Puberty is described as delayed when a boy or girl has passed
the usual age of onset of puberty with no physical or hormonal
signs that it is beginning. Puberty may be delayed for several
years and still occur normally, but delay of puberty may also
occur due to undernutrition, many forms of systemic disease, or
to defects of the reproductive system (hypogonadism) or the
body's responsiveness to sex hormones. Background: a brief
synopsis of normal pubertyEdit Puberty refers to the physical
and hormonal changes which typically begin in early adolescence
and lead to reproductive maturity and completion of growth. In
girls the physical changes include growth of the breasts,
development of pubic hair, change in body shape, increased body
hair, slightly increased facial hair, and onset of menstrual
periods (menarche). In boys the physical changes include growth
of the penis and testes, pubic hair, increased muscle mass and
strength, and increased body and facial hair. These changes in
both sexes are referred to as