Anyone know anything about delayed puberty in boys?

[OhThisIsJustGrape]

DS is 16 and hasn't yet gone through puberty. He has had blood tests done and they have come back with very low testosterone levels.

GP has referred him to an Endocrinologist, the waiting list is 13 weeks though which seems forever. What is making it worse is that he left school this summer and is applying for jobs but the jobs he wants are manual labour and he is just too small to handle the work :(

I have no idea what the next step is - I imagine they will want to run tests to determine/rule out what is causing the delay. Just wondering if anyone else has been through this and can offer an insight into what is likely to happen.

[gordonpym]

I have the opposite problem with DS1, early puberty and I found with website - about several endocrine disorder quite - quite useful .
Hope it can help you too, or at least help you prepare your visit to the endocrinologist.
www.childgrowthfoundation.org/Default.aspx

[caloriesupplement]

I know someone who had delayed puberty years ago and he had injections at great ormond street i think to bring puberty forward. Not the same as growth hormone treatment as all his injections did were to speed up puberty and to enable him to reach his final height earlier as he did not end up any taller than he would have been. In his case it was late bone age which can be checked by wrist xray. In his case was also shown by very very late first and 2nd sets of teeth.

[thewhistler]

It is absolutely miserable. Or can be. Think about whether he needs emotional support. Because although 14 - 18 are considered the normal range, even to 24, it may not feel like that. Do the emotional support stuff through your GP at the same time as you do the medical stuff.

They may well prescribe testosterone to begin with which will do stuff about facial hair and will very likely kick start the natural process. It will take time.

There is a national shortage of testosterone. Make sure you get prescribed the gel, or that you walk out with easy recourse to other sorts.

Thinking of you and hth. Feel free to pm me.