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Teenagers

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

Original poster

Delayed puberty

33 replies

Seriouslymole · 08/03/2023 15:32

When does it become delayed puberty for boys? My DS - year 9, aged 14 - is showing no signs of puberty. He is not particularly small and his voice is not terribly high pitched but that has always been the case. However, his genitals looks the same as they ever have and I can see no sign of facial or body hair. He does have an auto-immune condition (type 1 diabetes) so not sure whether this is an influencing factor - although he was only diagnosed 2 years ago.

He has never mentioned this other than in passing a while back to say he was the only one without armpit hair in his friendship group but he is not bothered about it and I don't want to make it a "thing". But should I be speaking to his consultant about it? He obviously comes to all consultations though so I would need to do this without him knowing as he would be mortified if I broached it with him there.

OP posts:
fUNNYfACE36 · 08/03/2023 16:03

I have to ask, if your ds has never mentioned anything about delayed puberty, how do you know what his genitals look like?

Novita · 08/03/2023 16:07

I had delayed puberty(woman). My periods started when I was 17.5. At fifteen I had hardly any signs of puberty so I was sent to tests. Loads of blood tests, arm X-ray and paediatrician checkup. Everything was fine and as my mothers periods started when she was 17 too, I was discharged.

Original poster
Seriouslymole · 08/03/2023 16:17

fUNNYfACE36 · 08/03/2023 16:03

I have to ask, if your ds has never mentioned anything about delayed puberty, how do you know what his genitals look like?

Because occasionally I walk into the bathroom when he's in the bath.

OP posts:
Mamazita · 08/03/2023 16:27

You shouldn't be walking into the bathroom! Give your son me privacy

Mamazita · 08/03/2023 16:27

*some

Original poster
Seriouslymole · 08/03/2023 16:33

Mamazita · 08/03/2023 16:27

You shouldn't be walking into the bathroom! Give your son me privacy

Yes, thank you for the unsolicited advice. Obviously I knock before going in, he is quite happy with this arrangement - he also comes in when I, or his DF, are in the bath if he needs to clean teeth or whatever. Once he becomes unhappy with this, then we will stop.

OP posts:
Original poster
Seriouslymole · 08/03/2023 16:33

Novita · 08/03/2023 16:07

I had delayed puberty(woman). My periods started when I was 17.5. At fifteen I had hardly any signs of puberty so I was sent to tests. Loads of blood tests, arm X-ray and paediatrician checkup. Everything was fine and as my mothers periods started when she was 17 too, I was discharged.

Thank you. I think I will give it a few months before taking any further action.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 08/03/2023 16:38

www.nhs.uk/conditions/early-or-delayed-puberty/

This says diabetes can be implicated in delayed puberty. It also seems to mention age 14 as an age for testicular development to have started. I'd maybe wait until he's closer to 15 and then ask the GP if nothing is happening at that point.

purpleboy · 08/03/2023 18:08

Just to add you could send a letter to your Gp ahead of any future appointment made if you didn't want to ask the question in front of your son.

Northernparent68 · 09/03/2023 09:44

Surely it’s worth making a GP’s appointment for him

Tealfish · 09/03/2023 14:00

My DS16.5 has only recently developed any armpit hair (only a few), has no facial hair but he did start growing taller at 15 ish and is now 6ft1. His father was a late developer and isn't hairy. Bedwetting was the same, stopped totally at 15. Ask his father / grandfather what they were like. I wouldn't worry

Original poster
Seriouslymole · 09/03/2023 14:02

Northernparent68 · 09/03/2023 09:44

Surely it’s worth making a GP’s appointment for him

😂😂😂 have you tried recently? Also I don’t want to make it a “thing” for him if there is no cause for concern. If anything I will do as a PP suggested and email his diabetes consultant prior to our next clinic appointment.

OP posts:
Original poster
Seriouslymole · 09/03/2023 14:03

Tealfish · 09/03/2023 14:00

My DS16.5 has only recently developed any armpit hair (only a few), has no facial hair but he did start growing taller at 15 ish and is now 6ft1. His father was a late developer and isn't hairy. Bedwetting was the same, stopped totally at 15. Ask his father / grandfather what they were like. I wouldn't worry

Thank you - that’s reassuring.

OP posts:
InjuredOnTheWing · 09/03/2023 14:19

My son is similar, 14 1/2, voice not broken, quite small, no hair etc. I’m getting rather anxious about it

Northernparent68 · 09/03/2023 15:58

Yes I know it’s hard to see the GP but it’s worth at least trying. I can see you don’t want to make it an issue-but your son may have a medical issue, and being the last boy in his year group not to enter puberty must be difficult

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 09/03/2023 19:31

I have two siblings who are type 1 diabetic one male and one female. They were both later starting puberty than me or my other siblings (there’s lots of us) who aren’t diabetic.

my brother was quite late, but didn’t need any medical intervention and he’s now nearly 40 with 2 kids so it didn’t affect anything in the long run. I’d give him a bit more time before you worry too much.

