Puberty is when your body starts to produce sex hormones and which cause changes that prepare the body for reproductive activities. This usually happens between the ages of 8 and 14 years in girls. Delayed puberty in females means that breast development hasn’t occurred by 13 or menstruation hasn’t begun by 16.
Symptoms of delayed puberty
Common symptoms of delayed puberty in girls include:
- Lack of breast development by the age of 13
- Absence of menstruation by the age of 16
- Having no pubic hair
- Shorter than average height and a slow rate of growth
- Lack of bone maturity
A gap of four years or more between initial breast growth and the first period
These symptoms can also be the result of other diseases and the only way to be certain is to see a doctor for proper tests and examinations.
Causes of delayed puberty
As individuals, we all mature at different rates and so sometimes, when puberty is delayed, it is not as a result of any abnormality. Some girls will just develop more slowly than others. However, here are some reasons why puberty may not happen when you expect it to.
Constitutional delayed puberty
Studies show that delayed puberty is more likely in adolescent girls whose parents experienced the same thing at their age. This is known as constitutional delayed puberty.
Low body fat
Another contributing factor for delayed puberty is a lower than average amount of body fat. Your body requires enough fat stores to initiate puberty, especially when it comes to menstruation. That’s why athletic/sporty girls, such as swimmers, runners, gymnasts, or dancers, may be slightly more likely to experience delayed puberty.
Eating disorders
Eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia could also cause delayed puberty. These disorders can cause girls to become undernourished and lack body fat. This in turn affects their ability to produce or maintain a monthly menstrual period, leading to delayed puberty.
Hypogonadism and other medical issues
Hypogonadism occurs when the ovaries produce little to no hormones, this can be as a result of abnormal development in the womb, or damage to the ovaries. Hypogonadism is also triggered by abnormalities in the part of the brain which controls the process of puberty. Delayed puberty is an occasional side effect of hypogonadism which, in turn, is caused by a number of medical conditions including:
- Hypothyroidism
- A tumor in the pituitary gland
- Turner syndrome
- Certain autoimmune diseases (e.g., Addison’s disease or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis)
- Radiation cancer treatment or chemotherapy (which damages the ovaries)
- Other health complications that create a shortage of body fat could also lead to delayed puberty.
Managing delayed puberty in girls
Delayed puberty treatment is based on its underlying cause, and there’s a good chance that puberty can proceed normally if the underlying problem is addressed.
If the causes of delayed puberty are thought to be genetic, perhaps no action is needed. It will happen at it’s own pace.
When delayed puberty is the direct result of low body fat, treatment may be focused on increasing overall body fat percentage through higher caloric intake. This is sometimes challenging for those struggling with an eating disorder.
In certain cases, hormone therapy may be prescribed to stimulate the development of secondary sexual characteristics like widened hips and larger breasts. In (rare) cases where there is an anatomical problem, surgery may be necessary to correct any anatomical issues.
As a teenager, it can be troubling when your friends have started this journey to adulthood and you’re feeling left behind. But remember that just as all fingers are not equal, we are not all the same and therefore things will happen differently for everybody.
However, you should consider seeing a doctor if your breasts haven’t developed by 13 or you haven’t gotten your first period by 16. It’s equally important to seek medical help if you started experiencing these changes, then abruptly stopped.
