15 year old wants hormone assistance

[JacobWestlake]

Our 15yo is a freshman in High School and he has not yet hit puberty, we saw a specialist a few months ago and we all agreed to wait another year and seeing if he hits puberty on his own, but Mike is now wanting to get started with puberty. He spends a lot of time with his 12 year old cousin, and he's complaining that he has started to get some pubic hair and he's feeling the 'pressure' and that his cousin has teased him a small amount about being 3 years younger and having a larger penis.

Some background here also, Mike lost a testicle when he was 3, but we have ruled that out as being the cause of his delayed puberty. When the doctor examined him the doctor reported to us that he has yet to obtain any pubic hair and he's had no significant genital growth. His testicular volume was around 3ml. He's on average with his bone age of 12, however.

One further note, he's never been able to completely retract his foreskin. Again his doctor wants to wait on this until puberty comes, but Mike has complained about this a few times.

Should we go ahead and get him on the hormone therapy or force him to wait until this coming fall?

[PoppyMama]

It's his body and his life and if he was my son I would help him find all the facts and then let him make his own choice.

[bri276]

I would get a second opinion from a ped. endocrinologist. And a third, if necessary. At his age, I believe he should have some say in his health care, and if he's unsatisfied with the answers he's received so far, it would be appropriate to continue to research and speak with specialists.

[JacobWestlake]

One useful bit of information that I think is also pushing this.. They wont give him a prosthetic until he's done with puberty.

[SJane01]

Get him the assistance if he wants it. It should be his choice, he's well old enough.

[Datura]

I'd make sure that he really knew what he was getting into, was properly educated about the risks and benefits, and had a realistic view of what would occur. Then I'd let him choose. Its his body and his life.

[Arduinna]

He is still within the range of normal for puberty so I'd personally wait before resorting to hormonal therapy.

[tinuviel_k]

My husband didn't start puberty until 10th or 11th grade or so. I would be reluctant to give my child hormones if their body wasn't quite ready to start on its own just yet. Everyone runs on a different schedule.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by Arduinna

He is still within the range of normal for puberty so I'd personally wait before resorting to hormonal therapy.

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Originally Posted by tinuviel_k

My husband didn't start puberty until 10th or 11th grade or so. I would be reluctant to give my child hormones if their body wasn't quite ready to start on its own just yet. Everyone runs on a different schedule.

:

If he was very concerned about it we would meet with several specialists and do a LOT of research on it. He would need to be VERY well educated on every possible side effect or downside of the treatment before I would even consider it.

-Angela

[SJane01]

Originally Posted by alegna

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If he was very concerned about it we would meet with several specialists and do a LOT of research on it. He would need to be VERY well educated on every possible side effect or downside of the treatment before I would even consider it.

-Angela

That's a lot of exposure to a lot of people that he might not feel comfortable with. Nearly every specialist that he visits is going to want to do a genital exam on this boy, as thats what is primarily in question here. I can't see subjecting this boy to "several" specialists who are going to fondle his genitals and say, sorry kid, you havnt hit puberty yet.

Obviously being 15 and looking like a 10/11 year old is bothering him, and subjecting him to this to more people does not seem reasonable to me.

He may not object to this, and if he doesnt then it would be a good idea. But what if he does?


One thing to also keep in mind, and my 14yo DS who has puberty issues due to an under-active thyroid has said... most late bloomers and people who have had puberty issues generally end up looking more handsome and more beautiful, along with more youthful later in life! Being a few years later in puberty can be a healthy thing for you.

Kids cant see that picture when they are 13,14,15 and have yet to start puberty. Show no outward signs of puberty such as pubic hair development, genitalia growth, voice changes, etc.. But in the long run unless there is a medical problem then being late, if you can deal with the social aspects at that age, is a good thing!

Another thing to note, is that especially in males it is VERY important for boys who have reached age 14 and show no pubic hair and only moderate signs of the beginning stages of puberty to be checked up on by a doctor. It is NOT ok to just ignore it as there is real and life long issues that can arrest puberty development.

A boy could have started growing into puberty at age 11 like normal, and had some thing go wrong and within the first year when nobody notices the small, minor changes things stop. So when they are examined by a doctor at age 14, the doctors see that .. Sure he's started growth into puberty, and he's within the normal ranges of puberty. He's got some testicular growth, and the scrotum is changing color, he's not yet hit puberty.. Well this boy has had puberty arrested for 3 years, in another 3 years he will be exactly the same.

