Medical experts say that the ripe age for young teenage boys to hit their growth spurt should start from the age of 14. This is the time their bodies will undergo several physical changes and developments like increased muscle volume, growth of body hairs, deeper voice, etc.
This natural development of their bodies, however, can be hampered by low testosterone, also known as teenage hypogonadism in the scientific community. Hormone replacement therapy, which consists primarily of a low dose of testosterone, may be taken advantage of to remedy the condition and thus spur the stalled physical development to finally take its course.
Seasoned doctors from top testosterone clinics in the country say that the boy would notice his condition first before everybody else, mostly because it concerns his own body.
When he’s amongst his friends and peers in the school locker room, he’ll see that other guys are going through puberty with all the visible physical changes and developments happening in their bodies, but he does not see the secondary sexual features taking place in his own body, and this will bother him. He would presumably be more willing to open up and talk about this matter to his father than his mother.
TRT doctors would point out that for many adolescent boys, this is just a developmental delay and will eventually rectify itself. An in-depth study of the teenage boy’s family history may suggest that he, or other males in his family, have lagged behind other people of the same age.
Recent genetic research confirms the presence of genetic factors on the timing of puberty, and modifications to genes can lay the foundations for extended or earlier puberty. For many young men, the answer could be just to wait it out.
But if it doesn’t clear up immediately, delayed growth can be socially and emotionally taxing for a young teenage boy.
Telltale Signs of Hypogonadism
Hypogonadism in adolescent boys is typically diagnosed by identifying what is missing rather than by what is present. For instance, enlarged testicles signify the onset of puberty together with the development of secondary sexual traits. However, the development will not materialize if there is an inadequate supply of testosterone in the body.
However, a kid, and his parents, are unlikely to recognize that his testicles have not enlarged.
The more obvious indications of low testosterone are the absence of:
- Increased depth of voice
- Hair growth in pubic areas
- Other body hair development, such as facial or underarm hair
- In comparison to peers, height or growth
- In comparison to peers, muscle development
- Penis growth
The early teen years, for guys, 13 and 14, are a vital stage of growth because at this point in their life their biological systems will enter puberty.
If a boy has not reached 14 years of age with testicles that have grown to their full size, has acquired pubic hair, and has not begun to acquire musculature and mature height, his attending doctor might do a test for hypogonadism.
Testing for Hypogonadism
Testing consists of a basic blood test and the results of an evaluation of hormone levels and growth-related hormones. In boys with Klinefelter syndrome, another test may be recommended if their doctor detects an underlying problem.
Klinefelter syndrome is a qualified chromosomal issue. This condition usually affects around 1 in 500 men, could be discovered earlier in infancy, but it usually takes a long time for people to realize that they are affected because their peers’ puberty has advanced at different rates. When testosterone levels are low, that’s only part of the problem.
Young teenage boys with low testosterone aren’t uncommon, but parents need to know that there are ways to manage it. One of which is to wait and find out if his body systems will catch up on their own.
If suspicions of teenage hypogonadism or low testosterone can’t be ruled out and symptoms are glaring, seeking help from a nearby TRT Melbourne clinic would be most helpful. A reputable medical professional with a background in hormone management can assist you here the most and answer your most probing questions about low T.