Is your child experiencing delayed puberty? Let's talk about this (Delayed Puberty)

Have you ever felt like your child's other friends their age are all growing taller, their voices are changing, and they look like grown-ups, but your child is still a little bit of a kid? This is a bit of a concern for many parents, and it can be a bit scary. It's normal to wonder, "Is something wrong with my child?" But don't worry. Today, we're going to talk about a condition called ' Delayed Puberty.'

What is this delayed puberty?

Simply put, puberty is the process of changing from a child's body into an adult body capable of bearing children. This doesn't happen overnight. This process is controlled by a complex interaction between our brain, the pituitary gland in the brain, and the child's reproductive organs ( the ovaries in girls and the testicles in boys).

The hormones produced by these organs are what cause other physical changes during puberty. In girls, the ovaries begin to produce more estrogen , and in boys, the testicles begin to produce more testosterone .

Typically, girls start showing signs of puberty between the ages of 8 and 14, and boys between the ages of 9 and 15. If a girl hasn't started these changes by the age of 14 or a boy by the age of 15 , we call it 'delayed puberty.' It's best to see your doctor to find out what's causing this. Your doctor may refer you to a hormone specialist, called an endocrinologist .

What are the symptoms of delayed puberty?

We recognize delayed puberty as the absence of physical changes that would normally occur at that age. Let's look at what these differences are in girls and boys.

Puberty in girls

Signs of puberty in a girl can sometimes begin as early as age 8. These are the main changes.

Puberty in boys

Puberty in boys usually begins after the age of 9. These are the main changes.

Why is puberty so delayed? What are the reasons?

The first thing to understand is that puberty varies greatly from person to person. Even if your child's friends hit puberty earlier, your child may still be within the normal range. However, there are some specific reasons why puberty may be delayed.

• Familial: Imagine if you, that is, your mother or father, reached puberty a little late when you were a child, there is a good chance that your child will do the same. This is something that is inherited.

• Constitutional growth delay: This is the most common cause of delayed puberty in boys. Simply put, these boys have a slower rate of bone growth, or “bone age,” than others. This is not a disease. It is just the way the child’s body develops. Over time, these boys will reach puberty and reach normal height.

• Functional causes: Sometimes the brain is late in sending the signal to produce hormones. We call this medically (Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism) . When this signal is lost, the pituitary gland does not send the message to either the ovaries or the testicles to produce hormones. The result is delayed puberty.

• Chronic disease: If a child has a long-term medical condition (e.g., diabetes , kidney disease , asthma, celiac disease), it can put a lot of stress on the body. This can lead to delayed growth and puberty.

• Malnutrition: When the body does not get the nutrients it needs, growth is stunted. This can be caused by excessive exercise, eating disorders, or an unbalanced diet.

• Genetic disorders: Some genetic conditions, such as Turner syndrome in girls and Klinefelter syndrome in boys, can cause delayed or absent puberty. These require laboratory tests to diagnose.

How is it treated?

When you take your child to the doctor, he or she will examine the child carefully and, if necessary, order blood tests and an X-ray of the hand. The X-ray can determine the child's bone age.

• Treating an underlying condition: If the cause of delayed puberty is another medical condition, proper treatment of that condition will result in puberty occurring naturally.
• Waiting: Often, especially if it's a family history or a ``Constitutional growth delay'' condition, the doctor will say, "Let's wait a little longer." Because these children will naturally, albeit a little late, reach puberty.
• Hormone therapy: If your child is very depressed, withdrawn from friends, withdrawing from sports, or having trouble with schoolwork, your doctor may decide to start hormone therapy. This involves giving boys testosterone and girls estrogen in small doses for a few months.

Can this affect the child psychologically?

Yes. This is the area we need to pay the most attention to. Although this is not a medically dangerous condition, it can be a great stress for the child's mind. Imagine how frustrating it is for a child to be the only one who is small while all their friends are growing up.

• They may develop low self-esteem .
• They may be ostracized and bullied by other children.
• You may be excluded from sports teams and social activities.
• Some children may even face conditions like depression .

The biggest thing you can do as a parent is to give your child mental strength . Always tell your child that this is just a delay, that with time he will grow up like his friends. Listen to your child. Let him talk about what is on his mind. If necessary, it is also a good idea to get the help of a counselor to talk to your child.

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