Precocious puberty


What are good foods for girls with precocious puberty to eat?
Girls with precocious puberty should primarily consume green, seasonal foods with no added ingredients, such as vegetables, fruits, and meats. It's best to eat seasonal products and avoid off-season fruits, like those transported from far away, as they often contain additives that can exacerbate precocious puberty. Additionally, in everyday life, including snacks and fried foods, as well as some fast foods, it is best not to consume these at all. Dairy products, soy products, and honey products, which tend to contain higher levels of estrogen, should also be avoided or consumed minimally.


Can precocious puberty be inherited by children?
Precocious puberty may have a hereditary factor, but it is not very typical. This means that if the parents experienced early puberty or development, their children might also potentially display early signs of puberty or development, but it is not a certainty. Children with precocious puberty typically refer to those who undergo sexual development too early, which can affect their height or their sexual development. This usually impacts their adult height. If parents show signs of early puberty or development, we need to closely monitor the sexual development of their children, observing the development of the nipples in girls and the development of the testicles and penis in boys.


Manifestations of precocious puberty in an 11-year-old boy
If an 11-year-old boy exhibits precocious puberty, it typically manifests as increased testicular volume and thickening of the penis, along with the development of pubic and axillary hair. In more severe cases, there may also be the growth of facial hair, voice changes, and the appearance of an Adam's apple, among other signs of male sexual organ development. In cases of very advanced precocious puberty, such as full maturity, nocturnal emissions may also occur. If we consider that an 11-year-old boy is exhibiting early signs of puberty, we can take him to the hospital for bone age and gonadal ultrasound examinations. Based on the initial diagnosis, if sexual development is deemed premature and the symptoms are pronounced, further tests such as blood hormone levels can be conducted. With assistance from diagnostic aids like bone age, gonadal ultrasound, and hormone levels, a doctor can guide appropriate intervention treatments to prevent issues associated with precocious puberty, such as significantly shorter adult stature.


Premature breast pain has now stopped hurting, does that mean it's healed?
When girls develop breasts before the age of eight, they may experience pain at the breast bud nodules. Pain does not necessarily mean recovery; it is possible that as the breast bud enlarges, the pain will naturally disappear. Whether treatment is needed once precocious puberty occurs and whether it has reached a level of cure mainly depends on the assessment through pediatric bone age, gonadal ultrasound examinations, or a combination of brain pituitary MRI and blood hormone levels to analyze the severity of the condition. For mild cases, with appropriate medication, diet, and exercise guidance, children can reach a basic level of clinical cure. Severe cases require the control of the child's sexual development through the injection of gonadal hormones or hormone-releasing analogues. Psychological impacts due to early sexual development may also necessitate behavioral and psychological interventions.


How can precocious children reduce estrogen levels?
Once children are diagnosed with precocious puberty, which usually refers to girls developing breasts before the age of 8 and boys showing signs of secondary sexual characteristics such as increased testicular volume and penile thickening before the age of 9, the method to reduce estrogen depends on the severity of the precocious puberty. This includes whether it affects the child's height and the maturity level of the sexual organs, as well as taking into account the estrogen levels at the time of examination for treatment. Mild cases usually do not require medication and can be addressed through dietary and exercise interventions. For moderate cases where hormone levels in the blood have not reached a severe state and there is some loss of height but not to the extent that requires treatment through injections, oral Chinese medicine can be used to reduce estrogen levels. In severe cases, where there is significant change in height, sexual organs, and high hormone levels in the blood, medication such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs can be used to control the child’s sexual development.


The precocious puberty stimulation test is used to check for what?
The precocious puberty stimulation test, also known as the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone stimulation test. The method of examination involves administering an intravenous injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, followed by taking blood samples before the injection, and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after the injection. Serum levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone are measured to assess their peak values. This can diagnose whether the gonadal axis has been activated and is a reliable method for diagnosing precocious puberty.


Will babies drinking soy milk lead to precocious puberty?
Soy milk is a rather nutritious food, containing rich plant protein and phospholipids, as well as vitamins B1, B2, and folic acid. Additionally, it contains iron, calcium, minerals, and other nutrients, making it an exceptional source of nutrition for children. It is generally fine for babies to drink soy milk in moderation as it can supplement various nutrients in the body. However, it should not be consumed in excess, as some studies have indicated that excessive consumption of soy milk could lead to pseudoprecocious puberty, which refers to early breast development. But, this is only pseudoprecocity, so there is no need for excessive worry. At the same time, attention should also be paid to other aspects of the diet, such as not consuming too many beverages and avoiding out-of-season vegetables.


What symptoms will appear in the pituitary gland with precocious puberty?
Children with precocious puberty should undergo a pituitary gland examination, which may reveal symptoms in two aspects: 1. Imaging examination such as pituitary MRI, which might uncover tumors in the pituitary gland that could lead to precocious puberty. 2. Hormone level tests, mainly involving the secretion of hormones controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. For example, the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone can cause precocious puberty. Precocious puberty is a relatively common endocrine disorder in children. Generally, it can be diagnosed in girls before the age of eight and in boys before the age of nine if secondary sexual characteristics appear.


Will daily skipping improve precocious puberty?
The purpose of daily rope jumping for children with precocious puberty is to impact their height positively, aiming for improvement. The goal of treating precocious puberty is to increase the final adult height. Due to premature sexual development, high levels of estrogen can lead to early closure of the growth plates, resulting in being shorter compared to peers of the same age after growing up. Therefore, to avoid being shorter as an adult, it is recommended in daily life that children engage more in activities that involve jumping, such as rope jumping, which can stimulate the growth plates and contribute to vertical growth in children. Daily rope jumping can, therefore, be beneficial, specifically concerning height improvement.


What foods can help recover from precocious puberty?
No specific food can cure the condition of precocious puberty, but it is important to avoid consuming foods high in estrogenic effects, such as dairy products, soy products, and honey, which need to be strictly controlled. Excessive intake can worsen the symptoms of precocious puberty. This includes avoiding fried foods, snacks, certain fruits, and other snacks. In everyday life, it is best to consume seasonal fruits and vegetables and maintain a balanced diet with moderate amounts of meat and eggs, which is beneficial for stabilizing hormone levels associated with precocious puberty.