Puberty
Answers to common questions about puberty.
Questions on this page
What is puberty?
Puberty is the period during which a child develops sexual maturity and undergoes physical and hormonal changes leading toward adulthood.
When does puberty normally start?
The timing varies. Puberty usually begins earlier in girls than boys.
What is delayed puberty?
Delayed puberty means that expected pubertal development has not started within the usual age range.
What causes delayed puberty?
Possible causes include:
- Constitutional delay of growth and puberty
- Family history of late puberty
- Under-nutrition
- Excessive exercise
- Chronic illness
- Hormonal disorders
- Problems involving the testes, ovaries or pituitary gland
- Genetic conditions
What is early puberty?
Early or precocious puberty refers to pubertal development occurring unusually early for the child's age.
What causes early puberty?
Some cases are related to early activation of the normal pubertal pathway. Other causes may involve the brain, adrenal glands, ovaries or testes.
Does early puberty affect final height?
Early exposure to sex hormones can accelerate growth initially but may also cause earlier closure of growth plates, potentially affecting adult height.
Does every child with early puberty need treatment?
No. Evaluation depends on the child's age, pubertal progression, growth pattern and underlying cause.
Can delayed puberty be treated?
Treatment depends on the cause. Some children simply require observation, while others may benefit from hormonal treatment.