Main Article Content

Abstract

The sensitive time of life known as puberty is marked by the emergence of secondary sex traits that result in full sexual development. For girls, it begins biologically between the ages of 8 and 13 and for boys, between the ages of 9 and 14. Numerous studies conducted over the past 20 years have revealed that the onset of puberty has advanced by 12 to 18 months in younger ages. Various hypotheses have been put forth to explain this change, including the contribution of obesity and nutritional status as well as the impact of extrinsic factors like exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Except for a brief period of activation after birth, the hypothalamic-hypophysis-gonadal axis develops during embryogenesis and is inhibited until the start of pubertal development. The pulse generator is likely engaged again towards the start of puberty as a result of glial signals and neurotransmitters gradually stimulating GnRH neurons. In this stage, kisspeptin and its receptor are crucial. Precocious pubertal development in the forms of premature pubarche/adrenarche, premature thelarche, and premature menarche is incomplete and is caused by endocrine systems that are only now beginning to be understood. In order to reassure patients and parents about the non-evolution of pubertal progression and prevent ineffective therapies with similar LHRH, it is crucial to identify these forms from the complete ones.

Keywords

Precocious puberty, Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, Pubarche, Thelarche, Menarche.

Article Details

How to Cite
Jeeva James, Shyni J.R, Lal Prasanth M.L, & Anson S Maroky. (2023). Precocious puberty- A review and update. International Journal of Research in Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapeutics, 12(1), 8-12. https://doi.org/10.61096/ijrpp.v12.iss1.2023.8-12

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