Early puberty is the onset of sexual development before 8 years of age in the girl and before 9 years in the boy. It has as signs the onset of menstruation in girls and the increase of testicles in boys can have different causes and depending on their severity it may be necessary to perform a treatment with medicines or surgery to avoid the complications that it can bring.
Central precocious puberty, also called true precocious puberty, is the premature sexual development caused by the early activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis because it may restrict the child's growth.
Early puberty in the boy
Precocious male puberty is characterized by the development of the testicles, presence of facial hair and altered voice and behavior before 9 years of age. It can be of central cause, that is, caused by a failure in the central nervous system and can be treated with medication.
Early puberty in the girl
Female precocious puberty is characterized by the development of breasts, menses, hair in the genital area and under the arm, which occurs before the age of 8 years. It may have the unknown cause or can be caused by ovarian tumor, which lead to the early production of female sex hormones and so it is important to perform diagnostic tests to assess the need for medication to ensure the proper development of the girl.
Signs and symptoms of early puberty
| Girls | Boys |
| Pubic and axillary hairs | Pubic and axillary hairs |
| Axillary odor (smell of sweat) | Axillary odor (smell of sweat) |
| First menstruation | Increased oiliness on the skin, pimples and acne |
| Breast growth | Enlargement of the testicles and penis, with erections and ejaculation |
| Increased oiliness on the skin, pimples and acne | More serious voice and aggressive tendencies |
What causes premature puberty
The causes of early puberty can be:
- Unknown;
- Consequences of hormonal changes caused by severe situations such as cranial lesions; brain tumor or tumor in the ovaries or testicles.
The diagnosis of precocious puberty can be made by the pediatrician through the observation of these signs and symptoms, and it is not necessary to perform tests to confirm.
When exams are needed
If there is a suspicion that there is a serious alteration or syndrome, because puberty begins much earlier than expected, sometimes even in the baby, tests such as X-ray, pelvic ultrasound and suprarenal, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, for example. Because often the onset of precocious puberty is the first sign that the tumor emits.
Blood tests such as LH, FSH, LH, FSH and GnRH, estradiol for girls, and testosterone for boys may be ordered, and the doctor may order further tests as necessary to identify the cause of precocious puberty and decide whether to perform some treatment.
How and when to treat
It is not always necessary to slow down the child's growth rate, stopping puberty ahead of time. When the child is over 8 years old, the doctor may conclude that it is a precocious puberty less severe because it is probably not caused by a tumor.
When it is started before age 8, especially in the baby, it can be caused by some tumor treatment can be done with hormone blocking medications, and may need to do radiation therapy, chemotherapy or surgery.
Performing the treatment is important to avoid the complications that precocious puberty can bring as psychological disturbances, short stature in adulthood and early pregnancy for example.
The child with precocious puberty must be accompanied by a psychologist because society may require more mature behavior when she is still a child and this can be confusing for her.
It is important for her to know that she must behave appropriately to her age so that she has a good general development and if she still has children's wishes such as playing with friends, for example, this desire must be respected and even stimulated.
