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Early Puberty in Boys

Boys are less likely to enter puberty early than girls are, but on rare occasions it does happen. If this should happen to your son, you will want to be prepared with the information to help him if necessary. Boys usually begin showing signs of puberty around the age of nine or ten, but it can happen as late as the age of fourteen. Early puberty, however, can begin around the age of eight. Usually this is no cause for concern, but id you see the signs, or your son brings them to your attention, you will probably want to consult a doctor to rule out any serious causes or conditions.

Many things can cause a boy to enter puberty early. Some of these things are not serious at all, while other will require the attention of a doctor. Some of the reasons are as follows.

• Genetics: if your husband or any of the men on either side of your families started puberty early, then your son may be predisposed to do so also.

• Excess weight: studies have shown that children who are overweight usually begin puberty a littler earlier than normal.

• Tumors: while not very common, a tumor in the brain can sometimes cause a child to begin puberty earlier. These tumors are usually not cancerous and easily treated.

• Other disease or conditions: sometimes a child's body will be forced into early puberty by another, non-related medical conditions. These types of conditions include infection, head injury, hypothyroidism and testicular tumors.

If your son does show signs of early puberty, your doctor will most likely need to do a thorough exam. This exam will include a medical history, a family medical history, an external examination of your son's genital area, some lab work to detect the presence of high levels of hormones, an x-ray to determine the extent of bone growth and an MRI to rule out any tumors.

If a cause is found for your son's condition, then the doctor will treat it accordingly. If no cause is found, which is usually the case, then the doctor will have two options. He or she could take a wait and see approach and just choose to monitor your child's progress, or he could choose to give your son medication, which would inhibit the continuation of puberty. This medication is usually a hormone that, when injected into your son's body, will stop the process of puberty for a limited time. These injections are usually given on a weekly basis and are stopped once a boy enters the age of twelve or thirteen. Once the injections are stopped, puberty naturally begins again.

No matter which option you and your child's doctor choose, you will need to explain the process to your son. Make sure that you are open and honest with him about his body's changes and about all medical procedures that he will be expected to undergo. He will already be nervous and anxious because of the changes in his body. Meeting with the unexpected will only make things worse for him.

If you are uncomfortable talking about these changes with your son, or if he seems to be uncomfortable discussing them with you, then you should find another way to get him the information that he needs. Enlist a trusted friend or family member to talk with him, or buy him a book that explains puberty for boys.

Most importantly, be patient. Puberty is hard for any child, but even harder for a child that is not mentally mature enough to understand it and cope with it. Try your best to support him without making him feel worse.

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