Health Promotion of the School-Age Child and Family

Question 1

What is the average age of puberty for girls and boys?

Answer 1

12 in girls and 14 in boys.

Question 2

What are the Tanner Stages of sexual maturation?

Answer 2

• Tanner Stages are used to categorize the physical changes that occur during puberty.
• Tanner stages are from 1 to 5 with 5 being the most mature (fully developed)

Question 3

Describe characteristics of puberty.

Answer 3

• The age of occurrence varies (boys, girls, and among different ethnic groups).
• Sequence of physical changes is predictable (Tanner Stages)
• The first sign of puberty in a girl is breast development.
• Average age of menarche (first menstruation) ~ 12yrs

Question 4

What is precocious puberty?

Answer 4

Development of secondary sex characteristics before age 8 in girls and 9 in boys.

Question 5

What are some causes of precocious puberty?

Answer 5

• Idiopathic (unknown)—the most common cause
• Genetic and environmental factors.
• Family history of precocious puberty.
• CNS causes—including tumors involving the hypothalamus or malformations of the hypothalamus.

Question 6

How do you manage precocious puberty?

Answer 6

Referred to Endocrinology for further evaluation.