Early Signs of Precocious Puberty in Girls

Puberty, the time in life when a human being becomes physically capable of sexual reproduction, generally begins in girls between the ages of 9 and 12. Precocious puberty begins earlier than the norm and can have long-lasting consequences, both physical and emotional. Causes are not always known, but treatments are available.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of precocious puberty in girls can be physical and emotional. Outward or physical signs may be that she develops pubic and underarm hair. Breasts may develop early. Rapid growth in height can occur and she might develop acne. Girls sometimes develop a more mature body odor and may begin menstruation. She could become moody as a result of changing hormones or become more aggressive.

Causes

• For many girls, there is no medical reason for precocious puberty. They just start earlier than their peers. For others, it can be triggered by an area of the brain that controls the pituitary gland called the hypothalamus. Hormones are released that tell the ovaries to start working. Other causes can be traced to a problem such as a brain tumor or head injury. In some cases, an infection such as meningitis, or a problem with the thyroid gland or ovaries can cause the onset of puberty at a precocious age.

Diagnosis

• Although physical signs might be outwardly visible to you, your doctor will do an examination and will probably order urine and blood tests that will measure the levels of sex hormones present to confirm the condition. Taking an X-ray the girl's hand and wrist can be used to determine if the bones are maturing too rapidly. An MRI or ultrasound may be ordered to allow observation of the blood vessels, tissue and organs of the body.

Treatment

• After the diagnosis, stopping the advance of precocious puberty is the goal of treatment. If an underlying problem was discovered through testing, then treating that problem, such as a tumor, usually stops the progression of puberty. In situations where no cause is found, the treatment of precocious puberty is hormone therapy to reduce the levels of sexual hormones. This effectively stops the advancement of puberty and in some cases can reverse it.

Considerations

• The need to treat precocious puberty might not be self-evident. A child developing significantly ahead of her peers can feel abnormal and have a sense of not fitting in. Teasing and bullying can cause further emotional stress. The child is not emotionally equipped to handle the changes brought on by puberty. Rapid growth that happens too early can ultimately leave the girl dramatically shorter than her potential as the growth spurt also stops early and the child is unable to catch up.