Boys can start puberty at a wide range of ages, with 95% starting between the ages of 9 and 14, so we consider puberty delayed when it has not started by age 14.
In most cases, delayed puberty is nothing to worry about. Every kid is different and some just start sexual development later than others. But in some cases, there is a medical cause for the delay that requires treatment.
The average age for girls to start puberty is 11, while for boys the average age is 12. But it's perfectly normal for puberty to begin at any point between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys.
Most often, it's simply a pattern of growth and development in a family. A guy or girl may find that his or her parent, uncle, aunt, brothers, sisters, or cousins developed later than usual, too. This is called constitutional delay (or being a late bloomer), and it usually doesn't need treatment.
In boys, they start between the ages of 9 and 15. This wide range in age is normal, and it's why kids may develop several years earlier or later than many of their friends. Sometimes, though, kids pass this normal age range for puberty without showing any signs of body changes. This is called delayed puberty.
It's not uncommon for girls and boys to develop as late as 13, 14 or 15. But if your child hasn't yet shown the signs of puberty by age 14 for girls or 15 for boys, delayed puberty could be to blame. Keep in mind that delayed puberty is nothing to be overly concerned about. Everyone develops differently.
Delayed puberty can be caused by an underlying medical condition (e.g., celiac disease or a hormone deficiency). There's often a hereditary component to delayed puberty. If a parent was late in starting puberty, it's more likely that his or her child might be, too.
While 16 is considered the average cut-off point for growth in most males, it's not a guarantee. In particular, if your son is a late bloomer, you may notice growth of up to an inch.
As a growth spurt comes with puberty, the later you hit puberty the later you hit this growth spurt. But worry not that will not affect your final adult height. You can achieve the height that you would've achieved if you would've started puberty at the average age of 12.
Delayed puberty in boys is when puberty does not begin by 14 years of age. When puberty is delayed, these changes either don't occur or don't progress normally. Delayed puberty is more common in boys than in girls.
In males, a common cause of pubertal delay is a constitutional delay of puberty and growth (CDPG). CDPG occurs when there is a decrease in the tempo of growth. The patients are generally healthy adolescent males, who appear short for age. At birth, they are an average size.
Conclusions: Final height is influenced by both height and the age of onset of the PGS in normal maturing children. A normal but early puberty exerts a negative effect on final height. A delayed PGS exerts a positive effect on final height.
Delayed puberty may also negatively affect adult psychosocial functioning and educational achievement, and individuals with a history of delayed puberty carry a higher risk for metabolic and cardiovascular disorders.
The actual spurt was then smaller and, moreover, puberty occurred earlier. In the category of children with lower BMI and later onset of puberty, the spurt was all the stronger. Those whose puberty was delayed also had several extra years to grow in, and quite simply ended up taller.
The data from the studies are clear: Late bloomers are rare; skill deficits are almost always what prevent children from blooming as readers.
You were likely a late bloomer if you started puberty later, hit your own growth spurt as an older teen, or didn't get your first period until you were older than 14. Your child's healthcare provider will ask about family history to figure out if your child may be a late bloomer.
By far, the most common cause is constitutional delayed puberty. These boys are generally healthy and will eventually go through puberty if given enough time. In about two thirds of cases, it is inherited from one or both parents.
Most often, children simply develop later than their peers but ultimately develop normally. Sometimes, delayed puberty is caused by chronic medical problems, hormonal disorders, radiation therapy or chemotherapy, disordered eating or excessive exercise, genetic disorders, tumors, and certain infections.