Expert: Walter Hintz - 3/1/2007

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The text above is a follow-up to ...

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I am in desperate need of help. Iam 15 years old and have still not really began puberty. I have a small amount of hair at the top of my penis, but i have had that for a couple of years now and there has been no change. My penis has not grown at all and I have no other hair around my body except my head of course. I have heard of hormone problems and I wondered if you could give me advice. I live mith ny Mam and am to embarresed to speak about it to anyone.
Please help me!
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Hi James;
 First of all you should know that it is not necessarily abnormal for puberty to start this late. And puberty in some boys is not completed until the age of 18.  Have you started to grow any facial hair or hair under the arms yet?  Also have you had any erections yet, especially upon awakening in the morning?
  There is no need to be embarrassed but for peace of mind it is important that you speak to somebody face to face and not over the Internet.  I can understand that it is difficult to speak to your mother and you need a man to talk to.  How about a teacher.  When I taught high school biology I constantly had students, even girls, asking about this. Do you and your mother have a family doctor? If you talk to a doctor he is legally bound to keep everything confidential.
 Let me know what you decide. I am interested.
 This is about all I can do to help you over the Internet

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Thankyou for your help. I have no facial or arm hair at all. I have erections day to day. But I dont seem to have gone through any real sort of puberty yet. I was wondering if this could have anything to do with hormone problems. But I have noticed that I seem to be the only person in my year who has no facial hair, or armpit hair or anything else. I think I would be too embarresed to ask a teacher about this problem. I want to see a doctor but this would be difficult without telling my mam about the problem, as they are no males around in my life it would be difficult to ask anyone. I would also feel to embaressed to ask my freinds. I was wondering if there can be anything done to help by doctors or if they would just tell me to wait, because I seem to be the only person my age I know who has not gone or is really going through puberty. If you could help or direct me to some help, it would not just help phisically but mentally as I lack any self confidence and am becoming extremly unhappy with this situation
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Erections are a good sign of puberty but you might have a low hormone level.  I really think that you are just developing a little slower. I cannot tell what a doctor would say or do.
I do not know your mother but if you have a good relationship with her I urge to discuss this with her.  I would think that eventually you will have to anyway and then you could consult a doctor to ease your mind.  You do not have to discuss erections or penis size. Just tell about your concern about the lack of body hair and if she thinks you are having a hormone problem.
 One more question.  Are you attracted to the girls your age.  This is a sign of advancing puberty.

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Tyhankyou again, one of the things that has confused me is that I have been attracted to girls for a long time. Thankyou for the advice, i have just 1 more question. Would I be able to make an appointment with a doctor myself or would my mam have to do it?

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Hi James To summarize: You have some pubic hair, you get erections and you are attracted to girls. The last question is whether or not you produce semen.(masturbation)  This all sounds normal to me and you are a bit slow in completing puberty.  Give it another few months and see if things change.  If not see a doctor. I do not know where you live. (country? state?) In most US states you do not need a parents permission to talk to a doctor.  You would need it for any treatment however