Publication:

Understanding precocious puberty management and diagnosis: a review

The precocious puberty (PP) typically defined as the onset of secondary sexual characteristics prior to the age of 8 years in females and 9 years in males. The retrospective studies proved that the rate of PP significantly elevated in last few decades. This can be the result of early activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis or due to autonomous production of sex steroids, independent of gonadotropin stimulation. The central precocious puberty is more common and is gonadotropin-dependent, whereas peripheral precocious puberty is gonadotropin-independent. Precocious puberty is associated with several challenges, including accelerated secondary sexual transformation, reduced adult height, psychosocial disturbances, and increased risk of certain malignancies. Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in understanding the genetic, environmental, and metabolic underpinnings of this condition, especially with the rising global incidence. In this review, we discuss the mechanism of precocious puberty and explore the epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, and management of PP, with a focus on recent advances in therapy and molecular insights. A multidisciplinary approach is essential to optimize outcomes and ensure psychological well-being.