How old is early puberty

Going through puberty early also can be hard for kids emotionally and socially. Girls with precocious puberty, for example, may be confused or embarrassed about getting their periods or having enlarged breasts well before any of their peers. They may be treated differently because they look older. Even emotions and behavior may change in kids with precocious puberty.

Girls can become moody and irritable. Boys can become more aggressive and also develop a sex drive inappropriate for their age.

The onset of puberty is normally triggered by the hypothalamus. This area of the brain signals the pituitary gland a pea-sized gland near the base of the brain to release hormones that stimulate the ovaries in girls or testicles in boys to make sex hormones.

Most commonly, especially in girls, precocious puberty is due to the brain sending signals earlier than it should. There is no other underlying medical problem or trigger. This also can often run in families.

Less often, precocious puberty stems from a more serious problem, such as a tumor or trauma. Thyroid or ovarian problems also can trigger early puberty. In these cases, other symptoms usually happen that point to a more serious problem.

Precocious puberty is less common in boys, and more likely to be related to another medical problem. Some very young girls usually from 6 months to 3 years old may show breast development that later disappears or may last but without other physical changes of puberty. This is called premature thelarche thee-LAR-kee and usually doesn't cause lasting problems. Puberty is when a child's body begins to develop and change as they become an adult.

Signs of puberty include girls developing breasts and starting periods , and boys developing a larger penis and testicles, a deeper voice and a more muscular appearance. But it's perfectly normal for puberty to begin at any point between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys.

There's not usually any need to worry if puberty does not start around the average age, but it's a good idea to speak to your GP for advice if it starts before 8 or has not started by around In some cases, early puberty or delayed puberty could be a sign of an underlying condition that may need to be treated.

For example, girls may start periods before the age of 8 but have no breast development. It's not always clear what causes early puberty. Accessed March 7, Ferri FF. Precocious puberty. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Accessed Feb. Rochester, Minn. Zitelli BJ, et al. Pediatric endocrinology. In: Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. Harrington J, et al. Definition, etiology, and evaluation of precocious puberty. Merck Manual Professional Version.

He or she also may order some tests to help find out the reason for the delay. These tests may include:. When that happens, no treatment is needed. Sometimes, a cause is found. Those can usually be treated. Many boys and girls will experience a wider range of emotions when they begin puberty. Your child may experience confidence issues for the first time in his or her life.

Fortunately, emotions start to level out by the end of puberty. American Academy of Family Physicians, familydoctor. Last Updated: August 11, This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

Most boys experience puberty between the ages of 9 and Puberty is a time of changes—both physical and emotional. Central precocious puberty, also known as gonadotropin-dependent precocious puberty, occurs when girls less than 8 years old and boys…. Visit The Symptom Checker. Read More. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Fever in Infants and Children. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.