What is Central Precocious Puberty (CPP)?
When is early puberty actually CPP?1-4
PubertyPuberty: the period when a person begins to develop secondary sex characteristics and becomes capable of sexual reproduction
normally begins in girls between the ages of 8 and 13 and in
boys between the ages of 9 and 14. The signs of "normal" puberty are similar to the signs of CPP — it's the timing that's different.
Central precocious puberty (sometimes called "CPP" or "precocious puberty") is a condition where
puberty starts too soon in children—usually in girls under 8 years old and in boys under 9 years old.
Overall, CPP only occurs in 1 out of every 5,000 to 10,000 children and is more common in girls.
Though there are a few types of precocious puberty, CPP is the most common. It occurs
when the brain releases certain hormonesHormone: a chemical substance produced in an organ of the body (like the adrenal glands or the pituitary gland) and carried to another organ or tissue in the body, where it has a specific effect
too early. These hormones are the ones that are responsible for puberty. The condition is called "central" precocious puberty
because the brain is part of the central nervous system.
Your child's physician will ask you some questions, perform a physical examination, and
run some tests to determine whether your child is simply experiencing early
onset puberty or whether he or she has CPP.
Keep in mind that children grow at different rates5
Children who are the same age will grow and develop at their own pace. Even large differences may be completely normal.
Since girls usually go through puberty at a slightly younger age than boys, they are often taller than boys their own age during the
early phases of puberty. Of course, girls and
boys also develop other distinct differences throughout their puberty years.
Be sure to talk with your child's physician if you have any questions about your child's growth and development.
Have children been starting puberty at younger ages?1,3
You may have read that girls these days have been showing signs of puberty at younger ages. But the average age that girls have been getting
their first periods has stayed around 12½ years old for over 50 years. The average age for the first sign of breast development has been
getting younger, though. (Learn more about Puberty in Girls.)
Just because a child shows signs of puberty earlier than children in the past doesn't mean that he or she has CPP. Your child's physician will
take many factors into consideration to determine the true cause of early onset puberty and whether treatment is necessary.