puberty appear before age 8 in a girl or 9 1/2 in a boy.
What is puberty?
Puberty is the beginning of sexual maturity. Puberty is the period when a child changes physically, hormonally, and sexually, and becomes able to reproduce.
- More on understanding puberty.
- What to expect when your child goes through puberty explains the stages of pubertal development and when to bring your child to the doctor.
What is adolescence?
Adolescence is the period of transition between puberty and adulthood.
Are there sex and race differences in when puberty starts?
Yes, there are differences. The normal age range for puberty in girls is 9-16, while in boys it is 13-15. Precocious puberty is more common in girls than boys. In boys, it is much more likely to be caused by an underlying disease.
Recent studies have shed light on racial differences in precocious puberty, with African-American girls maturing earlier as a group than white girls. There are also some racial differences among boys. (These studies are cited in the links below.)
For more information specific to girls or to boys, see:
- Girls to women
- Boys to men
- This landmark study of girls found racial differences in age of onset of puberty.
What causes precocious puberty?
Most cases of precocious puberty have no known cause. In some cases, the pituitary gland, which regulates the release of most of the body's hormones, signals the ovaries and testicles to begin hormone production prematurely. Signs of puberty may also appear early because of ovary and testicle abnormalities. Your child's doctor may want to do some tests to find out if there is an underlying medical condition. Some causes of early puberty include McCune-Albright Syndrome, and spina bifida with hydrocephalus (also in Spanish). Find out about gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty (also called pseudo-precocious puberty).
Some possible underlying causes of precocious puberty without any known cause are thought to be obesity, social factors, and environmental contamination.
- Here is summary of the factors identified as possible causes of early puberty, with citations listed.
- Scientists are looking to the environment to explain the increasing incidence of precocious puberty. Research continues, but mounting evidence indicates certain types of environmental contamination could play a role [1]. Here is some information on environmental toxins that could be contributing to early puberty:
- Fact sheet with an overview of environmental factors' role in precocious puberty
- Endocrine disruptors
- DDT metabolites [2]
- PBBs
- Phthalates
- Bisphenol A
Should my child see their doctor about early signs of puberty?
If you suspect your child might be going through puberty early, you should bring them to their doctor.
What is the treatment for precocious puberty?
You will need to talk with your child's doctor about whether treatment is a good idea for your child. This Magic Foundation article, Precocious Puberty, has helpful information about what is going on with your child's hormones, and about how precocious puberty is treated. Nafarelin and leuprolide are two medications used to treat early puberty.
Isn't this hard on kids who develop early?
It's always hard to be different, and developing an adult-looking body earlier than your peers can put a lot of pressure on kids. Both boys [3], and girls [4] can have a tough time when they go through pubertal changes early. Your child may be teased, and may have body image or self-esteem problems. They may also be confused about what is happening to their body, and may have unfamiliar emotions. Girls may enter into dating and sexual activity earlier, and may even marry earlier than their classmates [5]. Early-maturing girls may also have more behavior problems and a greater risk for substance abuse and suicide [6], [7]. If you are concerned about your child's behavior or coping, talk to your child's doctor or school staff, and consider getting professional counseling to help them through the difficult time.
What can I do to help my child?
Make sure your child understands that everyone will go through the same changes, but that they happen earlier in some kids and later in others. Encourage your child to take part in regular physical or social activities and give them openings to discuss with you any worries or concerns.
Share the following articles written for kids with your child, and be available to your child, in case they should need to talk about what they are going through.
And be sure to get professional help if that seems to be what's needed. If you're not sure, talk with your child's doctor or school counselor.
Where can I find more information and support?
- Precocious Puberty—an article from Kidshealth.org
- Medlineplus: Puberty and adolescence—for more information about all the changes kids go through during this period.
- The Magic Foundation is an organization that provides support services for kids with all kinds of different growth disorders, including precocious puberty.
Written and compiled by Kyla Boyse, R.N. and Randall Phelps, M.D., Ph.D. Reviewed by faculty and staff at the University of Michigan
Updated June 2008
U-M Health System Related Sites:
U-M Pediatrics
