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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To post here for traffic ... questions re puberty in boys

32 replies

Squaddielife · 05/03/2018 11:22

Apologies in advance to post here but there seems to be very little information regarding early puberty in boys on the internet.

For background ...

DS is 9, has had BO for a couple of years, some downy hair down below for 12 months. Slightly enlarged testicles.

Dr referred to Endo who did bloods. Testosterone is low, others borderline with 1 result high (can't remember which sorry and waiting clarification on that). Also did bone xray... came back as 9yrs 7mths.

So, we have to decide whether to treat for precocious puberty and I'm struggling.

Has anyone been through this treatment with boys who showed similar signs/results ? DS seems so borderline i'm not sure it's necessary but on the flip side I don't want to bury my head in the sand and store up issues for say a years time.

Thanks

OP posts:

Aprilmightmemynewname · 05/03/2018 11:27

My dd had hair and breast buds at 9 and is still the same stage now at 11. I wouldn't be concerned.

andijustthought · 05/03/2018 11:30

What is the treatment for precocious puberty? If a girl started their period at 9 yrs 7 months would anything be done? Is there any history in the family of early onset puberty?

Original poster

Squaddielife · 05/03/2018 13:03

I'm not sure regarding girls other than it's more common to girls and they start puberty earlier. I'd say if a girl started their period at 9 years 7months they would also certainly treat to stop it.

With DS the Endo has said to treat with puberty blocking injections (implant?)

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sirlee66 · 05/03/2018 13:13

Sorry, OP I have no experience of this, I didn't realise there was an age too early - Is there a reason for early puberty? If he hits puberty early, would it be a bad thing?

FellOutOfBed2wice · 05/03/2018 13:14

This was 20 yrs ago but my sister started her periods at 9 as did quite a few of my cousins and nothing was done to stop them.

Original poster

Squaddielife · 05/03/2018 13:40

The main consequences as I understand it (which isn't fully) is the potential for stunted height (bone plates fuse early due to earlier growth spurt) and dealing with the hormones and changes that come with puberty at an emotionally young age.

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Original poster

Squaddielife · 05/03/2018 13:41

There can be several reasons for early puberty but sometimes there are none. At the moment the Endo hasn't found anything untoward with regards to why although we haven't had a face to face appointment with her yet (just phone consult)

OP posts:

Niceandwarmandhot · 05/03/2018 13:41

OP, I think I'd be getting a second expert opinion if I were you. The potential effects sound as if they could be quite significant?

Trillis · 05/03/2018 13:50

I had heard of this for younger children, but at approaching age 10 you are getting close to the 'normal' age for such things anyway. I have 2DS and 1 DD, and they were all 'developing' at the same age as your son. My DD started her periods at 10y 6m, which wasn't a surprise (based on her development I expected it earlier). She isn't the only one amongst her peer group that I know of. Middle DS's voice was breaking when he started secondary school (so age 11y 6m). Again, he had been clearly building up to this for a couple of years. He was shaving his 'mustache' (fluff) in year 7. Eldest DS was similar, but by age 14 all his friends seemed to have caught up in the development stakes and now they are all 16 they all look pretty similar. We figure the same will happen with the other two.

Original poster

Squaddielife · 05/03/2018 14:12

That's reassuring Trillis thanks. He's my only child and i've no comparison really. It's not something I want to ask his friends parents as it's so private.

I think he's had 'signs' for almost 2 years so from age 7. Mainly BO and some fluff down below.

I'm not sure if the Endo is being overly cautious to be honest and if possible I want to avoid treatment.

Will see what they say when we have our consult.

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sirlee66 · 05/03/2018 14:18

Thanks for explaining, OP! Bless your son. I hope everything works out for you all.

Rawhh · 05/03/2018 17:58

I started my periods at 10 had breast buds from 8 and pubic hair from a similar age. It was considered early but not something worthy of mentioning to a doctor let alone considering delaying.

Peanutbuttercups21 · 05/03/2018 18:02

Yeah but it is different for boys and girls, girls reach puberty much earlier on average.

OP, I'd talk to all the medics/specialists and ask them " what would YOU do if this was your son?"

DelphiniumBlue · 05/03/2018 18:11

What's the family history on this? Did his father/grandfathers start puberty early? I think ethnicity may make a difference, too.

I wouldn't go down the route of medication unless there's strong medical opinion in favour - a male family member started puberty at 5, was given drugs to stop it, stopped growing, was then given a different cocktail to make him grow, and is now in his 40s suffering with arthritis, osteoporosis and other problems which are all linked to the medication he was given.

Onedaynamechange · 05/03/2018 18:17

Both my niece and nephew had B.O and downy hair under their arms and down below by that age, but neither seem to have advanced past that until the normal age (niece is now 12 and only started periods a few months ago) . Therefore downy hair and B.O don't necessarily mean that they will go through puberty early I don't think.

