Navigation
[TITLE]

[MESSAGE]

[BUTTONS]

Popular questions...

Content

Can precocious puberty be prevented?

Precocious puberty cannot be completely prevented, but you can reduce the risk of your child having it by preventing their exposure to external sources of estrogen and testosterone - which can be found in certain prescription medications and dietary supplements - and by making sure they maintain a healthy weight.

FAQ Frequently asked questions

What is precocious puberty?

Precocious puberty is the early onset of puberty, occurring before nine years of age in boys and eight years in girls.

What are the symptoms of precocious puberty?

Signs and symptoms of precocious puberty include the appearance of acne and body hair accompanied by rapid physical growth and sexual maturity, including the growth of breasts or occurrence of the first period in girls and an enlarged penis and …

What causes precocious puberty?

Precocious puberty has a number of causes. Often it occurs because the body produces sex hormones earlier than usual for no apparent reason, but sometimes this can happen as a result of underlying medical conditions.

Who gets precocious puberty?

Precocious puberty can affect any child, but it is more common in girls and overweight children.

How is precocious puberty diagnosed?

A number of tests are used to diagnose precocious puberty. Usually it begins with a medical history, a physical examination, and blood tests that check hormone levels. An X-ray of the hand is also performed to check if bones are growing faster than …

How is precocious puberty treated?

Treatment of precocious puberty depends on the type and cause. Sometimes a monthly injection is enough to block the process of puberty. However, sometimes there are underlying medical conditions causing the production of the hormones that are triggering …

Are there different types of precocious puberty?

There are two types of precocious puberty, central and peripheral. Central precocious puberty in most cases has no underlying causes. In rare cases, it may be caused by a tumor, genetic disorder or hypothyroidism. Peripheral precocious …

What is the outlook for precocious puberty?

The outlook for precocious puberty depends on the type and cause. Most of the time a monthly injection is all it takes to stop puberty in its tracks until the normal age of puberty, at which time the injections are stopped. However, sometimes …

Why is an X-ray used to help diagnose precocious puberty?

An X-ray of the hands is a convenient way of seeing if your child's bone growth is faster than normal for their age.

Related topics

Diseases & conditions

Acne

Acne is a common skin condition that causes outbreaks of pimples and cysts, mainly on the face, back, arms and chest. It occurs when hair follicles become blocked with oil and/or debris, such as dead skin cells. Anyone can get acne, but it's more common during the teenage years. Treatment options are available to help prevent and treat acne.…
Diseases & conditions

Wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth usually appear during the late teens or early twenties and are found at the very back of the mouth. Wisdom teeth do not usually require any treatment. However, if they do become impacted then they may need to be removed. This is usually a straight forward procedure.…
Diseases & conditions

Osgood-Schlatter disease

Osgood Schlatter disease is a condition that can cause pain in the knees of children and adolescents. It arises when the patellar tendon, which attaches the kneecap to the shinbone, becomes too tight, leading to inflammation and damage to the shinbone, in the area just below the kneecap.…

About this article

Author: Lauren Donley BSc (Hons)
First answered: 18 Sep 2014
Last reviewed: 19 May 2018
Rating: 4.6 out of 5
Votes: 856 (Click smiley face below to rate)
Category: Acne

×

Content goes in here.