Puberty disorders

What is puberty?

Puberty is the period of time after childhood, between nine and 20 years of age approximately. Psychological, biological, sexual, and social changes occur during this period, which can lead to certain diseases.

What are the most common health problems experienced during puberty?

Among the most common disorders during puberty are delayed puberty, in which a boy or a girl, at 14 years of age, has not yet started the physical and psychological development into adolescence. This late development may be due to genetic factors, hormonal causes, chromosomal abnormalities, or tumours that affect hormone secretion glands or hypothalamus.

There is another disorder called early puberty, which is when physical changes in children start prematurely (before the age of 12). In girls, this causes the development of breasts before reaching the age of seven, and the growth of pubic hair before the age of 8. In boys, early puberty results in pubic hair and genitals growth occuring between the ages of seven and 10. Early and late puberty can happen partially or completely.

What causes puberty disorders?

There are many potential causes of puberty disorders. The main ones include: 

• certain rare genetic syndromes
• tumours in the ovary, adrenal gland, or testis
• congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• brain abnormalities
• severe hypothyroidism

How are puberty disorders treated?

With delayed puberty or early puberty, treatment can of course vary depending on each case. In males, testosterone injections, skin patches, or gel can be effective forms of treatment options, while in females, oestrogen and/or progesterone can be given as pills or skin patches.