Velvetbee · 05/03/2018 18:27

DS had precocious puberty due to cancer treatment. He was given decapeptyl injections every 10 weeks for several years which was v unpleasant - one of those drugs you have to mix quickly and give immediately because it solidifies. Sometimes it solidifies in the syringe and it has to be given again. It slowed but didn’t prevent puberty entirely and they stopped the injections when they were no longer holding the process back.
He used to have cold spray and I would feed him haribo to get him through it.
He’s 13 now and still monitored every 6 months by endo.
You might want to warn your DS that the doctor might examine his testicles (holding in one gloved hand while her other hand feels a range of specially made wooden beads with the volumes in mm written on) which shocked my DS the first time it happened.
Go and see endo and see what they advise. Endocrinology is a subtle science and endos seem very happy to toss issues back and forth with parents.

maggie222 · 05/03/2018 18:51

Velvetbee..my son has the testical exam due to 5 years of Chemo when he was younger and he calls the doctor the "woman with the dodgy necklace" as he used to think it was a necklace on her desk..bless him

Original poster

Squaddielife · 06/03/2018 10:25

Hi Velvetbee
We have already seen the Endo a couple of times. He's had all the examinations and tests necessary.
Our last appointment to get the results was done over the phone due to adverse weather preventing us travelling.
I was a big taken aback with the results so didn't really take it all in so we've agreed to have a face to face appointment to discuss the results fully and any possible treatments.
At this point I'm trying to understand the pros and cons to treating this. Essentially the endo has diagnosed him with precocious puberty and said on the phone that with his borderline blood results and bone age she would treat it but I'm hoping that she'll agree to some monitoring before that becomes necessary.
His symptoms so far are BO and downy hair down below (for 18months) and some testicular enlargement (no idea how long but think they're 3ml) and then obvs his borderline (one high) blood results and bone scan (advanced by 9mths).
Where did your son have treatment ? What age did he start ?

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Original poster

Squaddielife · 06/03/2018 10:28

Peanutbuttercups21 very good question ... I'll add it to my list thanks.

DelphiniumBlue No family history. White Caucasian.

I wouldn't go down the route of medication unless there's strong medical opinion in favour Absolutely agree with this and i'm really hoping to avoid it.

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Oblomov18 · 06/03/2018 10:41

The stunted height would be a big no-no from me. Especially for a ds. But that's only because I know that come secondary school(year 9 and 10) , height is a big concern to most boys.

I think You need a lot more info before you can make any sort of decisions.

ashotinthedarkk · 06/03/2018 10:47

Can I ask a very silly question...

Is there a medical reason to stop puberty happening early? I understand the opposite for HRT in women at the menopause but I'm s curious as to why puberty should be stopped

Pythonesque · 06/03/2018 10:50

It sounds like you might be in the "window of opportunity" where treating for a period of time could be helpful - his bone age is not advanced (yet) so he still has good growth potential. Symptomatically what you describe is pretty early for a boy. Other than the psychological aspects of early puberty, the main real concern is going to be final adult height. Collect up your questions and I hope that your next appointment gives you a really helpful discussion so that decisions can be made with confidence.

Peanutbuttercups21 · 06/03/2018 10:59

Ashot, it is mainly to do with stunted growth. And height is a big deal to boys.

And girls... I had the opposite, I had late puberty (first period when I was almost 16) and as a young teen I kept on growing taller and taller whilst my peers grew curves and started to look like women, I was still a tall child at 14 (5 11 by then)

My mum had me assessed as she was worried I'd end up 6ft5! They looked at my growth plates, and into the possibility of artificially bringing on puberty in me to stop me growing.

I imagine early onset puberty is the opposite in that it means a child stops growing before his peers and may end up quite short?

titchy · 06/03/2018 10:59

I'd say if a girl started their period at 9 years 7months they would also certainly treat to stop it.

You're kidding aren't you?! 8 is regarded as within normal parameters - nine very normal indeed!

Original poster

Squaddielife · 06/03/2018 11:02

Oblomov18 Yep obviously one of my main concerns. He hasn't had his growth spurt yet and has been consistantly around the 50th centile for height so that's reassuring at this point.

ashotinthedarkk - Not a silly question at all. Medically I would guess the main reason would be to avoid early closure of bone growth plates - if this happens final adult height can be compromised. Emotionally and physically there are many other reasons. Being young and having beard growth/acne/breaking voice would be really difficult to deal with.

Pythonesque - You might be right with the window of opportunity. I am in the process of gathering questions. There's not alot of info on the internet for precocious puberty in boys. Apparently it's pretty rare.

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