Re: Info on Bone Age catch up at puberty

[Guest guest]

- very good questions!!!! The studies indicate that growth

hormone does NOT cause the child to either a) enter puberty any

earlier than they would without GHT; or cause their bone age to

accelerate at all.

The studies seem to indicate that clearly GH causes the final adult

height to increase anywhere from 2-6/7 inches (many variables).

However, if the child enters puberty early, the potential from the

GH can be dampened a bit unless the child's puberty is postponed.

If you do NOT postpone puberty, and it occurs at a early or normal

stage, but you DO still do GH, the child will still gain significant

height, just not as much as if you postponed puberty in addition.

I am not a doctor, so just speaking as a parent here. For parents

just beginning the GH decision, I would NOT worry about the

puberty/postponement issue at this time. It could drive your head

nuts!!! My husband and I worried so much until we realized that we

can't make a decision until that time anyway!!! Our decision will

be based on a) where is already at in height with GH, what

her bone age is; what age her puberty is beginning; and what

projection of height she might end up at at that time. I don't want

to postpone puberty at all. So we keep visually checking her every

3 months and crossing our fingers!!!!

Take one step at a time. So many factors enter into things at each

step.

Good luck in your decision. My daughter doesn't like taking her

shots, don't get me wrong. But at age 8, we have now begun talking

to her about responsibility, and that we may soon let her decide if

she wants to continue -- and she absolutely wants to be as tall as

her Aunt (ain't going to happen as she is 6'0, but she can

dream....) At sleepovers and slumber parties, one of us goes over

with the shot, and all the girls gather around and watch and hold

her hand, and I rather think that likes the attention.....

> ,

> Thanks for the ino on the bone age catch up on puberty. If have

one more

> question. If we decided not to delay puberty, but our child is

still on GHD, is

> it assumed that the child will still be taller than they would

without GHD and

> could GHD cause the bone age to advance even more rapidly?

>

> Of course, I would always love to hear from parents who already

have children

> go through puberty and what their experiences are.

>