Question
Sexual development is often not covered in school education, leading to confusion among many adolescents. Early puberty refers to the phenomenon of sexual characteristics appearing prematurely, usually considered in boys before the age of nine. This situation can cause distress for adolescents, as they may notice their height increasing but ultimately end up shorter than expected. Parents may also lack the necessary knowledge to provide appropriate guidance.
Answer
Early puberty indeed refers to the premature appearance of sexual characteristics. For boys, if sexual development occurs before the age of nine, it should be considered as a possibility of early puberty. In such cases, it is recommended to take children to the endocrinology department of a children’s hospital for diagnosis, including examinations of bone age, pituitary MRI, and sex hormone levels. While children with early puberty may experience faster growth initially, due to the early completion of development, their final height may be shorter than expected. For already