The treatment for delayed puberty depends on its cause. When an underlying disorder is the cause of delayed puberty, puberty usually proceeds once the disorder has been treated.
An adolescent who is naturally late in developing needs no treatment, but if the adolescent is severely stressed by delayed or absent development, some doctors may give supplemental sex hormones to begin the process sooner. Treatment is much more common in boys.
If boys show no sign of puberty by age 14, they may be given a 4- to 6-month course of testosterone injections once a month. At low doses, testosterone starts puberty, causes the development of some masculine characteristics (virilization), and does not prevent adolescents from reaching their adult height potential.
In girls, low doses of estrogen may be started with pills or skin patches.
Genetic disorders cannot be cured, but hormone therapy may help sex characteristics develop.
Surgery may be needed to remove tumors, and these children are at risk of hypopituitarism.