Does it matter if
Your Child
has central precocious puberty?
Early puberty, or central precocious puberty (CPP), can have lasting complications beyond childhood
CPP can affect your child both physically and emotionally. As their parent, you probably feel alarmed and unsure about what to do if your child starts puberty earlier than you expected. If you notice any signs of puberty occurring too soon, speak with your child’s pediatrician as soon as possible. If diagnosed with CPP, the sooner a child starts treatment, the sooner the progression of puberty may be stopped.
Does this sound familiar?
Watch parents talk about feelings of concern when they noticed
signs of early puberty in their child.
CPP can
affect adult height
Children with CPP may go through an early growth spurt and be taller than their peers. This is because their bones mature more quickly than normal. Their growth plates close too early, and unfortunately, they often stop growing earlier, too. If CPP is not treated, they may not reach their projected adult height.
Early puberty can
affect emotional well‑being
When a child starts puberty, they can feel emotional changes as well as physical ones. If a child begins puberty early, they may be affected by these changes more than if they started puberty at the usual age.
Self-esteem
The child can feel very self-conscious or embarrassed about physical changes because their friends and peers are not experiencing the same changes. They may withdraw and feel lonely and isolated from their friends. They may also worry more about their body shape and weight than their peers do.
Antisocial behavior
and depression
When children experience physical changes that accompany early puberty, they can be at greater risk of behavioral and social problems. Studies show that children who start puberty earlier tend to engage more in antisocial behavior. The child may also suffer from symptoms of depression or anxiety.
Check your child
with the Signs and Stages
of Puberty tool
Use the interactive tool to compare the signs you see in your child with the stages of puberty in normal development.
Need help
talking to the
pediatrician?
Create your own discussion guide to ask the right questions and get as much information as possible during the visit to the pediatrician.
Tips for
talking to
your child
Use these tips for talking to children of different ages about early puberty.
