Disturbances of puberty

The initiation and progress of puberty requires progressive pulsatile stimulation of the pituitary by GnRH and of the gonads by LH and FSH. Gonadal maturation continues throughout childhood and is not confined to puberty. We have discussed the events of normal puberty and emphasized the consonance of the acquisition of different components of sexual maturation, including growth acceleration. Departure from this consonance is a sign of abnormality. The method by which constitutional delay of growth and puberty can be distinguished from gonadotrophin deficiency has been discussed as well as the treatment options for both conditions. We have emphasized the significance of pulsatile gonadotrophin secretion and how the development of a multicystic ovarian morphology on ultrasound can be used as a non-invasive assessment of gonadotrophin pulsatility in girls. Pulsatile GnRH therapy mimics normal puberty. The converse of suppressing the clinical signs of central precocious puberty can be achieved by abolishing gonadotrophin pulsatility with GnRH analogue therapy. We now recognize qualitative pulse abnormalities of gonadotrophin secretion which occur in isolated premature thelarche and in some cases of delayed puberty. Although clinical assessment remains the key to the diagnosis of disorders of puberty, studies of gonadotrophin pulsatility have aided our understanding and treatment of these conditions.