Endocronologist (Pediatric) Questions Endocrinology-Diabetes

Why haven't my muscles developed during puberty?

I'm a 16 year old male teenager and have a question. Currently, I have gynecomastia and have had it for almost 3 years, and I am also around 6 foot 4 so pretty tall for my age. I am aware that my gynecomastia is a sign of a hormone imbalance I have. So my question is that I am aware that one of the results of puberty is an increase in muscle definition and the broadening of the shoulders. However, I am through the later stages of my puberty and still, I see no development in my muscles as I see other kids my age and younger than me whose shoulders have broadened and have become more muscularly defined. Upon searching a condition relating to this I came across the condition of hypogonadism or low testosterone. I saw some of the symptoms in myself such as tall height and lack of muscular growth. However, it also described hypogonadism as delayed puberty, however, pretty much all other aspects of puberty for me have been fine. So I have been wondering if hypogonadism or some sort of other condition relating to my lack of muscle development and are there treatment options that can help fix this?

Male | 16 years old

4 Answers

Ask your parents to take you to a pediatric endocrinologist.
Without seeing you, it's difficult to give you a correct answer. If you have growth to that height, you do not have a problem that time won’t resolve for you, you are now in puberty and you have not mentioned what your weight is, which is important to be able to tell you a little be more about your worries.

Have a question aboutEndocrinology-Diabetes?Ask a doctor now
Dear patient,

You need to be seen and examined as well as having appropriate blood work for accurate diagnosis. See your physician and perhaps be referred to growth and development specialist.

Respectfully,

Marvin A. Leder, MD FACP fACE
If your testicles and penis are normal in size you do not have hypogonadism. Gynecomastia occurs in 1/3 of normal males during puberty so that is not a sign of a hormone imbalance. Puberty in males is very dependent on genetics. In some families the increase in muscle mass and shoulder broadening does not occur until 18 or even 20.