Central precocious puberty (CPP) often begins before age eight in girls or age nine in boys. Central precocious puberty can even begin in infancy. In central precocious puberty, the HPG axis – the process listed in the About Puberty section – activates too soon and the normal process of puberty begins.

Central precocious puberty occurs in one out of every 5,000 to 10,000 children, and is much more common in girls than in boys.

Causes of Central Precocious Puberty

In most children with central precocious puberty, there is no underlying medical problem and no identifiable reason for the HPG axis to begin prematurely. In very rare cases the following may be attributed to the cause of central precocious puberty:

• Tumor, radiation or injury to the brain or spinal cord
• Infection, such as encephalitis or meningitis
• Brain birth defect like excess fluid buildup
• Obstruction of blood flow to the brain

Girls, African-Americans and obese children run a higher risk for central precocious puberty. Children exposed to sex hormones (i.e. coming in contact with an estrogen or testosterone cream) and children with medical conditions that involve abnormal production of the male hormones such as McCune-Albright syndrome or congenital adrenal hyperplasia are also at higher risk of developing central precocious puberty. And in rare cases, central precocious puberty may be associated with hypothyroidism.