The constitutional delay of growth, as well as puberty, is known as delayed puberty. This delay in growth is among the most common causes of delayed puberty and sometimes we call delayed puberty CDGP. The full form of CDGP is a constitutional delay of growth and puberty.
People confuse themselves about delayed puberty and they don’t have a clear idea of what delayed puberty is. However, here we discuss puberty and delayed puberty in detail. Breast development, especially in women, is the first sign of puberty.
When ovaries in women become active and start producing estrogens there is a development in the breasts. In addition, according to the best endocrinologist in Lahore, the development of the testes is the first sign of puberty in boys. When the pituitary gland starts producing follicle-stimulating hormone, it causes developments in the testes in boys.
As mentioned above, breast development is the first sign of puberty in girls, and testes development is the first sign of puberty in boys. Then what will be the signs of delayed puberty in boys and girls? If there is no development in the breasts of girls after the age of thirteen then doctors or endocrinologists will diagnose it as delayed puberty.
However, if there are no signs of development in the testes in boys after the age of fourteen, there are chances that this condition is due to delayed puberty.
Furthermore, we will discuss what causes delayed puberty in most boys and girls. Well, the reasons for delayed puberty in boys and girls may vary.
Causes of Delayed Puberty
According to an estimation, in almost 90% of cases, constitutional delay of growth and puberty is the major reason for delayed puberty that we know. Now, what’s the meaning of the previous statement? It simply means that delayed puberty will occur in boys or girls who are healthy enough but they have a slower rate of physical development which leads to delayed puberty.
Typically, it is possible that children with delayed puberty have a short stature than other children who have reached puberty. Usually, children with delayed puberty are thin and sometimes they also have a family history of delayed puberty.
However, many times there are chances that delayed puberty would be secondary to many health and other conditions. These conditions may include stress, for a longer time, chronic diseases, and sometimes excessive physical exercise.
In addition, children who experience diabetes and other health conditions like cystic fibrosis can also be the reasons for pubertal development. Anorexia and excessive physical exercise can cause very low fat in many body parts. And very low fat in some body parts can also delay puberty in many children.
If there is a loss of hormone secretions from different body parts such as the pituitary gland, then it may cause delayed puberty. Additionally, disorders of the ovaries or testes can also lead to this hormone condition.
However, a delay in puberty caused by fewer hormone secretions or testes disorders is very rare. But we can’t skip the dangers of delayed puberty caused by these problems.
Children have to increase the production of luteinizing hormone from the pituitary gland to start puberty. If something goes wrong with this production definitely there will be a delay in puberty.
Signs of Delayed Puberty
The signs and symptoms of delayed puberty will not be like the symptoms of other diseases. The signs of delayed puberty are only related to the breasts in girls and in boys will only be related to the testes.
If the breasts of girls don’t grow or develop after the age of thirteen in girls, then we can for sure say that it is a symptom of delayed puberty. In addition, in boys, if the testes are less than 4ml in volume, it will also indicate delayed puberty.
However, another symptom can also indicate delayed puberty in girls and boys. The slow process of linear growth in girls and boys can also indicate delayed puberty.
The question rises here is delayed puberty common? Or is it more common in boys than girls? Well, we can say that delayed puberty is not much common in girls and boys. Almost 97% of children don’t experience this problem.
According to an estimation, almost 3% of children experience this problem. And out of this 3% of children, almost 90% of children experience delayed puberty due to constitutional delay. In addition, medical scientists also say that constitutional delay is more common in boys.
The Final Words about Delayed Puberty
Delayed puberty in both boys and girls is not common. However, this problem can affect the quality of life of boys and girls. If being a parent you notice that there is no development in the breasts of your daughter or that testes are developing in your son, then contacting an endocrinologist will become a must.
