Precocious puberty is when the body changes that normally occur during puberty happen earlier than normal. Puberty is the time in which sexual and physical characteristics mature.

The exact age a child enters puberty depends on a number of different things, such as a person's genes, nutrition, and gender. The main causes of precocious puberty are structural problems in the brain and tumors that release hormones.

In girls, precocious puberty is when any of the following develop age 8:

• Breasts
• Armpit or pubic hair
• Mature outer genitals
• First period (menstruation)

Some evidence suggests that it may be normal for these changes to occur as early as age 7 in Caucasian girls and age 6 in African-American girls.

In boys, precocious puberty is when any of the following develop before age 9:

• Enlarged testes and penis
• Armpit or pubic hair
• Facial hair, often first on the upper lip

Blood hormone levels, computerized brain scans, and abdominal scans are often used to diagnose the problem.

Medications can stop the release of sexual hormones. Some tumors need to be removed with surgery.

Children (of both sexes) with early sexual development are more likely to have psychological and social problems. Children and adolescents generally want to be the same as their peers, and early sexual development can make them appear "different." This can result in self-esteem problems, depression, acting out at school and home, and abuse of alcohol and illegal substances.

See your health care provider if:

• Your child shows signs of precocious puberty
• Any child with early sexual development appears to be having social problems in school