No body hair for DS, is it worth GP visit?

ThisAzureStork · 2026-05-15T11:10:35+00:00

Neither my 14yo or 11yo DS have any body hair and I’m starting to be slightly worried if this means something? I know for my youngest that’s pretty normal but my oldest is concerned that there could be something wrong and I’m wondering if it’s worth a GP visit?

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

0ddsocks · 15/05/2026 12:14

Any other signs of puberty in 14yo?

CarrotParsnipOnion · 15/05/2026 12:21

I think it woud be worth an appointment with the Gp. He could just be a later developer - has he any other signs of puberty?

SecretSweetStash · 15/05/2026 12:21

Medical information on Tanner stages of puberty to see if he has any of the early characteristics. Has he said he is worried at all? Can you talk to him about it, show him the list and let him tell you if he has noticed anything?

I have two sons. From a young age I talked to them about getting to know their body, what is normal for them in every aspect so that if they felt something was wrong or they were concerned we could take them to a doctor.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/puberty

Puberty

Need a guide to puberty? Read this article to inform yourself and your child.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/puberty

Original poster

ThisAzureStork · 15/05/2026 15:00

Thanks all, yeah we have spoken a bit but it’s only been a recent thing that he’s opened up about it. He doesn’t have any other signs of puberty, like his voice is still high, still likes what I guess you could consider more ‘immature’ hobbies and interests. His dad (my husband) passed away but I have spoken to his grandad who just shrugged it off and wasn’t much help.

OP posts:

Original poster

ThisAzureStork · 15/05/2026 15:02

SecretSweetStash · 15/05/2026 12:21

Medical information on Tanner stages of puberty to see if he has any of the early characteristics. Has he said he is worried at all? Can you talk to him about it, show him the list and let him tell you if he has noticed anything?

I have two sons. From a young age I talked to them about getting to know their body, what is normal for them in every aspect so that if they felt something was wrong or they were concerned we could take them to a doctor.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/puberty

Thank you, I’m lucky enough hat I can talk to him about it yeah. He’s becoming more and more worried I would say. It’s hard to know the difference between general teen worry of the unknown with changing bodies and then fear of himself/feeling as if nothing is happening and that he feels ‘wrong’

OP posts:

ItsmeMargo · 15/05/2026 16:00

I’d say that if you’re older child is becoming a little worried, then talk to him about a doctor appointment. It’s certainly can’t do any harm.

I think it’s great that you are aware of how your child feels, and trying to help. My sister and I were both clearly late developers, but at the time it was so worrying for us. I didn’t start my periods until I was well past my 16th birthday, and my sister was over 17 1/2. My mum didn’t want to know.

edited to say: this was in the early/mid 80s, no Internet info!

Original poster

ThisAzureStork · 15/05/2026 16:06

ItsmeMargo · 15/05/2026 16:00

I’d say that if you’re older child is becoming a little worried, then talk to him about a doctor appointment. It’s certainly can’t do any harm.

I think it’s great that you are aware of how your child feels, and trying to help. My sister and I were both clearly late developers, but at the time it was so worrying for us. I didn’t start my periods until I was well past my 16th birthday, and my sister was over 17 1/2. My mum didn’t want to know.

edited to say: this was in the early/mid 80s, no Internet info!

Edited

Oh wow that does seem late. I was late too which is something I’m trying to get him to understand, since I think genetics play a part and since i was late it’s more likely they will be too

OP posts:

0ddsocks · 15/05/2026 16:10

I think it’s good to get him to see a doctor, so he can be checked out/reassured. It also opens up a pathway that if he has any other ‘intimate’ concerns he hopefully will be easier for him to get medical help.

Original poster

ThisAzureStork · 15/05/2026 16:14

0ddsocks · 15/05/2026 16:10

I think it’s good to get him to see a doctor, so he can be checked out/reassured. It also opens up a pathway that if he has any other ‘intimate’ concerns he hopefully will be easier for him to get medical help.

That’s true, and yes he has raised that to me already too

OP posts:

HotTiredDog · 15/05/2026 16:39

Hi OP,
I second Tanner as a useful guide.

Meanwhile, do your boys have a sense of smell? If not, look into Kallmann’s syndrome. It’s rare, it can be quite complex but the hormone aspect is simple to resolve so that puberty develops relatively normally. (Family experience here.)

Note that GPs probably won’t be interested in “late development” which is a couple of years on from where your eldest us.

Original poster

ThisAzureStork · 15/05/2026 17:12

HotTiredDog · 15/05/2026 16:39

Hi OP,
I second Tanner as a useful guide.

Meanwhile, do your boys have a sense of smell? If not, look into Kallmann’s syndrome. It’s rare, it can be quite complex but the hormone aspect is simple to resolve so that puberty develops relatively normally. (Family experience here.)

Note that GPs probably won’t be interested in “late development” which is a couple of years on from where your eldest us.

Thank you! Yeah I’ve been looking into the tanner scale which I didn’t know about until recently

they both do have a sense of smell yeah, they only thing I can think of for my eldest is he’s type 1 diabetic? But I’ve read that shouldn’t affect it.

OP posts:

SecretSweetStash · 15/05/2026 17:16

How tall is he?

I think you can get their hormones tested and a general check of their bones, it won't be done by the GP but they can refer you on. It has been mentioned on here a lot over the years. I also think that the earlier you test then there are things they can look out for and monitor.

