Early puberty in females, also known as precocious puberty, is when a childs body starts to go through the changes into an adult body too soon. In girls, precocious puberty may be caused by the early maturity of the hypothalamus, pituitary glands, and ovaries. However, in most cases, no cause can be found. The following are some of the possible causes of early puberty in females:
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Brain signals: The onset of puberty is normally triggered by the hypothalamus, which signals the pituitary gland to release hormones that stimulate the ovaries to make sex hormones. Most commonly, especially in girls, precocious puberty is due to the brain sending signals earlier than it should.
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Tumors or growths: Early puberty can be caused by tumors or growths on the ovaries, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, or brain.
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Genetic mutations: Sometimes, genetic mutations that trigger the release of sex hormones can lead to precocious puberty. Most often, these children have a parent or sibling with similar genetic problems.
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Central nervous system problems: Central precocious puberty can be caused by problems in the brain, such as an injury, a tumor, or an infection.
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Other medical conditions: Early puberty can also be caused by a problem in the sex glands (testes or ovaries), the thyroid gland, or the adrenal glands.
The signs of early puberty in girls can include breast development, body odor, underarm hair, pubic hair, and acne. Over time, girls will develop later signs of puberty, such as a growth spurt followed by starting their menstrual periods.
