Pubertal disorders early & delayed puberty
When signs of puberty appear before age 8 in girls and age 9 in boys, a diagnosis of precocious puberty is made. These signs can include underarm and pubic hair growth and body odor. Girls may develop breasts or begin menstruation, whereas boys may experience early growth of the testicles, penis, and facial hair and a lowering of the voice.
Children with precocious puberty grow quickly at first but tend to stop growing earlier than usual, making them shorter than average as adults.
Though the cause of precocious puberty in most children is unknown, it can sometimes be caused by a brain tumor or an injury to the endocrine glands. That injury may result from trauma or the combined effects of surgery and radiation therapy for cancer.
Precocious puberty can also be caused by congenital adrenal hyperplasia, an inherited condition in which the adrenal glands release abnormal levels of hormones. Rarely, early puberty in girls is caused by a neuroendocrine disorder called McCune–Albright syndrome, which causes fibrous growths to replace healthy bone. In boys with the rare genetic condition testotoxicosis, excess amounts of testosterone are released, leading to precocious puberty.
Pubertal disorders delayed puberty
What is delayed puberty?
Puberty that happens late is called delayed puberty. This means a child’s physical signs of sexual maturity don’t appear by age 12 in girls or age 14 in boys. This includes breast or testicle growth, pubic hair, and voice changes. These are known as secondary sexual characteristics.
What causes delayed puberty?
Delayed puberty most often has no known cause. In some cases, it may run in families. In other cases, it may be caused by any of these:
- Chromosomal problems
- Genetic disorder
- Chronic illness
- Tumors of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus
- Underactive pituitary gland (hypopituitarism)
- Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
- Abnormal development of the reproductive system
- Inability of the body to use androgen hormones (complete androgen insensitivity syndrome)
- Too much exercise
- Severe lack of eating (anorexia)
Who is at risk for delayed puberty?
A child is at risk for delayed puberty if he or she has any of these:
- Parents or siblings with delayed puberty
- Chronic medical conditions
- Congenital syndrome
- An eating disorder
