Understanding Early Puberty in Children: Causes, Symptoms & When to Seek Help

In most children, puberty occurs after age 7 or 8 for girls and after age 9 for boys. But in some kids, puberty begins unusually early; early or precocious puberty is defined as the onset of puberty before 7 or 8 in girls and 9 in boys.

Signs

• Signs of puberty include acne, body odor, pubic or underarm hair, rapid height increase; breast development or menstruation in girls; and voice deepening, facial hair, or enlargement of penis or testes in boys.

Cause

• For most girls, early puberty is unexplained and is not due to a medical condition. It's more likely to be caused by a health problem in boys.

Effects

• Precocious puberty may prevent children from reaching their full height potential. Changing bodies can also result in social embarrassment and teasing.

Diagnosis

• If you suspect precocious puberty in your child, a doctor can do a physical examination as well as perform urine or blood tests to check for elevated levels of sex hormones.

Treatment

• Treatment may include correction of an underlying problem or medication to lower levels of sex hormones and stop further development.