Normal puberty occurs across an age range, and diagnosis of pathology requires familiarity with the normal range. Delayed puberty is defined by:
In boys: the absence of testicular development (or a testicular volume lower than 4 ml) by age 14 years.
In girls: the absence of breast development by the age of 13 years, or primary amenorrhoea with normal breast development by the age of 15.
Most boys and most girls with delayed puberty have simple constitutional delay in growth and puberty (CDGP) and do not need detailed investigation.
Causes of delayed or abnormal puberty
Central (both sexes)
Intact hypothalamo-pituitary axis:
CDGP – sporadic or familial; see also separate Short Stature article. Constitutional delay is by far the most common cause in both boys and girls but can only be diagnosed once other causes have been eliminated.
Chronic illness – eg, kidney disease, Crohn’s disease.
Malnutrition – eg, anorexia nervosa, cystic fibrosis, coeliac disease.
Excessive physical exercise, particularly athletes or gymnasts.
Psychosocial deprivation.
Steroid therapy.
Hypothyroidism.
Impaired hypothalamo-pituitary axis:
Tumours adjacent to the hypothalamo-pituitary axis – eg, craniopharyngioma, optic glioma, germinomas, astrocytomas, pituitary tumours (including hyperprolactinaemia).
Congenital anomalies – eg, septo-optic dysplasia, congenital panhypopituitarism.
Irradiation treatment.
Trauma: surgery, head injury.
IHH. This describes low gonadotrophin and sex steroid levels in the absence of abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal system. As well as cryptorchidism, associated features include micropenis, synkinesia (mirror movements), cleft lip and palate, dental agenesis, skeletal anomalies and hearing loss. Many have associated loss of smell – Kallmann’s syndrome.
Peripheral
Boys:
Bilateral testicular damage: cryptorchidism, failed orchidopexy, atresia, testicular torsion, infection (mumps rarely causes prepubertal damage).
Syndromes associated with cryptorchidism or gonadal dysgenesis: Noonan’s syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, Klinefelter’s syndrome, other XY aneuploidy syndromes, XO/XY.
Irradiation, total or testicular.
Drugs – eg, cyclophosphamide.
Girls:
Gonadal dysgenesis: Turner syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, Swyer syndrome (45,XY).
Irradiation, total or abdominal.Drugs – eg, cyclophosphamide, busulfan.
Intersex disorders – eg, complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (primary amenorrhoea may be the presenting symptom), congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Polycystic ovary syndrome.
Toxic damage: galactosaemia, iron overload (thalassaemia).
Management
CDGP
Medical treatment is often not necessary and reassurance and monitoring may be sufficient. However, short courses of sex hormones may be used to allow individuals to catch up with their peers and prevent psychological and emotional sequelae.CDGP in boys: induction of puberty may be achieved with short courses of low-dose testosterone therapy for appropriately selected boys with delayed puberty. Testosterone is given by mouth as capsules or by depot injection. Treatment is given for 3-6 months and then the situation reassessed. Response is usually rapid and effective. There is not yet sufficient evidence for the routine use of other therapies (eg, growth hormone, aromatase inhibitors or anabolic steroids) for CDGP.
CDGP in girls: gradually increasing doses of oestrogen treatment, with cyclical progestogen therapy once adequate oestrogen levels have been achieved.
Chronic disease
Treat the underlying cause if possible; induction of puberty and hormone treatment may be required.
Primary testicular and ovarian failure
Pubertal induction followed by ongoing hormone replacement. Testosterone/oestrogen production may be adequate and ongoing hormone treatment unnecessary. In those with severe congenital hypogonadism, early gonadotrophins in the neonatal period or infancy may be indicated.
Boys: Regular testosterone injections are preferred but oral testosterone or testosterone patches, gel and buccal pellets are alternatives.
Girls: Oestrogen replacement should be gradual to avoid premature fusion of the epiphyses and prevent overdevelopment of the areolae of the breasts.Induction of puberty usually starts around age 10. Gradually increased doses of oral ethinylestradiol or transdermal estradiol are used, with cyclical progesterone therapy once adequate oestrogen levels have been achieved or if breakthrough bleeding occurs. If growth hormone is also needed, oestrogen therapy is usually delayed until age 12.
Transdermal estradiol is thought to be more effective and have a better safety profile.A low-dose combined oral contraceptive pill can then be used.
Central delay
Treatment of any underlying cause – eg, craniopharyngioma. Pubertal induction and hormone replacement. Counselling with respect to sexual function and fertility as appropriate.
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