Question
A nine-year-old girl is experiencing breast development and the onset of menstruation, suspected of having precocious puberty. What is the definition of precocious puberty? What are the treatment methods for it?
Answer
Precocious puberty is a sexual development abnormality characterized by the early onset of sexual maturity. Generally, boys show signs of precocious puberty before the age of eight, and girls before the age of nine. The main manifestations include the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics, such as breast development, pubic and body hair growth. At this time, height and weight may increase rapidly, and the external genitalia may also develop. Precocious puberty can be categorized into central precocious puberty, peripheral precocious puberty, and partial precocious puberty. Central precocious puberty is more common in girls, especially idiopathic precocious puberty, which accounts for over 80% of central precocious puberty. Secondary precocious puberty is often associated with hidden lesions. Peripheral precocious puberty is commonly seen in cases of gonadal, adrenal tumors, and exogenous hormone stimulation. The treatment methods for precocious puberty depend on its type and cause. For central precocious puberty, treatments may include