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Central Precocious Puberty
When Puberty Occurs Earlier Than Expected
By Teri Brown
CPP can create many challenges for children, but especially young girls. Girls who develop early can have emotional issues because of teasing or inappropriate remarks. These early changes can make them very uncomfortable with their bodies. These early increased hormone levels will also cause the bones to stop growing too early. At first the girls will appear taller than average, but they will stop growing taller well before their peers and end up much shorter than average.
Dr. Lawrence Silverman, a pediatric endocrinologist at Morristown Memorial Hospital in Morristown, N.J., says there are serious risks associated with the condition. "CPP can cause growth acceleration and advancement of bone age, ultimately resulting in shorter stature," Dr. Silverman says. "Long-term studies have shown that girls who begin menstruation at an earlier age may have an increased risk of developing breast cancer as adults."
According to Dr. Silverman, CPP can also take a psychological toll on children. A child may feel that her emotional development should match her outward appearance and try to step into adulthood prematurely. 
Studies of teens have suggested that girls who develop early are more likely to be sexually active, have more problems in school and are more likely to smoke and use alcohol and drugs.
"CPP can be stopped through treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists," Dr. Silverman says. "Patients have traditionally been treated with once-monthly intramuscular injections of GnRH agonists. The first new therapy for CPP in 25 years was approved in May 2007. A once-yearly subcutaneous implant, Supprelin LA continually releases the GnRH agonist histrelin over the course of 12 months, suppressing hormone levels over the period."
