Delayed puberty: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
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Delay of puberty: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Puberty is a period of life in which a child's body begins to turn into an adult. Late puberty is the absence of physical signs of sexual maturity in life expectancy.
Life expectancy for Adulthood is between 8 and 13 years for girls and between 9 and 14 years for boys. Each child acquires puberty at different ages. If signs of puberty are absent even after 2-2.5 years of life expectancy, the child may have reached late puberty. The absence of breast enlargement in girls or enlargement of the testicles in males may indicate late puberty . Most often, the underlying cause is unknown, and the condition resolves on its own.
Read on to learn about delayed puberty, its causes, signs, symptoms and treatment.
What are the causes of delayed puberty?
In most cases, the exact cause of delayed puberty is unknown, and in a few cases, delayed puberty may spread in the family. The following factors may contribute more to delayed puberty in some cases.
- Constitutional delay in growth and puberty (CDGP): Features is characterized by short stature, delayed puberty and bone age. It can lead to an increased risk of delayed puberty. The condition often runs in the family and is diagnosed only after the underlying conditions have been ruled out.
- Underlying medical condition: an underlying medical condition such as celiac disease, which affects a child's ability to grow at a normal pace, may lead to delayed puberty. Some other conditions that prevent the hypothalamus or pituitary gland from sending the “onset of puberty” signal may also be responsible for the delay . In addition, it is likely to be caused by other genetic disorders, such as Turner syndrome in girls and Klinefelter syndrome in boys.
- Other causes: late puberty can also result from malnutrition, excessive physical exercise, stress and the use of psychiatric drugs.
Delayed puberty: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Signs of delayed puberty
The most common sign of delayed puberty is the delay in the development of the child's secondary sexual characteristics.
In girls, symptoms may include:
- Lack of breast growth by 12 years
- Increase the duration of more than five years between breast growth and the first menstrual period in girls, and There is no menstrual cycle by %15.
In boys, symptoms may include.
- Lack of pubic hair or irregular distribution of pubic hair .
- There is no testicular enlargement by the age of 14 .
How is delayed puberty diagnosed?
The diagnosis of delayed puberty is relatively clear because the symptoms are physically obvious. However, to determine the exact cause of delayed puberty, you may want to consult your doctor for certain tests and identify the underlying problem, if any.
A thorough examination of family history, medical history, growth pattern, and physical examination may help detect factors responsible for delayed puberty
Common tests that can be used to diagnose late puberty are:
- Determination of bone age: simple X-rays of the wrist can help determine the structure and density of bones.
- Blood tests: blood tests can help measure the levels of hormones responsible for the onset of puberty. This may help diagnose the main cause of delayed development of secondary sexual characteristics.
If Turner syndrome or Klinefelter syndrome is suspected, a comprehensive chromosomal analysis may confirm the diagnosis .
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Treatment of delayed puberty
Treatment for late puberty depends on the underlying cause of the problem . In general, children with a constitutional delay in development and puberty go through puberty and acquire the desired characteristics, although they are slightly delayed.
Often, when the cause of the delayed spore is treated, puberty proceeds normally. If late puberty is hereditary, there is no need for treatment. In some cases, it may include hormone therapy to increase testosterone or estrogen levels and induce puberty.
How to help your child cope with delayed puberty
Although puberty varies among children, if a girl does not have an enlarged breast and is free of menstruation at the age of 15 or the boy shows a lack or irregularity in general hair by the age of 15, they may have delayed puberty. Dealing with delayed puberty can be stressful for both parents and children. If you think your child may have this problem or show signs of distress, you can talk to a doctor. Also, sometimes, your child may need some extra help to manage their feelings and fears.
Key indicators
- Late puberty can be caused by family history, constitutional delay in growth and puberty, a medical condition, or other causes such as malnutrition.
- In Girls, late puberty can lead to lack of breast growth and delayed first menstruation.
- Boys with delayed puberty have obvious symptoms such as lack of testicular enlargement and lack an even distribution of pubic hair.
- Those with hereditary late puberty and Ùˆ do not need treatment, but those with other causes may need hormonal treatment.