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What is precocious puberty?

Precocious puberty is the term for puberty that begins much earlier than usual. Puberty is the process in which a child has a growth spurt and develops the sexual physical features of an adult.

In the brain, the hypothalamus releases chemicals (hormones) that cause the pituitary gland to release hormones called gonadotropins. Gonadotropins stimulate the growth of the sex glands (also called gonads), which in boys are the testicles, and in girls are the ovaries. In boys, the testicles release testosterone; in girls, the ovaries release estrogen. Puberty usually starts between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys.

Children affected by precocious puberty undergo this process much earlier: girls develop secondary sexual characteristics, like breasts, before age 8, and boys with precocious puberty have changes before age 9.