What is the hallmark of female puberty?
Delayed puberty in girls occurs when breasts don't develop by age 13 or menstrual periods do not begin by age 16. Puberty changes occur when the body starts making sex hormones. These changes normally begin to appear in girls between ages 8 to 14 years old. With delayed puberty, these changes either don't occur, or if they do, they don't progress normally. Delayed puberty is more common in boys than in girls. In most cases of delayed puberty, growth changes just begin later than usual, sometimes called a late bloomer. Once puberty begins, it progresses normally. This pattern runs in families. This is the most common cause of late maturity. Another common cause of delayed puberty in girls is lack of body fat. Being too thin can disrupt the normal process of puberty. This can occur in girls who:
Delayed puberty also may occur when the ovaries produce too little or no hormones. This is called hypogonadism.
Certain medical conditions or treatments can lead to hypogonadism, including:
Girls begin puberty between ages 8 and 15. With delayed puberty, your child may have one or more of these symptoms:
There may be other symptoms, depending on what causes delayed puberty. Your child's health care provider will take a family history to know if delayed puberty runs in the family. The provider also may ask about your child's:
The provider will perform a physical exam. Other exams may include:
An x-ray of the left hand and wrist to evaluate bone age may be obtained at the initial visit to see if the bones are maturing. It may be repeated over time, if needed. The treatment will depend on the cause of delayed puberty. If there is a family history of late puberty, often no treatment is needed. In time, puberty will begin on its own. In girls with too little body fat, gaining a bit of weight may help trigger puberty. If delayed puberty is caused by a disease or an eating disorder, treating the cause may help puberty to develop normally. If puberty fails to develop, or the child is very distressed because of the delay, hormone therapy can help start puberty. The provider will:
Delayed puberty that runs in the family will resolve itself. Some girls with certain conditions, such as those with damage to their ovaries, may need to take hormones their entire lives. The estrogen replacement therapy may have side effects. Other possible complications include:
Contact your provider if:
A referral to a pediatric endocrinologist may be recommended for girls with delayed puberty. Delayed sexual development - girls; Pubertal delay - girls; Constitutional delayed puberty Haddad NG, Eugster EA. Delayed puberty. In: Jameson JL, De Groot LJ, de Kretser DM, et al, eds. Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 122. Krueger C, Shah H. Adolescent medicine. In: The Johns Hopkins Hospital; Kleinman K, McDaniel L, Molloy M, eds. The Johns Hopkins Hospital: The Harriet Lane Handbook. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 5. Styne DM. Physiology and disorders of puberty. In Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 26. Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. What is the hallmark of puberty?Puberty is a dynamic period of development marked by rapid changes in body size, shape, and composition, all of which are sexually dimorphic. One of the hallmarks of puberty is the adolescent growth spurt.
What are 5 changes for girls during puberty?Around 10-11 years. Breasts will start developing. This is the first visible sign that puberty is starting. ... . A growth spurt occurs. Some parts of the body – like the head, face and hands – might grow faster than limbs and torso. ... . The body shape will change. ... . The external genitals (vulva) and pubic hair will start to grow.. |