Puberty is the development of sexual maturity. The onset of puberty varies from child to child. It normally starts around age 12 or 13 in boys. Precocious puberty in boys is the premature onset of puberty that begins before the age of 9 and one half years. It is rare and affects about 1 child in every 10,000 in the United States. In boys, the developmental changes of normal puberty are:
* testes and penis enlargement,
* pubic, underarm, and facial hair appear,
* voice deepens,
* growth accelerates,
* spontaneous erections occur, and
* sperm is produced.

The same hormone changes that cause puberty also cause precocious puberty. Premature stimulation of the endocrine system releases hormones from the pituitary gland. These hormones stimulate the testes to make sex hormones. The sex hormones, including testosterone, cause sexual maturation in boys.

Sex hormones accelerate growth as well as the skeletal process that ends growth. Boys who start puberty prematurely are tall for their age, but growth stops earlier for them. Their full height potential as adults is never achieved. They often grow no taller than 5 feet 2 inches.

Behavior changes occur during premature puberty. Some boys become more aggressive than their peers and develop a sex drive. They may become too self-conscious with their physical changes to undress in front of others, including parents. Boys often have a hard time paying attention in school and getting along with other children their age. They may feel more comfortable around older children, but are not mature enough emotionally to be accepted by them.

This condition requires medical treatment. Seek advice from your physician. Hormone therapy can stop premature puberty and even reverse it in some children. Parents can help their son deal with premature puberty by reassuring him. Keep treating your son like the little boy that he is and advise his teachers to do the same. Help him talk through his frustrations and gain perspective about his condition. Give him hugs and do not overreact when he does.

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