What Should You Do If an 8-Year-Old Child Shows Early Puberty?

Question

What Should You Do If an 8-Year-Old Child Shows Early Puberty?

Answer

An 8-year-old girl, standing at 137 centimeters tall, has a bone age of 11 years and shows signs of ovarian development. The doctor recommends using suppressive growth injections to delay the onset of menstruation, in order to secure more time for height growth. When used as directed, these suppressive injections are free from side effects. The therapy primarily employs a stop-and-go approach rather than a single treatment, which is more effective in delaying the onset of menstruation and providing additional time for height growth. If the bone age is three years ahead of schedule, the risk of central precocious puberty may be heightened. Nevertheless, with a bone age of 11 years and a height of 137 centimeters, it is clear that her final height will be affected. Hence, using suppressive growth injections is aimed at delaying the onset of menstruation to gain time for height growth. As long as they are used as instructed, these suppressive injections pose no side effects.