Causes of Precocious Puberty Sometimes a problem in the brain, such as injury, a tumor or an infection causes early puberty. A problem in the thyroid gland could also start puberty early. Some boys can have “partial” precocious puberty and may have growth of pubic or underarm hair but no other sexual development.

According to the National Institutes of Health, puberty usually begins in girls between 8 and 13 years of age, and in boys between 9 and 14 years of age. Puberty is considered to be early in boys before age 8 and girls before 9 years old.

Sometimes, treatment of a related health problem can stop the precocious puberty. But in most cases, there’s no other disease, so treatment usually involves hormone therapy to stop sexual development. The currently approved hormone treatment is with drugs called LHRH analogs.

Precocious puberty is when a child’s body begins changing into that of an adult (puberty) too soon. When puberty begins before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys, it is considered precocious puberty.

Can precocious puberty be prevented? Most cases of early puberty cannot be prevented. Limiting your child’s exposure to reproductive hormones from outside sources may prevent precocious puberty. These sources may include estrogen or testosterone creams, lotions, or other medications.

The cause of precocious puberty often can’t be found. Rarely, certain conditions, such as infections, hormone disorders, tumors, brain abnormalities or injuries, may cause precocious puberty. Treatment for precocious puberty typically includes medication to delay further development.

What causes precocious puberty? It may be caused by tumors or growths on the ovaries, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, or brain. Other causes may include central nervous system problems, family history of the disease, or certain rare genetic syndromes. In many cases, no cause can be found for the disorder.

Definitions. Precocious puberty is the onset of puberty at an abnormally early age; usually before the age of 8 in girls and 9 in boys. This number may be lower for African American or Hispanic patients. Thelarche is the onset of female breast development. Pubarche is the appearance of sexual hair.

Signs and symptoms that can occur in boys or girls include: Pubic or underarm hair Rapid growth Acne Adult body odor

GnRH-independent precocious puberty is much less common. Secondary sexual characteristics result from high circulating levels of estrogens or androgens, without activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Precocious puberty may also be classified by whether gonadarche or adrenarche occurs.

Related Disorders. Familial male-limited precocious puberty (FMPP), also referred to a familial testotoxicosis, is a rare genetic disorder caused by persistent activation of the LH receptor. As its name suggests, the disorder only affects males, usually presenting by 4 years of age with signs of early pubertal development.