What is delayed puberty? Puberty is said to be delayed when
symptoms do not appear by age 13 for girls and age 14 for boys.
Delayed puberty can be hereditary; meaning that the late onset
of puberty may run in families. However, delayed puberty may
also be due to chromosomal abnormalities, genetic disorders,
chronic illnesses, or tumors that damage the pituitary gland or
the hypothalamus, which affect maturation. What are the symptoms
of delayed puberty? A noted lack of symptoms of puberty is the
primary indicator that a child may be experiencing delayed
puberty. The following are the most common symptoms of delayed
puberty. However, each child may experience symptoms
differently. Symptoms may include: Lack of breast development by
age 14 More than five years between breast growth and first
menstrual period Failure to menstruate by age 16 Lack of
testicular enlargement by age 14 Lack of pubic hair by age 15
More than five years to complete genital enlargement The
symptoms of delayed puberty may resemble other