Original poster
Seriouslymole · 10/03/2023 11:10

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 09/03/2023 19:31

I have two siblings who are type 1 diabetic one male and one female. They were both later starting puberty than me or my other siblings (there’s lots of us) who aren’t diabetic.

my brother was quite late, but didn’t need any medical intervention and he’s now nearly 40 with 2 kids so it didn’t affect anything in the long run. I’d give him a bit more time before you worry too much.

That's really reassuring thank you. I also asked our PMI advice line and they said T1D is known for delaying puberty so as there is a known reason for him not starting yet there is no reason to worry and nothing needs doing. I have emailed is DSN so will wait for her feedback too. Thanks all. @Northernparent68 - he's not the last.

OP posts:
Original poster
Seriouslymole · 10/03/2023 11:11

@Northernparent68 - sorry finished too early - he's not the last in his year group - just in his friendship group of 5 other boys and a few girls.

OP posts:
Fansandblankets · 11/03/2023 07:55

At 14 , my son, compared to his friends was still very young looking, I swear some of his friends looked like fully grown men with facial hair etc. He was really concerned that he was going to be short and was measuring himself. At 15 that all changed. Huge growth spurt all of a sudden.

Remmy123 · 11/03/2023 13:26

My son was 14 in December and no puberty yet - we did get some tests just before 14th birthday and all was fine

we are holding off going back will see what happens over the summer

He is around 5ft 1 ish

Original poster
Seriouslymole · 13/03/2023 09:51

Thanks @Fansandblankets and @Remmy123 - DS is around 5 foot 5 so not desperately short and he has always had a relatively deep voice so he is not obviously very young looking. Anyway, we will wait and see what the diabetes team come back and say!

OP posts:
Schmutter · 13/03/2023 10:03

I think my son was 16 when I took him to the GP. He was still very small and slight and had only the slightest signs of pubic hair and genital growth (we are not private types, so I’d often see him naked). He looked about 12, which was upsetting to him when all his mates looked like men.

The GP arranged blood tests and had absolutely no idea how to interpret the results, so I asked for a referral to an endocrinologist. This resulted in more tests, brain mri, bone scans, proper examinations.

He was diagnosed with a constitutional delay of puberty. The endocrinologist advised us against having any hormone treatment because of the fertility issues it could cause and also he advised it would cause his bone plates to fuse prematurely resulting in him not attaining his height potential.

His hormone levels continued to be monitored and slowly and surely, things started to improve. The advice to do nothing was right in his case.

Now at almost 20, he is 6’2, really hairy and manly and, as the endo amusing commented, very well endowed! His bone plates are still not fused, so he has more growing to do.

InjuredOnTheWing · 14/03/2023 11:36

Seriouslymole · 08/03/2023 15:32

When does it become delayed puberty for boys? My DS - year 9, aged 14 - is showing no signs of puberty. He is not particularly small and his voice is not terribly high pitched but that has always been the case. However, his genitals looks the same as they ever have and I can see no sign of facial or body hair. He does have an auto-immune condition (type 1 diabetes) so not sure whether this is an influencing factor - although he was only diagnosed 2 years ago.

He has never mentioned this other than in passing a while back to say he was the only one without armpit hair in his friendship group but he is not bothered about it and I don't want to make it a "thing". But should I be speaking to his consultant about it? He obviously comes to all consultations though so I would need to do this without him knowing as he would be mortified if I broached it with him there.

Sounds very similar to mine OP, he’s also get type 1

Original poster
Seriouslymole · 14/03/2023 11:51

InjuredOnTheWing · 14/03/2023 11:36

Sounds very similar to mine OP, he’s also get type 1

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Ah, that's interesting; I wonder if it is the T1 then. I've raised it with his DSN, who is lovely but very new and I'm not sure she knows much more than I do on the subject. Anyway, she said she'll speak to his consultant and let me know what she says. I'll PM you if she says anything of any note.

OP posts:
InjuredOnTheWing · 14/03/2023 12:11

Seriouslymole · 14/03/2023 11:51

Ah, that's interesting; I wonder if it is the T1 then. I've raised it with his DSN, who is lovely but very new and I'm not sure she knows much more than I do on the subject. Anyway, she said she'll speak to his consultant and let me know what she says. I'll PM you if she says anything of any note.

Show quote history

Great thank you, given other people’s insights into T1 and development I’d assume there must be something connected. I myself haven’t contacted the GP yet and was going to wait a little longer so mostly in the dark