Adolescent delayed puberty

What is adolescent delayed puberty?

An adolescent’s body starts making sex hormones during puberty. When these body changes do not occur or progress normally, the child has delayed puberty.

• Girls - between 10 - 14 years old

• Boys - between 12 - 16 years old

Risk factors

It is more common in boys than girls.

What are the different types of delayed puberty?

• Delayed puberty in girls is when a female adolescent whose breasts have not developed by the age of 13 and has not gotten her menstrual period by age 16.

• Delayed puberty in boys is when a male adolescent’s testicles and penis haven’t gotten larger, and his voice hasn’t deepened and hair hasn’t grown in a variety of places by age 16. These changes take a total of 3-4 years in most males.

What are the signs and symptoms of delayed puberty?

Girls

• Breasts not developing by age 13

• No pubic hair

• Menstruation doesn’t start by age 16

• Slow rate of growth

• Short height

• Uterus does not develop

Boys

• High-pitched voice

• Minimum body hair

• Small and immature penis at age 13

• Testicles smaller than one inch at age 14

What are the causes of delayed puberty?

Most delayed puberty cases turn out perfectly fine, and the adolescent will undergo puberty at a later age.

• Patterns run in families – if one or both parents had puberty start late, it can also begin later in their children.

• Girls who are very active in sports and lack body fat can also have delayed puberty.