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Adolescent delayed puberty

Adolescent delayed puberty occurs when a child (12-17 years of age) does not start puberty at the same age range as their peers.

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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

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.

Adolescent delayed puberty doctors and providers