Pubertas tarda (ICD-10 E30.0: Delayed puberty) refers to the delayed or even complete absence of pubertal development.
Delayed puberty occurs when pubertal signs are absent in an otherwise healthy girl or boy beyond the age of 13.5 (for girls) or 14 years (for boys). Typical signs of pubertal development are thelarche (development of the female breast) in girls and an increase in testicular volume to over 3 ml in boys. Furthermore, puberty is said to be delayed if the time required to pass through puberty from a stage B2 to menarche (from the first signs to reaching a Tanner stage P5 G5) is more than 5.0 (in a girl) or 5.5 years (in a boy), or if a pubertal development that has begun has been arrested for more than 18 months.
For “Pubertal development according to Tanner” see under the sub-topic “Physical examination“.
Pubertas tarda can be a symptom of many diseases (see under “Differential diagnoses”).
Course and prognosis: Course and prognosis depend on the cause of the disease. Medical evaluation is required in all cases.