CPP at a Glance
Central precocious puberty (CPP) is a condition that causes early sexual development in children. When a child has CPP, the brain starts to release pulses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone GnRH, the puberty-inducing hormone, as early as age 2. CPP is a treatable, non-lifelong condition, with no underlying medical problem causing it in most cases.
As a parent, it can be confusing when your little one begins showing signs of puberty earlier than expected. But with an estimated 1 in 5,000 to 10,000 children affected by CPP, you’re not alone as you navigate it.
How CPP Develops
Typically, puberty begins between the ages of 8 – 13 for girls and 9 – 14 for boys. However, with central precocious puberty, it begins earlier — often before those expected ages for both boys and girls. And while the root causes of the condition are still being discovered, we know that it occurs when the brain releases puberty-triggering hormones too soon, signaling the body to mature faster than expected.
The Differences in Early Development
There’s much more to CPP than an early puberty timeline.
Because the body matures so quickly, children with untreated CPP tend to experience a sudden early growth spurt that fuses their bone growth plates prematurely. This means that while they may be initially taller than their peers at a young age, they also face a high risk of falling short of their full adult height potential.
Beyond these physical changes, there’s the mental and emotional changes that come with going through puberty earlier than their peers. Things like early breast development and voice changes could make children with CPP confused or uncomfortable, potentially creating emotional stress as their mind catches up to their body. For these reasons, it’s important (and natural) for parents to seek out more information about the condition so they can make an educated choice on how to proceed.
Signs and Symptoms of CPP
CPP can present itself in different ways for boys and girls. If your child is displaying any of these signs of early puberty, talk to your pediatrician about CPP.
Female
Puberty can cause all types of emotional experiences in the body. Kids with CPP might have emotional reactions that can be described as mood swings. They may become upset quickly or seem overly sensitive to experiences. They also might feel angry, confused or scared without knowing why.
When a child enters puberty, hormones in the body stimulate oil glands, prompting a build-up of bacteria, oil and dead skin cells. This can cause inflammation of pores. This hormonal reaction is why teenagers tend to experience acne of the face or body after the onset of puberty.
Growth of hair on the legs, arms and underarms is a normal sign of puberty, however, early growth of hair may be a sign of CPP. This hair may be fine and light colored, or, it may appear thicker, darker or curlier. In children with CPP, this type of hair can appear as early as age 2.
The presence of breasts or breast buds may be an early sign of CPP. Typically, breast development begins between the ages of 8 and 13. In children with CPP, this may occur much earlier. You may notice a lump below the nipple that can be uncomfortable for your daughter. Breast buds may be present on one or both breasts.
A normal change during puberty is the emergence of pubic hair. However, children with CPP may begin to show these symptoms before you expect puberty to begin. You may notice it is light and straight at first, and over time, it may become dark, course and curly.
Puberty causes the release of hormones that may increase your child’s sweating. This increase in sweat can cause a new, stronger body odor than what you may be familiar with. If this is happening at a younger age before you expect puberty to begin, it may be a sign of CPP.
Puberty brings with it significant growth spurts for kids. Normally, this happens between 8 to 13 years of age in girls and 10 to 15 years in boys. Children with CPP have higher levels of sex steroid hormones that cause rapid bone and muscle growth, as well as changes in body shape and size.
Puberty can cause all types of emotional experiences in the body. Kids with CPP might have emotional reactions that can be described as mood swings. They may become upset quickly or seem overly sensitive to experiences. They also might feel angry, confused or scared without knowing why.
When a child enters puberty, hormones in the body stimulate oil glands, prompting a build-up of bacteria, oil and dead skin cells. This can cause inflammation of pores. This hormonal reaction is why teenagers tend to experience acne of the face or body after the onset of puberty.
Growth of hair on the legs, arms and underarms is a normal sign of puberty, however, early growth of hair may be a sign of CPP. This hair may be fine and light colored, or, it may appear thicker, darker or curlier. In children with CPP, this type of hair can appear as early as age 2.
The presence of breasts or breast buds may be an early sign of CPP. Typically, breast development begins between the ages of 8 and 13. In children with CPP, this may occur much earlier. You may notice a lump below the nipple that can be uncomfortable for your daughter. Breast buds may be present on one or both breasts.
A normal change during puberty is the emergence of pubic hair. However, children with CPP may begin to show these symptoms before you expect puberty to begin. You may notice it is light and straight at first, and over time, it may become dark, course and curly.
Puberty causes the release of hormones that may increase your child’s sweating. This increase in sweat can cause a new, stronger body odor than what you may be familiar with. If this is happening at a younger age before you expect puberty to begin, it may be a sign of CPP.
