The onset of puberty, the time in life when a person becomes sexually mature, typically occurs between ages 8 and 13 for girls and ages 9 and 14 for boys. Precocious puberty is puberty that begins abnormally early, and delayed puberty is puberty that begins abnormally late.
Puberty and Precocious Puberty | NICHD - NICHD - Eunice Kennedy Shriver ...
What are normal puberty, precocious puberty, and delayed puberty? Normal Puberty The time in one's life when sexual maturity takes place is known as puberty. The physical changes that mark puberty typically begin in girls between ages 8 and 13 and in boys between ages 9 and 14. Precocious Puberty Precocious puberty is a condition that occurs when sexual maturity begins earlier than normal ...
About Puberty and Precocious Puberty | NICHD - NICHD - Eunice Kennedy ...
Treatment for precocious puberty can help stop puberty until the child is closer to the normal time for sexual development. One reason to consider treating precocious puberty is that rapid growth and bone maturation, caused by precocious puberty, can prevent a child from reaching his or her full height potential.
Normal puberty is the body’s natural process of sexual maturation. In the majority of cases of precocious puberty, no underlying cause can be identified. Several factors can contribute to delayed puberty.
Links to websites of groups that study or provide information about puberty and precocious puberty.
Through research on precocious puberty and delayed puberty, NICHD aims to learn more about the complex interplay among the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and male and female gonads—the body’s reproductive axis.