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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Late puberty?

37 replies

Tinkobell · 16/08/2018 21:50

DS is 15 and a half. Mentally and emotionally he's great for his age. Physically has hasn't touched puberty. I'm kind of a bit worried for him. Is this normal? DH said he started voice break etc around age 14. I'm prob worrying needlessly!

OP posts:
RoseyOldCrow · 16/08/2018 21:53

Following with interest as my DS is the same age & situation... I guess we can take from this that we aren't alone!

Original poster
Tinkobell · 16/08/2018 22:37

Well that's good to hear there's at least another @rosey. It wouldn't bother me except for the comments from others "15, oh I thought you were way younger" .....I can tell he's quite crestfallen. Last weekend we had distant family stay. My nephew aged 12 has an early puberty - deep voice etc.....again I could tell DS felt a bit down hearted. Any medical views on normality of this would be great!

OP posts:
PJ67 · 16/08/2018 23:37

My son is now 18 and I remember thinking when he was around 15 that his voice hadn't broken but most of his friends had. I read that their voice breaks at the end of their growth spurt and all of a sudden between 15 and 16 he seemed to grow loads and got his deep voice. He's now 6 ft 2. I did notice before his voice broke that he had hairy underarms. Have you noticed any other signs of puberty?

Rebecca36 · 16/08/2018 23:39

Honestly, that is not unusual. It will happen soon and the change will seem as though it happened overnight! Don't worry.

Original poster
Tinkobell · 17/08/2018 07:47

@PJ67 - thanks for that......I don't want to gross him out or worry him my peeking too much ....but my impression is nothing, absolutely zip.....no hairiness, nothing. This is why I'm kinda getting worried. He's about 5 ft 4 so smaller but somehow gangly at the same time as his legs are very very long. He eats for Britain everyday. His head is still small too...so he's not had had kind of head / jaw development that men get. Feel for him, he keeps asking me actually. "Mum, when am I going to hit puberty".......he's a lovely kid, but just that!

OP posts:
Northernparent68 · 17/08/2018 11:29

Please send him to the GP, it may be a hormonal problem

SnuggyBuggy · 17/08/2018 11:33

When I worked in paediatric endocrinology we had a few boys of that sort of age on sustenon patches. Some need a short course to kick start things.

titchy · 17/08/2018 11:50

GP ASAP. Absolutely no signs of puberty at all by 14th Birthday needs medical intervention. If some signs, hairy legs are quite easy to see, then probably no cause for concern, but nothing at all at his age is concerning.

Original poster
Tinkobell · 17/08/2018 12:14

Ok. I do appreciate the input. This is good to talk about. We're about to go away so don't want to freak him out. We have a nice GP so will pop along for a chat and see what's said.

OP posts:
Todayissunny · 17/08/2018 12:25

My T boys are very small for their age. At age 8 we went and did all sorts of tests to check there was nothing wrong. We were told that they are normal but they could quite accurately tell us that they would not go through puberty until 17.
They can take hormones earlier to kick start puberty if they want but this can mean that they won't grow as tall as they would without them (me and dh are a bit on the small side so they will need every cm they can get).
I think it's going to be a tough few years. They are oldest in the class but smallest which one of them finds hard. But we keep reassuring them.
I would go to gp to put you mind at rest.

Pressuredrip · 17/08/2018 12:28

Random question but does he have an ok sense of smell?

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 17/08/2018 12:29

GP ASAP. Absolutely no signs of puberty at all by 14th Birthday needs medical intervention. If some signs, hairy legs are quite easy to see, then probably no cause for concern, but nothing at all at his age is concerning.

That’s rather an overreaction. My ds is 14 and though a bit taller that’s op’s, hasn’t started puberty, neither have quite a few of the crowd of friends he has. Needing medical intervention for puberty is extremely rare.

titchy · 17/08/2018 12:35

By 14 there should absolutely be some signs - google Tanner stages. Being blunt a 14 yo with the penis size of a 7 yo is something where intervention should be explored. That would be very unusual though.

titchy · 17/08/2018 12:37

To add Georgie, it's likely your ds and his friends do in fact have some signs, but not ones that mums will be aware of!

Scabetty · 17/08/2018 12:42

A few armpit hairs should be sprouting now. My friend’s son is almost 16 and has just began a growth spurt as he was around 5’4”. My son, same age, has just started shaving and has had ABs for acne. Vast differences.

Original poster
Tinkobell · 17/08/2018 12:42

@Pressure - smells fine .....if anything he's hypertensive with quite a few things. We're seeing the GP in a week, nice guy who we know. I've just had a chat with DS and he seems reasonably chilled about it. In fairness, his group of pals are also quite delayed and sort of urchin types rather than blokes and into girls etc. He's not effeminate at all (although I'd be very proud to have a gay son) ... .its literally just a puberty delay. No hair nothing.
DD17 has just told me that some of her mates in lower sixth have only just started periods. So there's no rhyme nor reason with this puberty thing is there?

OP posts:
RoseyOldCrow · 17/08/2018 13:03

@pressure why do you ask about smell? DS has no sense of smell, never has.

Original poster
Tinkobell · 17/08/2018 13:13

V helpful. But I've this feeling I'm going to really regret getting into this in a few months....one way or another. As if GCSE year wasn't roller coaster enough. I'm perimeno and may need patches and sounds like the DS might too....super! 😁

OP posts:
meadowmeow · 17/08/2018 13:17

GP ASAP. Absolutely no signs of puberty at all by 14th Birthday needs medical intervention.

Says who?

titchy · 17/08/2018 13:35

The NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/early-or-delayed-puberty/

Original poster
Tinkobell · 17/08/2018 14:02

Thanks @titchy for NHS link. My instincts are telling me he's clearly not utterly abnormal, as I see quite a few others in his year group the same level of development ........but it's a bit unusual and therefore worth checking. Health wise he looks in fine fettle, so I'd be surprised if there's anything there, but worth GP checking now at 15.5 years.

OP posts:
meadowmeow · 17/08/2018 14:04

OMG talk about over egging the pudding.

NHS advice is to see GP who MAY send for tests. They absolutely do not say NEEDS medical intervention.

Original poster
Tinkobell · 17/08/2018 14:11

@meadowmeow....you're right Dr Google can cause false alarm. But I'm getting it checked.

OP posts:
Plumpieinthesun · 17/08/2018 14:12

Kallmann syndrome is a possibility if there’s no sense of smell...

ShatnersBassoon · 17/08/2018 14:13

Seeing a GP for initial advice would be medical intervention. It doesn't mean drugs and surgery.

I think you're doing the right thing, op. It's better for him to be a bit embarrassed talking to the family doctor now rather than embarrassed and worried if it's left for another 6/12 months.