Due to a medical issue with one of our children we had to monitor him to see if he showed any signs of puberty, so had to look for early signs. The first sign for us was him starting to smell really sweaty with body odour in late primary. As we have been really honest because of the medical issue he was aware of the Tanner puberty thing.

It is hard when they are this age because they are very aware of other boys' bodies not just in changing rooms but height etc. Dh was 6ft at 14 years old and no one would tackle him at rugby as he was like a wall.

Do some research online and book an appointment at the GP but know what it is you are asking for. Hopefully more MNetters can wade in with personal experience. As I said it has come up over the years.

Original poster

ThisAzureStork · 15/05/2026 17:27

SecretSweetStash · 15/05/2026 17:16

How tall is he?

I think you can get their hormones tested and a general check of their bones, it won't be done by the GP but they can refer you on. It has been mentioned on here a lot over the years. I also think that the earlier you test then there are things they can look out for and monitor.

Due to a medical issue with one of our children we had to monitor him to see if he showed any signs of puberty, so had to look for early signs. The first sign for us was him starting to smell really sweaty with body odour in late primary. As we have been really honest because of the medical issue he was aware of the Tanner puberty thing.

It is hard when they are this age because they are very aware of other boys' bodies not just in changing rooms but height etc. Dh was 6ft at 14 years old and no one would tackle him at rugby as he was like a wall.

Do some research online and book an appointment at the GP but know what it is you are asking for. Hopefully more MNetters can wade in with personal experience. As I said it has come up over the years.

He’a 5ft 1 as checked 2 weeks ago, thanks so much for the advice, regrettably I don’t know much about all the medical processes so it’s good to research. The good and bad is that he barely sweats and has little odour even though he has a habit of wanting to wear the same clothes 🙄. Do you mind if I ask what was the situation with your son? Did it all get resolved?

OP posts:

KojaksLollipop · 15/05/2026 17:31

My DH and my ds(24) have very little body hair, I wouldn’t say to worry but for the older one a doctors appt would be your starting point.

Both DH and I were late developers, it means we are amazingly young looking in our fifties (fnar fnar!)

WhaleEye · 15/05/2026 17:31

My DS was 16 before he hit puberty. He's now 6’2” with a full beard aged 21
Some of the boys in his year were like this at 12 so he was a bit 😬 for a while. I just told him everyone develops at different speeds. We never went to the doctor.

WhaleEye · 15/05/2026 17:32

Oh and the orthodontist said that usually feet grow first and that’s a sign puberty is on its way.

TheDrswife · 15/05/2026 17:42

Orthodontist?!

NotquitewhatImeant · 15/05/2026 17:56

Yes definitely worth getting checked if 14 - I wouldn’t go off anecdote of some MSnetters kids being fine when a trip to the GP is pretty low commitment and effort. Could be various things and if your son is beginning to feel different to his peers it’s worth the investigation - not really got anything to lose

AmberSpy · 15/05/2026 18:02

I knew a boy who was like this at 14 - still very small and skinny, unbroken voice, basically no outward signs of puberty at all. Then he hit 15 and honestly almost doubled in size over a couple of months. He's now a healthy and happy 26 year old, who looks and seems entirely typical for his age.

However, if your son is getting anxious it's definitely worth a trip to the GP. Hopefully that will put both your minds at rest.

CurlewKate · 15/05/2026 18:23

My ds had pubic hair long before he had any anywhere else (we had a traumatic to both of us encounter between bedroom and bathroom-which is how I know!) He didn’t grow chest or facial hair until he was about 16, I think?

Original poster

ThisAzureStork · 15/05/2026 21:52

NotquitewhatImeant · 15/05/2026 17:56

Yes definitely worth getting checked if 14 - I wouldn’t go off anecdote of some MSnetters kids being fine when a trip to the GP is pretty low commitment and effort. Could be various things and if your son is beginning to feel different to his peers it’s worth the investigation - not really got anything to lose

Yeah I know, I just wanted to double check to make sure it’s worth his worrying going to the gp about it, but I have an appointment now

OP posts:

Original poster

ThisAzureStork · 15/05/2026 21:53

CurlewKate · 15/05/2026 18:23

My ds had pubic hair long before he had any anywhere else (we had a traumatic to both of us encounter between bedroom and bathroom-which is how I know!) He didn’t grow chest or facial hair until he was about 16, I think?

I know he doesn’t have pubic hair either, literally nothing 😥

OP posts:

Dragracer · 15/05/2026 22:11

It's good for him to get in the habit of seeing a doctor if he's concerned about his body.

But I wouldn't really worry, he's only 14 , not 20. I was a late developer, I'm still waiting for my boobs to grow though. DH was an early developer, it got him in a lot of situations with older women that he really shouldn't have been in, so it wasn't exactly a good thing.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 15/05/2026 22:22

KojaksLollipop · 15/05/2026 17:31

My DH and my ds(24) have very little body hair, I wouldn’t say to worry but for the older one a doctors appt would be your starting point.

Both DH and I were late developers, it means we are amazingly young looking in our fifties (fnar fnar!)

My boyfriend is the same, not much body hair and doesn’t have to shave much either.

Clonedchild · 15/05/2026 22:27

If it was just lack of hair I wouldn't worry, but with other lack of puberty signs, it's definitely something to keep an eye on.

Re the hair, I know someone who only has hair on one armpit, and a relative of mine doesn't grow leg hair at all, so sometimes nature can be a bit odd like that.