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Delayed Puberty

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Pediatric Endocrinology

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

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Abstract

Delayed puberty is defined as the absence of any sign of puberty in a child at a chronological age two standard deviations above the mean age of pubertal development for a given population. By current standards, this is defined as absence of an increase in testicular volume (less than 4 mL) at 14 yr in a boy or absence of any breast development at 13 yr in a girl (1,2). In addition, pathologic abnormalities may be associated with abnormal progression through puberty once initial pubertal changes have begun, and are worthy of further evaluation. In boys, a period of 3.2 +/− 1.8 (mean +/− SD) years is necessary to achieve adult testicular volume after the onset of puberty. In girls, the period from breast budding to menarche is 2.4 +/−1.1 (mean +/− SD) years (3). Therefore, evaluation is warranted if more than 4−5 yr has elapsed from the onset of puberty to adult testicular size in boys or menarche in girls. Further evaluation is necessary to determine the etiology of pubertal delay, and for determination of necessary therapy. Clinical and laboratory assessment is aimed at differentiating a lag in normal pubertal development from abnormalities in need of further investigation and/or therapy.

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Authors
  1. Diane E. J. Stafford MD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Sally Radovick MD

  2. Division of Endocrinology, Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Margaret H. MacGillivray MD

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Stafford, D.E.J. (2003). Delayed Puberty. In: Radovick, S., MacGillivray, M.H. (eds) Pediatric Endocrinology. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-336-1_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-336-1_22

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61737-268-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-336-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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