Treatment of late puberty

The induction of puberty is physically and emotionally disturbing. For that reason, low doses of medication need to be introduced and increased slowly, regardless of the age at which treatment is started. In boys with growth delay, the growth spurt may be induced earlier in the sequence of pubertal developmental by using oxandrolone, but puberty itself is induced by slowly increasing doses of testosterone. For girls with ovarian failure, oestradiol should be introduced from the age of 8 or 9 years, but doses should be very cautiously increased in order to allow time for cosmetic development of breasts and growth of the uterus.