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Original poster

Question about going to a doctor about teen's height

23 replies

plyplaypro · 21/09/2025 13:52

Namechanged for this.

DS 14yrs 10 months. He's about 5ft 41/2 inches. Expected to be around 5ft 8/9 according to the graphs.

We were really worried at beginning of year as he wasn't even 5ft but he's shot up a few inches. We were going to take him to the GP.

But now it's stopped. He's not standout small but he'd still like to keep growing, and obviously there's a real mix of heights around him.

Is it still worth taking him to the GP for a referral? What would they do/achieve? I mean, is there anything to be done to push on height - or do we just wait and see if there's more inches in the tank? I know he can still be growing until late teens and beyond.

No other issues. He's slight build but his voice has dropped, he has other puberty related traits.

Thanks for your input.

OP posts:
Togetheragain45 · 21/09/2025 13:55

The GP can't do anything about your son's height.

NoelFurlong · 21/09/2025 13:57

My son had a ‘constitutional delay of puberty’. I don’t think we started worrying about it until he was 16 (and looked 12). He was very short (about 5’6) and no physical sexual development other than a tiny amount.

No harm in mentioning it to the GP.

groma · 21/09/2025 13:59

The GP could refer him to endocrinology for assessment

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Tunacheesequesadilla · 21/09/2025 14:01

I think if he has all other signs of puberty, then there will be nothing they can do. It is probably just genetics.

You can encourage him to eat well, lots of protein, calcium, vitamin D, but that will only have a minimal, if any, effect.

Take him, if you're worried though. It won't do any harm to check.

CinnamonCinnabar · 21/09/2025 14:01

Pointless. He is going through puberty normally from what you say, so he doesn't have a medical condition.

oldface · 21/09/2025 14:09

Yes take him. Have just been through the process with my 14 year old, who is a twin so the difference was quite noticeable.

GP checked his hormones and did a few other tests, and referred into a paed endocrinologist who repeated as it was about 6 months wait. When referred he didn't seem to have started puberty according to his hormone levels, but when we were seen it looked like he has started now. Advised to take him back if not in full swing within 12 months.

my friends son had a similar story and went to GP aged 15 and it was found that he was coeliac after various tests and appointments (no symptoms) and correcting this has enabled puberty to start.

there is a sensitive period for puberty, and if there is something suppressing it then waiting won't help.

KnickerlessParsons · 21/09/2025 14:16

How tall are other family members? Parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, and further back if you can.

Iamfree · 21/09/2025 14:19

OP, I have personal experience of this so don’t listen to those who say there’s nothing to do. If your son has growth hormone deficiency you have a very small window of time to give him growth hormone (until the growth plates close). Can you skip the GP and see a private paediatric endocrinologist ? In London there’s prof Dattani or Helen Spodeas (might be spelling incorrectly). Seriously if you go to the GP and you get a referral it might be too late. Blood tests are insufficient your son would need what is called a “STIM test”

Caterfly · 21/09/2025 14:20

What a massive waste of time that appointment would be. He's still growing yet, and may always be below average, because that's how averages work.

verycloakanddaggers · 21/09/2025 14:24

Yes go to the GP. You have a concern, so ask the questions.

titchy · 21/09/2025 14:53

Iamfree · 21/09/2025 14:19

OP, I have personal experience of this so don’t listen to those who say there’s nothing to do. If your son has growth hormone deficiency you have a very small window of time to give him growth hormone (until the growth plates close). Can you skip the GP and see a private paediatric endocrinologist ? In London there’s prof Dattani or Helen Spodeas (might be spelling incorrectly). Seriously if you go to the GP and you get a referral it might be too late. Blood tests are insufficient your son would need what is called a “STIM test”

Given that he’s grown 5 inches in the last 9 months I think growth hormone deficiency can be ruled out. Given his decent growth this year, and that fact that he is clearly going through puberty, I wouldn’t bother, unless you have any reason to suspect any sort of digestive issues? He’s probably got another few inches to go, albeit quite slowly from now on, but he’ll be a bit on the short side - which you expected.

intrepidpanda · 21/09/2025 14:58

What a horrible post. There is absolutely nothing wrong with his height.

Owly11 · 21/09/2025 15:04

No - much better to focus on helping him understand that he is already a perfectly respectable height and point out important role models of slightly shorter men. By taking him to the GP you send him the message that there is something wrong with his height and there isn’t. If he grows to 5’8” or 5’9” then that is an average height for a man!!!! No idea why you are worrying about this tbh.

