Question
A girl has swelling and enlargement of her left breast, and her right breast has also started to enlarge recently but without pain. Her bone age is indicated as 8 years, while her actual age is 6.5 years, with a height of 130 cm and a weight of 42 kg. What are the treatment methods for precocious puberty?
Answer
Precocious puberty is a common developmental abnormality in the pediatric endocrine system, specifically referring to the abnormal development of secondary sexual characteristics in girls before the age of 8. Central Precocious Puberty (CPP) is caused by an increase in the secretion and release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus, which prematurely activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, leading to gonadal development and sex hormone secretion. This causes the development of internal and external reproductive organs and the appearance of sexual characteristics. CPP is also known as GnRH-dependent precocious puberty, and its progression is gradual until the reproductive system matures. GnRHa effectively inhibits LH secretion, halts gonadal development, reduces sex hormone secretion to pre-adolescent levels, thereby delaying bone age growth.