Why is my doctor checking for signs of growth?

Question:

I go to a pediatric endocrinologist for hormone consultations, and they often check me. They check my armpits for hair growth and my pubic hair and they feel my testicles to see how big they are. Why do they do this? Also, are there exams that boys should do at home to check growth and changes and make sure everything is okay?

Answer:

Since you are seeing a doctor who specializes in hormone problems, I would assume that you have some type of hormonal problem. The things they are checking are indications of where you are at in changing from a child’s body to an adult’s body. There is a version of a similar type of questionnaire that you can do at home at Tanner Stage Calculator for Boys. About every 3 to 6 months, you should see the resulting number increase, which means you are progressing.