Precocious puberty in girls: Causes, signs, when to see a doctor?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Dr., Doctor Bui Phuong Thao - Pediatric Center, Vinmec Times City International Hospital.
Suddenly one day you realize that your little one is entering puberty, but he is puberty too early compared to other children his age. Are you confused, worried and wondering if early puberty has any effect on your child's physical and mental development? When should I take my child to the doctor?

1. Causes of early puberty in girls

Precocious puberty is defined as puberty onset before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys. However, this age is only relative and is still a controversial issue of many experts. Some experts say the age needs to be lowered, while others say it makes it difficult to determine which children need treatment.
For the most part, precocious puberty in girls is simply early development. However, sometimes they are a manifestation of some underlying disease in the body. Let's find out some typical types of puberty and what causes these changes:
Central precocious puberty: high GnRH levels lead to excessive secretion of sex hormones. Elevated GnRH can be caused by the following: tumor in the brain or spinal cord, meningitis, radiation to the brain or spine, hypothyroidism (the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormone),... vi: This form is less common than central precocious puberty. The cause is not due to GnRH levels, but to the sex hormones themselves. Many conditions can lead to increased production of estrogen and testosterone including: Tumors in the adrenal gland; McCune-Albright syndrome, Congenital adrenal hyperplasia; exposure to external sources of estrogen or testosterone, such as creams or ointments, ovarian cysts, ovarian tumors, etc.

2. Harm of early puberty in girls

Psychological effects: The changes in the body of a girl with early puberty can make her feel shy, embarrassed because she feels different from her friends, teased by friends. This can lead to low self-esteem, depression and even psychological sequelae until adulthood. To help children overcome this difficult period, parents need to talk, explain to the baby or maybe even let the baby see a psychological counselor
Early sex : Psychophysiological development too early will lead to sexual desires. Baby is too young, thinking is not mature, so it is easy to be taken advantage of by bad objects; and consequently, contracting sexually transmitted diseases or getting pregnant at a young age leads to curettage and abortion, leaving both physical and mental trauma.
Height restriction: Children who enter puberty too early will have a short pubertal period. At first, children will grow faster, taller than their peers, but that growth phase does not last and when it is over, the child also slows down in growth.
Influence on learning results: The physiological changes during puberty easily make children neglect and neglect learning. Parents should advise, encourage and regularly contact teachers to closely monitor their children's learning progress.
Risk of polycystic ovary syndrome: Early menarche before the age of 8 in girls increases the risk of developing hormonal disorders and causing polycystic ovary syndrome in adulthood.

3. When should I take my child to the doctor for early puberty?

If you notice that your child is showing signs of puberty earlier than his peers, you should consider taking your child to a pediatrician for timely diagnosis and intervention. Stay calm and walk with your child through this phase; Explain to your child that the changes that are taking place are completely normal.
When a girl's puberty is suspected due to unusual causes, the doctor will do a physical exam and order some tests to determine the underlying pathology:
Blood and urine tests to detect abnormal hormone levels. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance, and ultrasound help detect tumors. X-ray of the wrist to determine the rate of bone maturation. If the bones age rapidly compared to the actual age, there is a high risk that the child will not be able to reach the maximum height in adulthood. >>See more: LH testing and puberty in children - Article written by MSc Tran Quynh Trang - Doctor of Biochemistry, Laboratory Department - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

4. Solutions to prevent early puberty in girls

Early puberty in girls can be caused by a number of diseases inside the body, but it can also be caused by inappropriate diet and activities. Here are some solutions to help minimize early puberty in girls:
Proper nutrition: Parents should build a rich, nutritious, rich in vegetables, fruits, and vegetables. Limit processed foods such as canned goods, sausages, etc. or foods high in fat, fat and high in sugar. Pay attention to choose safe foods, have clear origins, avoid buying unscrupulous floating foods, foods containing growth hormone will affect the physiology of children.
Increase physical activity: children should be encouraged to exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. Sports such as swimming, badminton, skipping rope, soccer, shuttlecock .. not only help children exercise their health but also benefit children's life skills.
Limiting exposure to estrogen and testosterone: Parents need to be careful when giving children creams and drugs with ingredients related to sex hormones.
If your baby is having problems with height growth and pubertal sex development, you should take your baby to a reputable medical facility for early examination for timely intervention. Currently, Vinmec Times City International General Hospital and Pediatric Endocrinology Specialist Clinic - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital are reputable and quality addresses for treating precocious puberty in children in Vietnam. .
Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic has a system of modern equipment along with a team of experienced, enthusiastic and loving doctors and medical staff, the clinic will be a reliable address for parents. mothers in need of medical examination and treatment for their children in Ho Chi Minh City.
Clinic specializing in pediatric endocrinology (especially delayed height growth and problems related to puberty) by Associate Professor. Doctor. Huynh Thoai Loan is one of the leading experts in Pediatrics - Neonatology in Ho Chi Minh City with nearly 30 years of experience in examining and treating pediatric endocrinology, pediatric kidney and other pediatric - neonatal problems. In charge will be a place where parents can rest assured to receive advice and answer questions about kidney and endocrine related diseases such as: early puberty, growth retardation, nephrotic syndrome..
Exam time: from 13h30 to 16h30 every Thursday (Note: Make an appointment 1 week in advance).
At Vinmec Times City, the baby will be examined with a leading expert in Pediatric Endocrinology, will have sex hormone blood tests, bone age assessment tests, brain MRI scans or some tests. more specialized, in order to determine the right cause of early puberty and timely treatment. For more information about treatment methods, how to schedule an appointment with leading doctors, please contact the hospital for more detailed advice.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.