Early Puberty

Signs of early puberty may include sooner-than-normal breast growth and menstruation in girls, large testicles and facial hair in boys, and early development of acne, rapid growth and body hair in both sexes. Early puberty may occur due to a brain or spinal cord tumor, an inherited condition, a thyroid disorder or an injury sustained by the brain or spinal cord. In peripheral precocious puberty (PPP), the condition is tied to excess hormone production that may be due to an adrenal or pituitary tumor, or possibly to ovarian cysts or tumors in girls. Medications can slow or block the effects of growth hormones, and surgical treatments are available to fully remove a tumor.