My 6-year-old daughter is undergoing tests at our local hospital to see if she's in puberty. How can this be happening so early?
Puberty, the time when kids develop physically and emotionally into young adults, usually begins around 8 to 14 years of age. But for some kids it can happen much earlier. The medical term for this early development is precocious puberty. Going through puberty early can be difficult on any child emotionally and socially, but can be even more difficult if that child is too young to understand what's happening.
Precocious puberty might be the result of a problem in the brain or a hormonal imbalance, but more often there's no specific underlying health issue. Some kids just have an early timer.
A doctor who specializes in early puberty can help distinguish between normal early development and a medical issue, and can help with treatment if it is needed.
Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: February 2009
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