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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Puberty > Slow Developing
Posted on: 06/12/2003
Question
I am boy at 17 years old and I'm an exchange students from Sweden. Here in US I am a senior but in Sweden I would be a junior. Anyway, I have some problems that basically has kept me from 100 percent enjoying myself since 7th grade. I am very very slow in puberty. I am born 1985 in December so I will be 18 years old in December. My dad was very slow in puberty as well when he was a teenager. I am pretty tall though, I am 6 foot 2 and my dad is about 6 foot 5. Anyway my voice has only changed a little bit, It's about the same as I had 2-3 years ago. I have no beard at all. I have very little hair above my penis. And very little hair under my arms, and legs etc. No hair on my thighs. I have very small hands and relatively small feet. I am seriously the slowest developed guy of all my friends and anyone I know for my age. Why am I developing so slowly? Is there anything I can do to speed up my puberty? Does it help to masturbate often?
Answer
I am sorry to say that every person develops at their own pace - and it sounds like yours is just slow. There are tests that a doctor can do to make sure that everything is OK - and there are ways to speed things up - for a medical reason. Because it is so bothersome for you, make an appointment and talk with a doctor - it can't hurt. Masturbation will not help speed up puberty.
Answered By:
Nancy Brown, PhD
Nancy Brown, PhD