last authored:
last reviewed:
Early puberty is defined as secondary sexual characteristics beginning < age 8 in girls or < age 9 in boys.
It is more common in females but uncommon in males.
Potential causes of precotious puberty include:
hypothalamus-pituitary
|
adrenal
|
gonads
other
|
history: symptoms of puberty, family history
physical exam: growth curve, Tanner staging, neurological exam
labs: testosterone, LH, FSH, TSH, GnRH tests
Do GnRH stimulation testing to determine if is gonadotropin dependent (LH/FSH will increase) or independent (no change).
Examine testosterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone - elevated in CAH
Do brain imaging (MRI) on any girl under 6 years of age, or any boy presenting with precocious puberty.
Central: GnRH agonists such as leuprolide
Peripheral: ketoconazole, 5-alpha reductase blockers, steroid receptor blockers, aromatase blockers
created:
authors:
editors:
reviewers: