Puberty is the process of physical changes through which a child’s body grows and matures into an adult’s body. These changes generally begin between the ages of 10 – 14 (approximately) for girls. Some of its signs are:
- Breast Development
- Pubic Hair Growth
- Increase In Height (Growth Spurt)
- Menstruation or Periods
- Curvier And Wider Hips
There is no one particular puberty age i.e., each girl will experience according to her own bodily conditions and changes. While the majority of girls do get within these wide ranges in age, some girls do pass this phase without showing any bodily changes. This is known as Delayed puberty.
Certain signs indicate delayed puberty such as:
- No proper breast development
- Not experiencing menstruation or periods by the age of 15 – 16.
What are the reasons behind delayed puberty?
Delayed puberty can happen due to several reasons. Some of them are:
- Genes/ Family History: One of the main reasons is – family history. According to the best gynecologist in
Coimbatore, certain patterns of growth and development run in the family. If the majority of ladies present in the family of the particular girl experienced delayed puberty, there is a high chance this girl will experience the same. It is known as ‘constitutional delay’ or ‘late bloomer’ and doesn’t require any treatments as such. These girls will experience puberty late, just like her other female family members.
- Poverty/ Poor Nutrition:
A malnourished child or a child who lacks proper nutrition has a higher chance of experiencing delayed puberty. According to girls with eating disorders such as Anorexia, Bulimia also finds it difficult to get puberty. Girls between the ages of 10 – 14 must have a balanced weight and nutrients in order to make their bodies and hormones function properly.
- Medical Conditions:
Certain medical conditions also cause delayed puberty such as
– PCOS
– Cystic Fibrosis
– Kidney Disease
– Chronic Asthma
– Hormonal Imbalance
– Diabetes
– Thyroid
These conditions can hinder the growth and development of a child hence earlier and proper diagnosis is a must to have better control over these conditions. Delayed puberty can also happen due to thyroid disease as these hormones don’t allow the body to grow and develop properly. - Chromosomal Diseases: There are a few rare cases where a child may have certain problems with her chromosomes.These conditions also affect normal growth processes such as Turner Syndrome. Turner Syndrome happens when one of the two X chromosomes in a female is abnormal or missing.This can cause a lot of problems in a girl’s appearance, bodily development, and development
of her reproductive organs, sex hormones, etc. They are shorter than normal and may also experience some medical problems along with these.
Can a delayed puberty be diagnosed?
It can be really depressing to go through a delayed puberty phase. But your child should not lose hope as they are not alone. The good news is these problems are very common to occur and can easily be diagnosed and treated as well. If you are someone who is going through this phase or you know someone, ask them to make an appointment with the best gynecologist in Coimbatore, today to catch up with your friends.