Do you feel your child is too young to have reached the pubertal milestone? Are you having questions as to what is causing this early development? Let’s know about early onset of puberty (precocious puberty) its causes and ways to avoid it. 

What is precocious puberty?

Early onset of puberty also known as precocious puberty is the onset of pubertal development at an age earlier to the normal. It is a condition in which a child's body begins to show secondary sexual signs too soon. Generally pubertal changes occurring before the age of eight in girls and before the age of nine in boys is considered early onset of puberty.

What are it's types? 

  • Central precocious puberty
  • Peripheral precocious puberty

What are the symptoms of precocious puberty? 

Common signs in girls

  • Breast development before 7 or 8 years
  • Pubic and underarm hair 
  • Menstruation before 10 years 

Common signs in boys 

  • Enlargement of penis and testicles 
  • Facial hair Pubic and underarm hair Voice changes
  • Rapid height growth

What are the causes of precocious puberty? 

  • Certain rare genetic syndromes
  • Tumours growth of the ovaries, adrenal gland and pituitary gland. 
  • Central nervous system problems

Make an appointment with your child's doctor for an evaluation if your child has any of the signs or symptoms of precocious puberty. 

How to avoid precocious puberty?

Some of the risk factors for precocious puberty, such as sex and race, can't be avoided. But, there are things you can do to reduce your child's chances of developing precocious puberty, including:

  • Keeping your child away from external sources of estrogen and testosterone — such as prescription medications for adults in the house or dietary supplements containing estrogen or testosterone
  • Encouraging your child to maintain a healthy weight

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