It is a good thing to have these things checked out and noted by a professional, even if everything looks OK. Your child may feel a slight discomfort in allowing the doctor to look at him or her there, but in the long run they are professionals and those major issues can be changed to a minor issue, and minor issues can be changed to not being an issue at all.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by SJane01

That's a lot of exposure to a lot of people that he might not feel comfortable with. Nearly every specialist that he visits is going to want to do a genital exam on this boy, as thats what is primarily in question here. I can't see subjecting this boy to "several" specialists who are going to fondle his genitals and say, sorry kid, you havnt hit puberty yet.

Obviously being 15 and looking like a 10/11 year old is bothering him, and subjecting him to this to more people does not seem reasonable to me.

He may not object to this, and if he doesnt then it would be a good idea. But what if he does?

He is the one that wants to do medical treatments. Medical treatments all come with risks. He needs to speak to more than one professional before agreeing to a treatment plan. He needs to understand all possible side-effects and complications. If he wants to be adult enough to make this decision, then he needs to be adult enough to get enough information to make an educated decision.

-Angela

[nonnymoose]

First of all, "fondle?" Medical professionals do not "fondle," unless they are very unprofessional.
I think alegna has hit it on the nose. While he is old enough to have some input on his own treatment, teenagers are also not known for their patience, and hormones are nothing to fiddle with. A year won't kill him, and some of that would be taken up by more appointments.
Are there any online groups for late-developing teens?

[SJane01]

Originally Posted by nonnymoose

First of all, "fondle?" Medical professionals do not "fondle," unless they are very unprofessional.

I'm not a medical professional. And its what they do, rephrase it if you want.

Originally Posted by nonnymoose

Are there any online groups for late-developing teens?

I'm not sure if there are or not, our own has found his own support with online friends, and is involved in a peer group locally in person. An organized online group would probably not be the best idea, and could draw a lot of the wrong types of individuals. If such groups existed, I'd hope they were by invitation from medical professionals only, and not anonymous entrances.

[jul511riv]

Originally Posted by Arduinna

He is still within the range of normal for puberty so I'd personally wait before resorting to hormonal therapy.

i agree.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

As far as his foreskin being none retractable, which is totally normal by the way, he can help it along by doing stretching excersises if he so wishes.

As far as using hormones goes. I would worry that he would ignore the very real risks because he is impatient. I know as a teen I was so far behind everyone else in my class I was just shy of 16 before I got my first period and had the option of hormones been mentioned to me I think I would have jumped at the chance. But I know now that would have been a mistake.

Another year wont cause any harm I would wait at least that long then go from there.

[ctdoula]

I'm not an expert on puberty by any means, but I can see why he/you are concerned. I would probably be strongly considering the hormones as well.


One thing I can speak to is the testicle issue. My dh lost a testicle as a child. He was born w/an undescended one, and when the surgery was performed, the testicle didn't make it (something wrong w/blood supply). So, he only has one. But, the one he has is larger & more egg shaped, and has adapted to take over for the missing one. He sperm count when we were TTC was only slightly lower than normal. SO, your son's other testicle should be making up the difference. My dh also looked into implants as a younger man, but decided against it. It's only for costmetic reasons, and honestly, it's such a non-issue!! Really.... tell your son that in the long run it doesn't matter, no one notices, and it doesn't affect manliness or anything like that!

[kate3]

My pateint population is almost entirely adolescents, and I completely understand why he is concerned and I empathize with your family over this decision. Although not completing puberty by age 15 is entirely normal, not starting at all at age 15 would raise a few red flags. If I am reading your original post correctly he has no genital enlargement and no pubic hair at all.

If your son is bothered by this (which by your post it seems he is) then seeing a specialist or two is probably in his best interest if he is comfortable with the visit and exam. And no, he is not going to be "fondled", he will be examined. Please stress this part with him. If he feels he is going to be molested this will only increase his anxiety (obviously). If he is expressing distress over not entering puberty then let him take the lead in asking questions regarding treatment and side effects.

As far as the testicle issue is concerned, he will most likely be perfectly fine with only one, even after puberty. The remaining testicle centers itself in the scrotal sac so he won't be "lopsided". But an implant can be placed if this is his desire.

Good luck to both of you.