Precocious Puberty

Precocious puberty is the early onset of puberty, usually before the age of 7 or 8 for females and 9 for males.

The causes of early puberty are still unknown, but in some cases precocious puberty can be due to a hormone imbalance or a brain tumor. Some other purported causes of puberty are a high-fat diet or obesity.

It's always best to go to your doctor and get checked if you notice any signs of puberty earlier than what's considered a “normal” age. In females, these signs can include breast development, pubic and underarm hair development, height growth, menstruation, “mature” body odor and acne. For males, these signs can be enlargement of the testes, pubic, underarm, or facial hair growth, rapid height growth, deepening of the voice, acne and “mature” body odor.

Precocious puberty can cause stunted growth in both males and females. Since growth ends when puberty ends, though a child will initially be taller than their peers, they may stop growing before their peers.

Precocious puberty can also create emotional and psychological distress. Having a mature body before your peers can be a cause of embarrassment, but it definitely does not need to be. Talk to a trusted friend, relative, parent or even a health counselor if you're ever feeling uncomfortable about your body and the changes occurring in it.

Last Reviewed: November 2019