Puberty Flashcards
Stages of normal puberty in females
Breast development ages 8-12.
Pubic hair and rapid height growth after breast development.
Menarche around 2.5 years after puberty starts
What are the stages of normal pbuerty in males
Testicular enlargement 9-13 years, pubic hair 10-14. Rapid height growth around 18 months after start.
Features of puberty common to males and females
Acne, axillary hair, body odour, mood change
What is classed as early puberty
<8 years in females.
<9 years in males
What is true precocious puberty
Premature activation of the HPA gonadal axis, leading to increased LH and FSH and then increased secretion of oestrogen/testosterone. Normal sequence of puberty
What is false precocious puberty
Excess sex steroids outside of the pituitary gland, with rare, abnormal sequence of puberty. Low FSH and LH
Causes of true precocious puberty
Idiopathic, tumours, congential brain abnormality, hypothyroidism
Causes of false precocious puberty
Adrenal disorder, ovarian tumour, testicular tumour, excess sex steroids
What happens in premature breast development
Usually females aged 6 months - 2 years where there is asymetrical fluctuating size. Non-progessing and self-limiting and there are no other signs of puberty
What is classed as delayed puberty
Absence of pubertal development by 14 years in females and 15 years in males
Causes of delayed puberty
Low gonadotroph secretion (low FSH and LH) with low oestrogen and testogesterone.
High gonadotroph secretion (high/normal FSH and LH) with low oestrogen and testosterone
Causes of high gonadotroph secretion leading to delayed puberty
Systemic disease such as CF, Crohns, anorexia, starvation, and HPA disorders (pituitary dysfunction, isolated def and intracranial tumours)
Causes of low gonadotroph secretion leading to delated puberty
Chromosomal such as Klinefelters and Turner’s, steroid hormone enzyme deficiency, and gonadal damage such as from surgery, chemo or trauma.
