What is CPP?
Facts to Know
What Causes CPP?
How Does CPP Impact Children?
How Do You Diagnose CPP?
How Do CPP Treatments Work?
Helpful Resources

What is CPP?

Central precocious puberty (CPP)
is when a child shows signs of
puberty sooner than normal1,2
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Facts to Know

While puberty normally starts between ages 8 and 13 in girls and between
ages 9 and 14 in boys, girls with central precocious puberty (CPP) begin
exhibiting signs before age 8, and boys with this disorder begin before age 9.16
CPP affects
1 in 5,000-10,000
 children4
CPP is more common
in girls
than boys
Cap-stroke
Although the exact cause is usually unknown, CPP
results from the early release of gonadotropin-
releasing hormone (GnRH) which signals the
pituitary gland to begin puberty at an age earlier
than normal.5, 17
Understanding Puberty
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arrow body arrow body arrow body arrow body
GnRH reaches pituitary gland
luteinizing hormone
folicle-stimulating hormone
estrogen
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arrow body arrow body arrow body arrow body
GnRH reaches pituitary gland
luteinizing hormone
folicle-stimulating hormone
testosterone
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It’s the Right Process Happening
at The Wrong Time

Puberty is trigged when GnRH is released from the hypothalamus and reaches a part of the brain called the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland stores hormones and releases them into the bloodstream. Once GnRH reaches the pituitary gland, it signals the gland to release two hormones in the body: lutenizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). These hormones tell the female and male sex organs to release estrogen and testosterone. Estrogen and testosterone cause the physical changes of puberty to begin in children. In children with CPP, this process starts earlier than normal.5, 18
 
 
As adults, children with CPP may be shorter in height due to the fusion of growth plates happening too early.12
Girls and boys who begin puberty for any reason before their peers may be extremely self-conscious about the changes occurring in their bodies. This may affect self-esteem and may increase the risk of depression or substance abuse during their developmental years*.5, 13, 14
*Note: Most study data is in girls.

How Do You Diagnose CPP?

CPP can be diagnosed in children as young as 2 years old.3
Common signs of puberty in girls and boys are:

Woman Girls6-9

barbat Boys8-11

 
 
 
Treatments for CPP reduce or stop the effects of GnRH signaling on the pituitary with the goal of reducing the release of LH and FSH to pre-pubertal levels.2
Find Out More About A CPP Treatment
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Find the Right Pediatric Endocrinologist

A pediatric endocrinologist specializes in growth, puberty, diabetes, and other disorders related to hormones and the glands that produce them. Unlike hormonal issues treated by endocrinologists who care for adults, problems seen by pediatric endocrinologists are quite different. Pediatric endocrinologists are specially trained in pediatric conditions related to growth and development.19
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Doctor Discussion Guide
and CPP Tools

Our downloadable guides and tools make it easy for you to take important CPP information with you wherever you go - including the doctor's office when you need to have a conversation with your child's doctor about CPP and treatment options.

Doctor Discussion Guide CPP Infographic

Helpful
Resources

Please visit the following organizations' websites for more information and resources on CPP.*

Human Growth Foundation
The Magic Foundation
Pediatric Endocrine Society
*The organizations listed are potential resources for parents about CPP.
They are not affiliated with Azurity Pharmaceuticals.

 

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