The following symptoms and complaints may indicate delayed puberty (pubertas tarda):
Leading symptoms
- Girls:
- Failure of pubertal development (breast development B1 in girls); a typical pubertal development is described below:
- Thelarche (breast development), begins at the age of 9 to 12 years.
- Pubarche (pubic hair),begins at the age of 10 to 12 years.
- Growth spurt: about a year after the first signs of puberty become visible, a growth spurt begins; theGrowth spurt is completed at about 18 years).
- Menarche (first menstrual period), takes place at the age of 11 to 14 years
- Stopping aPubertal development that has begun.
- Failure of menarche.
- Failure of pubertal development (breast development B1 in girls); a typical pubertal development is described below:
- Boys:
- Failure of pubertal development (testicular volume < 3.5ml and failure of penile growth in boys); following a typical pubertal development:
- First true sign of puberty in boy is enlargement of testis from prepubertal 1-3 ml to: > 3 ml; timing: > 9 – 12 (mean) – < 14 years old
- Increase in testicular volume or length; starts at about 12 years (range of variation: 10-14 years).
- Pubarche (pubic hair) about 6 months later (at about 12, 5 years; range of variation: 9-15 years).
- Growth spurt (pubertal growth spurt) sets together with the axillary hair (about 14 years).
- Stopping a startedPubertal development.
- Failure of pubertal development (testicular volume < 3.5ml and failure of penile growth in boys); following a typical pubertal development:
Important notes!
- In girls, pubertas tarda in up to 80% is based on a disease. In boys, this is the case in circa 50%.
