Early Puberty Explained: When a Child's Body Transitions Into a Adult Body Too Soon

Early puberty or precocious puberty happens when the body of a child transitions too soon into an adult body.

Puberty is a stage of changes wherein bones and muscles grow very quickly.

Puberty

Puberty signs include the start of periods and breast development for girls. For boys, it could lead to a deeper voice, a larger penis and testicles, and an appearance that is more muscular.

For girls, puberty typically starts when they are 11 years old. The average age for boys is 12.

However, it is still normal for puberty to start at any point from 8 to 13 years of age among girls, and 9 to 14 years of age among the body.

When the stage of puberty begins, the brain starts by producing the GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone). When this hormone arrives at the tiny and bean-shaped gland at the brain's base, it triggers more testosterone within the testicles and more estrogen within the ovaries.

Testosterone is responsible for the sex traits of males, while estrogen is responsible for the sex traits of females.

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Early Puberty

As for early puberty, this is marked by puberty that begins before girls turn 8 and before boys turn 9. Early puberty, or precocious puberty, also comes in two types, namely, central precocious puberty and peripheral precocious puberty.

For central precocious puberty, children with this condition tend to not have any underlying medical issue or other known reasons for puberty. For this case, puberty may begin early but go on as usual.

However, there are cases when some conditions could lead to central precocious puberty. These may include a tumor in the spinal cord or brain, a brain change that is present during birth, radiation to the spinal cord or brain, injury to the spinal cord or brain, hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, or McCune-Albright syndrome.

As for peripheral precocious puberty, this is mainly due to the early production of testosterone and estrogen. For this type of early puberty, the GnRH hormone that usually prompts the start of puberty does not play a role. Rather, the main cause is the release of either testosterone or estrogen.

This release may result from issues in the testicles, ovaries, pituitary gland, or adrenal glands.

Peripheral precocious puberty can also result from a tumor in the pituitary gland or adrenal glands, McCune-Albright syndrome, or exposure to ointments or creams with testosterone or estrogen.

For girls, this could also be associated with ovarian tumors or cysts. For boys, it could be caused by tumors in the sperm-cells or testosterone-producing cells or gonadotropin-independent familiar sexual precocity.

Roughly 20 out of 10,000 girls are affected by early puberty. For boys, this number is 5 in every 10,000.

Signs of precocious puberty may include body odor, acne, and a growth spurt. It could make sexual characteristics develop early.

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