What causes central precocious puberty?

What causes central precocious puberty?

• A. Late activation of the HPG axis
• B. Elevated LH only without activation of gonadotropins
• C. External estrogen exposure is the sole cause
• D. Early activation of the HPG axis

Answer: (D)

Central precocious puberty happens when the hypothalamus starts the puberty signal earlier than usual, releasing GnRH in a pulsatile way. That GnRH prompts the pituitary to secrete LH and FSH, which then stimulate the gonads to produce sex steroids and drive early development. This early activation of the HPG axis explains why puberty starts sooner than normal. Delaying activation wouldn’t cause early puberty, and an isolated rise in LH without the full GnRH-driven cascade doesn’t fit the central pattern. External estrogen exposure would trigger puberty through a peripheral, not central, mechanism.

Central precocious puberty happens when the hypothalamus starts the puberty signal earlier than usual, releasing GnRH in a pulsatile way. That GnRH prompts the pituitary to secrete LH and FSH, which then stimulate the gonads to produce sex steroids and drive early development. This early activation of the HPG axis explains why puberty starts sooner than normal. Delaying activation wouldn’t cause early puberty, and an isolated rise in LH without the full GnRH-driven cascade doesn’t fit the central pattern. External estrogen exposure would trigger puberty through a peripheral, not central, mechanism.