Last updated on September 8, 2021
Question:
Hello,
My concerns are only about my height and my delayed puberty progress. I am 17 years old. I have had only a little growth for the last 2-2.5 years. I am long-legged and around 175 cm (5’9) in height and 65 kg (143 lbs) in weight. I have fine facial hair. I had chronic asthma when I was around 12. Although I used to be quite tall (above 1 standard deviation) for my age before 14 and I’ve never experienced a rapid growth spurt.
Now my question is: Is it possible to catch up in my growth? Can I still reach the final height that was predicted for me in the calculators?
Thank you.
Answer:
In the past, asthma was treated with corticosteroids. These drugs were known to delay growth and development. The person with asthma would eventually catch up with his peers. Today, inhalation steroids are being used. These do not impact growth and development.
At the moment, you are at the average height for all males. You are at a normal weight for your height. Not everyone experiences dramatic growth in height. Anything above 5 cm (2 inches) in a year’s time is considered to be rapid growth.
Whether you will continue to grow depends on what stage of development you have reached. You need to remember that I can’t see you and there isn’t enough information in your description of yourself for me to hazard a guess. You can use the Tanner Stage Calculator for Boys to get an estimate. I would expect that you are in Stage 4 or Stage 5 by this point in your life. Stage 5 is reached when you have gained your full adult height.
Question:
Thank you for the response. I highly appreciate the answer given. However, I haven’t told you about my physical development and yet you may still be curious about it.
I recently took the Tanner Stage Calculator for boys and score 3.9. However, I used to take the same test years ago and still had the equivalent results (maybe around 3.7-4.1). By my further observation, my genital length/width doesn’t look like it’s fully matured, my face still quite looks the same but just has more pimples, my chin still appears the same as childhood but now at 17 more pronounced, and my weight hasn’t gained significantly over the last two years. It also affects my academic performance which correlates to lower grades compared to peers my age.
I’d be happy to see your response. Sorry to be bothering you.
Best of regards.
Answer:
Since the calculator is based on your observations of yourself, I cannot tell you whether you thought you were more developed in the past than you actually were or whether you are more developed now than you want to admit. Being stuck in the middle of development for two years doesn’t typically happen, so all I can suggest is that you talk with your doctor about your concerns. I can’t guess what is off without details, but your doctor can see you and, if something is off, do tests to figure out what is going on.
Response:
I understand. Thank you for your response. I highly appreciate it and have more insight into my development. I’m glad for your time spent and I’m sincerely grateful for your answers.
Thank you.