Delayed puberty
MR Palmert, L Dunkel - New England Journal of Medicine, 2012 - Mass Medical Soc
MR Palmert, L Dunkel
New England Journal of Medicine, 2012•Mass Medical SocKey Clinical Points Delayed Puberty Delayed puberty is diagnosed when there is no
testicular enlargement in boys or breast development in girls at an age that is 2 to 2.5 SD
later than the mean age at which these events occur in the population (traditionally, 14 years
in boys and 13 years in girls). Constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) is the
single most common cause of delayed puberty in both sexes, but it can be diagnosed only
after underlying conditions have been ruled out. The cause of CDGP is unknown, but most …
testicular enlargement in boys or breast development in girls at an age that is 2 to 2.5 SD
later than the mean age at which these events occur in the population (traditionally, 14 years
in boys and 13 years in girls). Constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) is the
single most common cause of delayed puberty in both sexes, but it can be diagnosed only
after underlying conditions have been ruled out. The cause of CDGP is unknown, but most …
Key Clinical Points
Delayed Puberty
- Delayed puberty is diagnosed when there is no testicular enlargement in boys or breast development in girls at an age that is 2 to 2.5 SD later than the mean age at which these events occur in the population (traditionally, 14 years in boys and 13 years in girls).
- Constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) is the single most common cause of delayed puberty in both sexes, but it can be diagnosed only after underlying conditions have been ruled out.
- The cause of CDGP is unknown, but most patients with CDGP have a family history of delayed puberty.
- Management of CDGP may involve expectant observation or therapy with low-dose sex steroids.
- When treatment is given, the goals are to induce the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics or the acceleration of growth and to mitigate psychosocial difficulties associated with pubertal delay and short stature.
- The routine use of growth hormone, anabolic steroids, or aromatase inhibitors is not currently recommended.
The New England Journal Of Medicine