Puberty is the time during which sexual and physical characteristics mature. Precocious puberty is when these body changes happen earlier than normal.

Pubertas praecox

Puberty usually begins between ages 10 and 14 for girls, and ages 12 and 16 for boys. Some African American girls may start puberty earlier, around age 9.

The exact age a child enters puberty depends on a number of factors, including family history, nutrition, and gender.

Often there is no clear cause for precocious puberty, but some cases are due to changes in the brain, genetic problems, or certain tumors that release hormones. These conditions include:

• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• Disorders of the testicles, ovaries, or adrenal glands
• Hypothalamic hamartoma
• McCune-Albright syndrome
• Tumors that release a hormone called hCG

Images

Endocrine glands

Male and female reproductive systems

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Precocious puberty Symptoms

Review Date: 08/02/2009
Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)