Puberty brings with it significant growth spurts for kids. Normally, this happens between 8 to 13 years of age in girls and 10 to 15 years in boys. Children with CPP have higher levels of sex steroid hormones that cause rapid bone and muscle growth, as well as changes in body shape and size.
Male
Puberty can cause all types of emotional experiences in the body. Kids with CPP might have emotional reactions that can be described as mood swings. They may become upset quickly or seem overly sensitive to experiences. They also might feel angry, confused or scared without knowing why.
When a child enters puberty, hormones in the body stimulate oil glands, prompting a build-up of bacteria, oil and dead skin cells. This can cause inflammation of pores. This hormonal reaction is why teenagers tend to experience acne of the face or body after the onset of puberty.
After the onset of puberty, hormones in the system trigger the growth and appearance of facial hair. A typical male will begin to notice facial hair between the ages of 13-16. If your child has facial hair at a younger age, it may be a sign of CPP.
As children enter into puberty – especially boys – the vocal cords thicken and lengthen. This causes the voice to get deeper, but you may also notice a voice ‘crack.’ If this happens at a very young age, it may be a sign of CPP.
Growth of hair on the legs, arms and underarms is a normal sign of puberty, however, early growth of hair may be a sign of CPP. This hair may be fine and light colored, or, it may appear thicker, darker or curlier. In children with CPP, this type of hair can appear as early as age 2.
In children with CPP, you may notice a change in testicle growth earlier than expected. As puberty begins, hormones cause the testicles to increase in size, drop lower, and the scrotum may become darker and looser. You may notice pubic hair begins to grow with these changes.
A normal change during puberty is the emergence of pubic hair. However, children with CPP may begin to show these symptoms before you expect puberty to begin. You may notice it is light and straight at first, and over time, it may become dark, course and curly.
Puberty causes the release of hormones that may increase your child’s sweating. This increase in sweat can cause a new, stronger body odor than what you may be familiar with. If this is happening at a younger age before you expect puberty to begin, it may be a sign of CPP.
Puberty brings with it significant growth spurts for kids. Normally, this happens between 8 to 13 years of age in girls and 10 to 15 years in boys. Children with CPP have higher levels of sex steroid hormones that cause rapid bone and muscle growth, as well as changes in body shape and size.
Puberty can cause all types of emotional experiences in the body. Kids with CPP might have emotional reactions that can be described as mood swings. They may become upset quickly or seem overly sensitive to experiences. They also might feel angry, confused or scared without knowing why.
When a child enters puberty, hormones in the body stimulate oil glands, prompting a build-up of bacteria, oil and dead skin cells. This can cause inflammation of pores. This hormonal reaction is why teenagers tend to experience acne of the face or body after the onset of puberty.
After the onset of puberty, hormones in the system trigger the growth and appearance of facial hair. A typical male will begin to notice facial hair between the ages of 13-16. If your child has facial hair at a younger age, it may be a sign of CPP.
As children enter into puberty – especially boys – the vocal cords thicken and lengthen. This causes the voice to get deeper, but you may also notice a voice ‘crack.’ If this happens at a very young age, it may be a sign of CPP.
Growth of hair on the legs, arms and underarms is a normal sign of puberty, however, early growth of hair may be a sign of CPP. This hair may be fine and light colored, or, it may appear thicker, darker or curlier. In children with CPP, this type of hair can appear as early as age 2.
In children with CPP, you may notice a change in testicle growth earlier than expected. As puberty begins, hormones cause the testicles to increase in size, drop lower, and the scrotum may become darker and looser. You may notice pubic hair begins to grow with these changes.
A normal change during puberty is the emergence of pubic hair. However, children with CPP may begin to show these symptoms before you expect puberty to begin. You may notice it is light and straight at first, and over time, it may become dark, course and curly.
Puberty causes the release of hormones that may increase your child’s sweating. This increase in sweat can cause a new, stronger body odor than what you may be familiar with. If this is happening at a younger age before you expect puberty to begin, it may be a sign of CPP.
Puberty brings with it significant growth spurts for kids. Normally, this happens between 8 to 13 years of age in girls and 10 to 15 years in boys. Children with CPP have higher levels of sex steroid hormones that cause rapid bone and muscle growth, as well as changes in body shape and size.
Causes of CPP
CPP often begins without a clear cause; this is especially true in girls, where it’s most commonly idiopathic. In boys, however, CPP is more likely to be linked to an underlying medical condition.
While the exact reasons are unclear in many cases, researchers are continuously identifying new potential factors that may contribute to early puberty for some children*:
- Family history of CPP
- Genetic conditions, such as McCune-Albright syndrome
- Brain abnormalities (eg tumors, injuries, radiation therapy, seizure disorders)
- International and domestic adoption at a young age
