Precocious Puberty and Benign Variants in Female Children: Etiology, Diagnostic Challenges, and Clinical Management
Precocious puberty, defined as the onset of secondary sexual characteristics before age 8 in girls, presents a diagnostic challenge in distinguishing between normal variants and pathological conditions requiring intervention. Central precocious puberty (CPP) results from early activation of the hypo...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Endocrines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-396X/6/2/29 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849433729738473472 |
|---|---|
| author | Roberto Paparella Arianna Bei Lorenzo Brilli Vittorio Maglione Francesca Tarani Marcello Niceta Ida Pucarelli Luigi Tarani |
| author_facet | Roberto Paparella Arianna Bei Lorenzo Brilli Vittorio Maglione Francesca Tarani Marcello Niceta Ida Pucarelli Luigi Tarani |
| author_sort | Roberto Paparella |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Precocious puberty, defined as the onset of secondary sexual characteristics before age 8 in girls, presents a diagnostic challenge in distinguishing between normal variants and pathological conditions requiring intervention. Central precocious puberty (CPP) results from early activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, whereas peripheral precocious puberty (PPP) arises from excess sex steroid production independent of gonadotropins. Benign variants, including premature thelarche and premature adrenarche, require careful differentiation to prevent unnecessary treatment. This review explores the physiological mechanisms governing puberty, the epidemiological trends influencing its early onset, and the genetic and environmental factors contributing to its variability in female children. A structured diagnostic approach incorporating clinical evaluation, hormone assessments, imaging studies, and genetic insights is discussed. Management strategies vary depending on the etiology, with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs recommended for CPP and targeted therapies for PPP. In contrast, benign variants often necessitate observation and periodic follow-up. Given the increasing prevalence of early puberty, further research is essential to refine diagnostic thresholds and optimize treatment protocols. Early and accurate identification of precocious puberty ensures appropriate intervention, mitigating potential risks associated with early maturation, including compromised adult height and psychosocial challenges. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-da226efbc14b430a8c8d97d119ac3d16 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-396X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Endocrines |
| spelling | doaj-art-da226efbc14b430a8c8d97d119ac3d162025-08-20T03:26:56ZengMDPI AGEndocrines2673-396X2025-06-01622910.3390/endocrines6020029Precocious Puberty and Benign Variants in Female Children: Etiology, Diagnostic Challenges, and Clinical ManagementRoberto Paparella0Arianna Bei1Lorenzo Brilli2Vittorio Maglione3Francesca Tarani4Marcello Niceta5Ida Pucarelli6Luigi Tarani7Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, ItalyPrecocious puberty, defined as the onset of secondary sexual characteristics before age 8 in girls, presents a diagnostic challenge in distinguishing between normal variants and pathological conditions requiring intervention. Central precocious puberty (CPP) results from early activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, whereas peripheral precocious puberty (PPP) arises from excess sex steroid production independent of gonadotropins. Benign variants, including premature thelarche and premature adrenarche, require careful differentiation to prevent unnecessary treatment. This review explores the physiological mechanisms governing puberty, the epidemiological trends influencing its early onset, and the genetic and environmental factors contributing to its variability in female children. A structured diagnostic approach incorporating clinical evaluation, hormone assessments, imaging studies, and genetic insights is discussed. Management strategies vary depending on the etiology, with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs recommended for CPP and targeted therapies for PPP. In contrast, benign variants often necessitate observation and periodic follow-up. Given the increasing prevalence of early puberty, further research is essential to refine diagnostic thresholds and optimize treatment protocols. Early and accurate identification of precocious puberty ensures appropriate intervention, mitigating potential risks associated with early maturation, including compromised adult height and psychosocial challenges.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-396X/6/2/29precocious pubertypremature thelarchepremature adrenarchechildrenfemale |
| spellingShingle | Roberto Paparella Arianna Bei Lorenzo Brilli Vittorio Maglione Francesca Tarani Marcello Niceta Ida Pucarelli Luigi Tarani Precocious Puberty and Benign Variants in Female Children: Etiology, Diagnostic Challenges, and Clinical Management Endocrines precocious puberty premature thelarche premature adrenarche children female |
| title | Precocious Puberty and Benign Variants in Female Children: Etiology, Diagnostic Challenges, and Clinical Management |
| title_full | Precocious Puberty and Benign Variants in Female Children: Etiology, Diagnostic Challenges, and Clinical Management |
| title_fullStr | Precocious Puberty and Benign Variants in Female Children: Etiology, Diagnostic Challenges, and Clinical Management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Precocious Puberty and Benign Variants in Female Children: Etiology, Diagnostic Challenges, and Clinical Management |
| title_short | Precocious Puberty and Benign Variants in Female Children: Etiology, Diagnostic Challenges, and Clinical Management |
| title_sort | precocious puberty and benign variants in female children etiology diagnostic challenges and clinical management |
| topic | precocious puberty premature thelarche premature adrenarche children female |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-396X/6/2/29 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robertopaparella precociouspubertyandbenignvariantsinfemalechildrenetiologydiagnosticchallengesandclinicalmanagement AT ariannabei precociouspubertyandbenignvariantsinfemalechildrenetiologydiagnosticchallengesandclinicalmanagement AT lorenzobrilli precociouspubertyandbenignvariantsinfemalechildrenetiologydiagnosticchallengesandclinicalmanagement AT vittoriomaglione precociouspubertyandbenignvariantsinfemalechildrenetiologydiagnosticchallengesandclinicalmanagement AT francescatarani precociouspubertyandbenignvariantsinfemalechildrenetiologydiagnosticchallengesandclinicalmanagement AT marcelloniceta precociouspubertyandbenignvariantsinfemalechildrenetiologydiagnosticchallengesandclinicalmanagement AT idapucarelli precociouspubertyandbenignvariantsinfemalechildrenetiologydiagnosticchallengesandclinicalmanagement AT luigitarani precociouspubertyandbenignvariantsinfemalechildrenetiologydiagnosticchallengesandclinicalmanagement |