Precocious puberty is defined as puberty beginning before what ages in girls and boys, respectively?

Precocious puberty is defined as puberty beginning before what ages in girls and boys, respectively?

• A. before age 9 in girls and before age 10 in boys
• B. before age 7 in girls and before age 8 in boys
• C. before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys
• D. before age 8 in girls and before age 10 in boys

Answer: (C)

Precocious puberty occurs when puberty starts earlier than the typical ages for each sex. Girls usually begin puberty around age 8, while boys typically begin around age 9. Therefore, puberty that starts before these ages is considered precocious—before 8 in girls and before 9 in boys. The other proposed cutoffs would shift the threshold away from the standard timing differences between sexes.

Precocious puberty occurs when puberty starts earlier than the typical ages for each sex. Girls usually begin puberty around age 8, while boys typically begin around age 9. Therefore, puberty that starts before these ages is considered precocious—before 8 in girls and before 9 in boys. The other proposed cutoffs would shift the threshold away from the standard timing differences between sexes.