Passthecake30 · 21/09/2025 15:29

My son was about 5ft5 at 14 and is now 6ft3 at 17 and a half. Is it a bit early to worry about yours?

ArthriticOldLabrador · 21/09/2025 15:33

My DS was very late through puberty- oldest in his year and the smallest in his class. He was nearly 15 before he grew and is now 6’1” . He sopped growing around 20years old. It just happens later for some.
We didn’t seek medical help.

HerbertPootle · 21/09/2025 16:23

There are lots of conditions that can affect growth. Sounds like he’s started growing a bit faster this year though, when boys hit their growth spurt they tend to grow 10-12cm a year for a few years so he’ll still have growing to do. They also tend to stop and start a bit when they’re in a rapid growth phase. NHS aren’t great for growth in my experience.

We got private blood tests for growth hormone and various metabolic bone conditions and bone age x-rays of hands as DS had very slow growth. He did also have other symptoms though. X-rays showed his bone age was 9.5 when he was 12 and blood tests followed by genetics confirmed a metabolic bone condition. We’d tried for 6 years in NHS to get him a diagnosis. I wouldn’t bother with a GP as they’ll very rarely refer anywhere for growth, if you’re really worried can get blood tests done privately and go from there.

BlueandWhitePorcelain · 21/09/2025 16:30

ArthriticOldLabrador · 21/09/2025 15:33

My DS was very late through puberty- oldest in his year and the smallest in his class. He was nearly 15 before he grew and is now 6’1” . He sopped growing around 20years old. It just happens later for some.
We didn’t seek medical help.

DS was 18 and showed no signs of puberty. The consultant endocrinologist said, if he didn’t kickstart puberty with testosterone injections, DS would just keep growing and would end up 6’7”. If he kick started DS puberty, it would limit DS final height. DS ended up 6’4”, which imo, is preferable to 6’7”! DH is 6’3”, so DS was always likely to be tall!

Original poster
plyplaypro · 21/09/2025 16:40

I've no idea why someone thinks this is a horrible post?

Anyway, thanks all. A mixed bag response. He is definitely in puberty. It's not like we're waiting for that to happen. DH was definitely a late bloomer, so I don't think DS is that far in. And he has shot up a fair bit this year - it's more about whether going to see an endichronologist will yield anything if he is on his way....I can understand if we were still waiting for stuff to happen. I don't want to pathologise and make it a problem - equally, I was aware of there being a sensitive period to work within.

OP posts:
Original poster
plyplaypro · 21/09/2025 16:43

HerbertPootle · 21/09/2025 16:23

There are lots of conditions that can affect growth. Sounds like he’s started growing a bit faster this year though, when boys hit their growth spurt they tend to grow 10-12cm a year for a few years so he’ll still have growing to do. They also tend to stop and start a bit when they’re in a rapid growth phase. NHS aren’t great for growth in my experience.

We got private blood tests for growth hormone and various metabolic bone conditions and bone age x-rays of hands as DS had very slow growth. He did also have other symptoms though. X-rays showed his bone age was 9.5 when he was 12 and blood tests followed by genetics confirmed a metabolic bone condition. We’d tried for 6 years in NHS to get him a diagnosis. I wouldn’t bother with a GP as they’ll very rarely refer anywhere for growth, if you’re really worried can get blood tests done privately and go from there.

Thanks, this is interesting. What is a metabolic bone condition?

I do suspect his bone age will be a bit behind

OP posts:
Original poster
plyplaypro · 21/09/2025 16:43

BlueandWhitePorcelain · 21/09/2025 16:30

DS was 18 and showed no signs of puberty. The consultant endocrinologist said, if he didn’t kickstart puberty with testosterone injections, DS would just keep growing and would end up 6’7”. If he kick started DS puberty, it would limit DS final height. DS ended up 6’4”, which imo, is preferable to 6’7”! DH is 6’3”, so DS was always likely to be tall!

Show quote history

Wow! He did a lot of growing then after 18

OP posts:
AnnaQuayInTheUk · 21/09/2025 16:45

DS2 was quite small for his age until he was in 6th form. He certainly wasn't as tall as me (5'5") until he was 15. I never gave it a moments thought as I knew boys could keep growing until 18+.

He's now in his 20s and 6'2".

coloursquare · 21/09/2025 16:52

Does he have siblings?

Blarn · 21/09/2025 17:04

I have no experience of this with a child but I've known dh since he was a teen. I was about 5'6 at 14/15 and dh at was shorter than me. He is nudging 6'4 now.

But if your son is worried taking him to the gp would probably help put his mind at ease and would definitely be better than looking things up on Google.

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