Puberty is the period during which boys or girls undergo the process of sexual maturation. Physical changes occur so that way a child's body matures into an adult body capable of sexual reproduction to enable fertilization. Precocious puberty on the other hand, is puberty that occurs significantly earlier than normal. It starts as early as 8 years old for girls and 9 years old for boys. There is said to be two different types of precocious puberty: central precocious puberty and peripheral precocious puberty. With peripheral precocious puberty symptoms are triggered by hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. With central precocious puberty the pituitary gland is prompted to produce hormones, called gonadotropins. These hormones in turn stimulate the testicles or ovaries to make other hormones, testosterone or estrogen.

Some of the cascading issues that come along with precocious puberty include short stature, stress, behavioral problems, obesity, and early sexual activity. Some might also say that girls who go through precocious puberty have an increased risk of breast cancer early in life.

When it comes to social issues, it's always hard to be different, and developing an adult-looking body earlier than your peers can put a lot of pressure on kids. Both boys and girls can have a tough time when they go through pubertal changes early. Your child may be teased, and may have body image or self-esteem problems. They may also be confused about what is happening to