Precocious puberty

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Coping and support

By Mayo Clinic staff

Children who begin puberty early may feel different from their peers, which can cause social and emotional problems such as low self-esteem, depression and substance abuse. As a parent, you also may have trouble dealing with your child's early development.

If you, your child or other members of your family are having difficulty coping, seek counseling. Psychological counseling can help your family better understand and handle the emotions, issues and challenges that accompany precocious puberty. If you have questions or would like guidance on how to find a qualified counselor, talk with a member of your health care team.

References
  1. Biro F. Normal puberty. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 13, 2008.
  2. Pralong FP. Diagnosis and treatment of delayed puberty. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 13, 2008.
  3. Saenger P. Overview of precocious puberty. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 13, 2008.
  4. Carel JC, et al. Precocious puberty. New England Journal of Medicine. 2008;358:2366.
  5. Muir A. Precocious puberty. Pediatrics in Review. 2006;27:373.
  6. Precocious puberty. The Hormone Foundation. http://www.hormone.org/Resources/Growth/upload/bilingual_precocious_puberty.pdf. Accessed Nov. 24, 2008.
  7. Styne D. Precocious puberty (sexual precocity). In: Gardner DG, et al. Greenspan's Basic & Clinical Endocrinology. 8th edition. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2007. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2631040&searchStr=precocious+puberty. Accessed Nov. 11, 2008.

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Feb. 5, 2009

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