Precocious puberty

Precocious puberty refers to the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics before age 7 or 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys, without treatment. Paradoxically, it leads to large stature in childhood, but short stature in adulthood. Learn more about the condition, its diagnosis and the different treatment options available.

 
The following tests help to diagnose precocious puberty:

  • Physical examination: by a general practitioner to first assess the stage of development of secondary sex characteristics, the stage of the growth curve and family risk factors.
  • Blood tests to measure hormone levels: a GnRH test using a dose of sex steroids to see whether gonadotropin activity is present.
  • X-ray of the left wrist: to determine bone age and therefore to confirm the onset of puberty. The secretion of sex steroids accelerates bone maturation and the premature fusion of growth cartilage, which results in small stature.
  • Pelvic ultrasound: an examination used only for precocious puberty in girls, pelvic ultrasounds measure the ovaries and the uterus to give an indication of pubertal development. It can also be used to detect tumors or an ovarian cyst, which could be the cause of peripheral precocious puberty.
  • Pituitary gland MRI: always done if precocious puberty is confirmed, an MRI of the hypothalamic-pituitary area measures the volume of the pituitary gland. In precocious puberty, the gland is larger and more dome-shaped. The MRI will also confirm whether there are tumors in this area of the brain that could potentially be responsible for the precocious onset of puberty.

7 or 8

the average age of precocious puberty in girls

9

the average age of precocious puberty in boys.

Acromegaly

Acromegaly, or Pierre Marie's disease as it is sometimes called (after the first doctor to accurately describe the symptoms), is a hormonal disorder characterized by abnormal bone growth, enlarged hands and feet, and thickened, enlarged face. Learn more about this rare endocrine disease, its diagnosis and the different treatment options available.

Growth hormone deficiency

Growth hormone deficiency is often caused by a disorder in the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland and produces a number of negative consequences for both children and adults, including delayed growth and metabolic disorders, etc. Learn more about the condition, its diagnosis and the different treatment options available.

Severe primary IGF-1 deficiency

Severe primary IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1, a protein that mediates the effects of growth hormone) deficiency causes delayed growth in children and adolescents, as well as a range of anatomical, morphological and physiological disorders. Learn more about the condition, its diagnosis and the different treatment options available.

Turner syndrome

A condition that affects only girls and women, Turner syndrome is caused by the total or partial absence of one of the two X chromosomes. It causes short stature, infertility and a number of other problems. Learn more about the condition, its diagnosis and the different treatment options available.
Last update 13/04/2017