The onset of puberty is normally triggered by the hypothalamus which signals the pituitary gland to release hormones that stimulate the ovaries (in girls) or testicles (in boys) to secrete sex hormones. The hypothalamus and pituitary are small glands near the brain that secrete hormones.
Although in most instances no cause is found for the condition but is some cases the following causes may be responsible for early onset of puberty:
- Structural changes in the brain eg: tumor
- Brain injury
- Infection eg: meningitis
- Disorders of the ovaries or testicles
- Problems of the thyroid gland
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- Hypothalamic hamartoma
- McCune-Albright syndrome
- Tumors that release a hormone called hCG
