How does delayed puberty affect children?

Delayed puberty is a developmental disorder of puberty. The disease can have a significant impact on the psychological, physical development and fertility of children later in life.

Puberty is the time when the body develops from a child to an adult. Puberty usually begins between the ages of 9-12 in girls and 10-13 in boys. Symptoms of delayed puberty in boys and girls differ. Specifically:
1.1 Delayed puberty in girls Puberty in girls begins when the pituitary gland produces luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). These two hormones cause the ovaries to grow and start producing estrogen. The growth spurt in girls begins after the breasts develop, and the first menstrual period occurs about two to three years later.
Usually, girls start puberty between the ages of 11 and 15 with the appearance of the first menstrual period and some secondary sexual signs such as increased height, breast growth and appearance. hairs on the genitals. If a girl does not have any signs of sexual development by the age of 14 or does not have a period until the age of 16, it is called delayed puberty.
1.2 Delayed Puberty in Boys Puberty in boys occurs when the pituitary gland begins to secrete more luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) - substances that cause the testes to grow and produce the male hormone testosterone. The growth spurt usually begins within 1 year of the first signs of puberty, usually around age 15.
Signs that puberty is taking place in boys are a rapid increase in height, more weight, broad shoulders, muscles begin to develop, the larynx (the vocal organ) enlarges, so the voice becomes larger. become murky. The child's hair system develops, mustache and beard grow, testicles and penis will be larger, there is a phenomenon of first ejaculation.
If a boy has passed the age of 14 and does not have the above signs, the doctor may conduct a physical examination to assess the size of the testicles and penis. If the test results show that the penis and testicles are not growing more than before, it means that the child has delayed puberty.

2.1 Causes of delayed puberty in girls Ovarian problems : Premature ovarian failure (due to radiation treatment for leukemia and certain cancers or Turner syndrome - partial or complete loss of disease) X chromosome in women), lack of pituitary hormones (LH, and FSH), the body does not produce growth hormone are all causes of delayed puberty in girls; Physical: Some girls reach puberty late because their bodies mature later than their peers; Genetics: Children with delayed puberty may inherit from one parent; Decreased body fat: Delayed puberty often occurs in active girls (gymnastics, ballet dancers, swimmers), children with anorexia nervosa or people with anorexia nervosa. chronic disease - having a regular decrease in fat content relative to body fat mass. 2.2 Causes of delayed puberty in boys Genetics: About 70% of cases of delayed puberty in boys are inherited from parents; Chronic illness: Boys with chronic diseases such as colitis, sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis are more likely to have delayed puberty; Hormone Deficiency: Some boys experience delayed puberty due to an isolated gonadotropic hormone (IGD) deficiency manifesting in a deficiency of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This condition is often present from birth, affected boys all have abnormally small penises; Testicular problems: Testicular defects, testicles that are too small, previous surgery on the testicles, or surgery for cancer can all be causes of delayed puberty in boys.

3.1 Effects of delayed puberty on girls Depending on the cause of delayed puberty, its effects on the child's psychophysiology will be different. One thing that is easy to see in girls with delayed puberty is low self-esteem compared to their peers and anxiety about fertility later on. However, in general, delayed puberty does not significantly affect a girl's fertility as an adult. After puberty, girls still have normal fertility. And to avoid psychological guilt, parents need to pay more attention to sharing with children.
3.2 Effects of delayed puberty on boys For boys, delayed puberty, if left untreated, affects physical development. Physically, most boys with delayed puberty are much shorter than their peers. The reason is that children's growth spurts are slower than your peers. However, with timely monitoring and treatment, children can still catch up with their peers by the age of 18 and have a normal adult height. In addition, delayed puberty can negatively affect male fertility. Specifically, the endocrine system does not activate the development of the male sex organs, which will cause the penis to be small, the testes to atrophy, adversely affect the spermatogenesis process, which may lead to male infertility or affect the male reproductive system. affect the ability of testes to synthesize testosterone.
At the same time, delayed puberty also adversely affects children's psyche. Children often separate from the group, have psychological disorders, do not want to communicate, even depression.

4.1 Treating physical health problems In girls For children with delayed physical puberty: Using estrogen supplements for 4-6 months to promote puberty to happen earlier; For children with delayed puberty due to reduced body fat: It is necessary to balance nutrition for children to gain weight in accordance with the required index, helping the puberty stage to take place normally; For children with premature ovarian failure or deficiency of the hormone that regulates gonads: Give the child estrogen in the form of estradiol tablets or skin patches twice a week. The doctor will prescribe the use from a low dose and every 6 months will increase the dose. After 12-18 months, the doctor will continue to add progestin hormone and after a few months will stop progestin for 1-2 days. Parents should discuss with their doctor about their child's future fertility. In boys Take the injection for several months. After the injection, the child will increase in height, gain weight, increase penis size and grow pubic hair; For children with isolated gonadotropic hormone (IGD) deficiency or a damaged penis, the best treatment option is testosterone supplementation. Dosage should be increased over time and continued into adulthood. 4.2 Psychotherapy Parents need to pay attention to the physical and mental health of their children. If you see a child with feelings of inferiority and inferiority, parents need to pay more attention to sharing, pointing out the child's strengths instead of just focusing on the problems on their body. For children, when there are signs of delayed puberty, it is best to notify the parents to get checked as soon as possible. They should also keep a calm mind, accept this matter naturally, share it with adults more and strictly follow the doctor's treatment regimen to keep up with the development momentum of their age, ensuring normal psychological life.
In general, most cases of delayed puberty in children do not cause much impact on the health and development of the child. However, parents still need to pay more attention to their children in order to promptly detect abnormal signs so that they can get checked out and have a timely and effective treatment plan.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of top doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious, knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.