ESPE Abstracts

To attain sexual competence, all mammalian species go through puberty, a maturational period during which body growth and development of secondary sexual characteristics occurs. Puberty begins with the reawakening of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator. Reduction in inhibitory transsynaptic inputs combined with increased transsynaptic and glial excitatory inputs to the GnRH neuronal network are responsible for pubertal activation of GnRH neuro-secretion. ...

Delayed puberty (DP) is defined as a retardation of sexual maturation beyond the expected age, which conventionally is between 8 and 13 years in females. Since DP due to hypogonadism requires a specific treatment, it is crucial to promptly define the underlying pathogenesis and identify a tailored program of care. Hormonal therapy is essential to promote the development of secondary sexual characteristics, bone, muscle, and social, sexual, and psychologic skills. Despite the o...

Pubertal delay in females is defined as the lack of development of Tanner breast stage 2 by 13 years of age. Recent cohort studies have recapitulated the findings of classic studies over the last few decades, that constitutional delay (also known as self-limited delayed puberty) is less common in girls than in boys. This diagnosis is found in 30% of girls presenting with delayed puberty, with a further 30% classified as functional hypogonadotropic hypogonadism due to chronic i...

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