ABSTRACT

Puberty derives from the Latin, pubertas , meaning adulthood. 1 The phenomenon of puberty is significant in all cultures and the delay or absence of this sentinel event can cause great anxiety in the teen and their family. While boys tend to present with a chief complaint of short stature, girls typically present later with concerns about absent breast development or absent menses. The exact biologic triggers of puberty remain unknown; however, numerous modulators of this process are recognized: genetics, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), and exercise, as well as physical and emotional stress.