Thank you for your question! It’s a very common one we hear, and it’s very normal to be curious about this topic.

First, for those who may not know, “Idiopathic Short Stature” is a condition where a person’s height is significantly shorter (more than 2 standard deviations) compared to others who are their same sex and age. “Idiopathic” means the cause is still unknown, even after a complete evaluation has been done. Most young adults are referred to a pediatric endocrinologist for further evaluation and may receive treatment in certain cases.

Late bloomers, also known as people with “Constitutional Delay of Growth” (and sometimes Delay of Puberty as well), do not necessarily end up being short once they reach their final adult height, but they do develop later than others their same age and sex. We know that puberty lasts about five years and enlargement of the testicles is often the first sign that puberty has begun. Most guys are fully developed by the time they are 18-21 years old. Since you are only 16, you will likely notice that your penis will gradually become larger over the next few years. If you ever have concerns about how your body is growing or developing, it’s important that you let your health care provider know so they can discuss your specific case.