Hormonal failure in adolescent boys. The first signs of hormonal imbalance in children. Hormonal imbalance after an abortion

Why is it so hard for a teenager with himself? Is a teenager a victim of raging hormones? What are the psychological characteristics of adolescence?

Why is it so hard for a teenager with himself?

• the beginning of the functioning of the sex glands, the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics;
• in girls, puberty begins two years earlier and lasts 3-4 years, in boys 4-5 years;
• the period of growth of sexuality and hypersexuality in boys;
• hormonal changes: in girls, an increase in the amount of estrogen, in boys - testosterone. In both sexes, there is an increase in the level of adrenal androgens, causing the development of secondary sexual characteristics;
• the new "chemical environment" of the body causes sudden mood swings (emotional swings);
• high growth rates, comparable only with the fetal (intrauterine) period and age from 0 to 2 years;
• the growth of the skeleton is faster than the development of muscle tissue, hence the awkwardness, disproportion, angularity of the figure;
• in girls, the mass of adipose tissue increases by 10-20%, which is subjectively experienced very hard;
• in boys, the amount of muscle tissue increases: the number of muscle cells in boys exceeds the corresponding number in girls by 4 times;
• increase in lung volume and depth of breathing in order to provide a growing body with oxygen;
• increase in heart volume by 2 times during puberty;
• significant fluctuations in blood pressure, often upward, frequent headaches, vegetovascular dystonia.
• hyperfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary and endocrine systems.
• emotional instability.
• wet dreams in boys and menstruation in girls sometimes cause a reaction of physiological rejection of their own body;
• the rate of development of the sebaceous glands (pimples on the face, excessive sweating, greasy hair);

Is a teenager a victim of raging hormones?

Yes. Grace Craig cites the following common emotional manifestations of a hormonal crisis:

• frequent mood swings
• depression;
• restlessness and poor concentration;
• irritability;
• impulsiveness;
• anxiety;
• aggression and problem behavior.

No. On condition teenager influenced by many other factors.

• family relationships;
• status in adolescence;
• level of academic success;
• the ability to build a long-term perspective, etc.

What are the psychological characteristics of adolescence?

1. A teenager is no longer a child, but not yet an adult. This intermediate position causes a lot of trouble. Sometimes the door to the world of adults is slammed in front of their noses by significant adults themselves, with the motivation “you are still too small”, “the nose is not mature enough”. They, most often parents, are not ready for the new status of the child in the family and society.
2. The internal crisis of self-esteem of a teenager arises in connection with the expansion and growth of opportunities and the preservation of the children's school status.
3. The crisis of 13 years is very often compared with the crisis of 3 years, only it is not aimed at the development of space and substantive actions, but at the development of social space, the space of human relationships.
4. In the psychological literature, this stage is called the stage of "second cord cutting". The child separates from his parents and goes into his own world - the world of peers.
5. The contradiction of adolescence lies in the fact that the child seeks to obtain adult status and adult opportunities, but combined with the avoidance of adult responsibility.
6. A teenager often refuses to accept the assessments and life experiences of his parents, even if he understands their correctness. He wants to get his own unique and inimitable experience, make his mistakes and learn from them.
7. This age is characterized by the desire to recognize their own merits in their significant teenage environment.
8. The teenager experiences an internal conflict: the desired farewell to childhood and its serenity and the severity of parting with the lack of responsibility. Emerging adult existential and ideological issues create a sense of global insolubility. A teenager firmly believes in the uniqueness of his own problems and experiences, which gives rise to a feeling of loneliness and depression;
9. Struggling with his own loneliness, and realizing the complexity of the problems, the teenager begins to look for his own kind. This is how youth hangouts are formed and a teenage subculture is formed as opposed to the world of adults.
10. In the youth environment, a teenager develops a "we-concept". On the one hand, this is exactly what unites the group: common goals, interests, tasks. On the other hand, the world around is divided into "us" and "them", and the relationship between these groups is sometimes sharply antagonistic.
11. The formation of a "We-concept" in an adolescent is a bridge to the emergence of a reference group or groups in the adolescent's life. (The group whose values ​​a teenager accepts and shares, whose opinion is significant for him, is called a reference group)
12. Learning activities and the school ceases to be the main and most important task. Intimate-personal communication with peers becomes the leading activity.
13. AT adolescence there is a decrease in the productivity of mental activity due to the fact that concrete thinking is replaced by logical thinking.
14. It is the new mechanism of logical thinking for the teenager that explains the growth of criticality. He no longer accepts the postulates of adults on faith, he requires proof and justification.
15. The growth of criticality sometimes leads to complete negativism. Most often, this negativism extends only to conflict, stressful and emotionally intense situations for a teenager. Only 20% of teenagers completely lack crisis manifestations of negativism. (You can read more about this group of children in the Resilient Children section.)
16. Adolescence is characterized by the focus of the search on one's own personality, self-examination and introspection. A teenager tries to speak out, even to himself (diaries).
17. During this period, there is a growth of self-consciousness, as an internally mastered experience of social relations, which allows a deeper understanding of others and oneself.
18. The beginning of adulthood is carried out by an external mechanism (the mechanism of imitation). I will be AS an adult - a game - copying external qualities, style, habits, behavior, that is, the external paraphernalia of adulthood. In this sense, the person who will be this ideal acquires special significance. I want to reassure parents: it will almost always be NOT them, but another significant adult.
19. A teenager strives to follow the fashion and ideals adopted in the youth subculture: weight, height, a mountain of muscles, etc. The mass media have a huge influence on their formation.
20. The child imitates adult stereotypes of sexuality in form, not in essence, which is why literature such as "The Art of Seduction" or "How to Become a Femme Fatale" is so popular among girls. A role model for girls is associated with a value system that has developed in the family. This is not necessarily a "fatal beauty", it can also be a "business woman" style, as close as possible to the male stereotype. She always looks O.K., stunning, she doesn't care about "those stupid things."
21. The male ideal most often becomes a superhero who preaches the cult of strength, endurance, courage, values. true friendship, that is, the hero of a modern action movie.
22. It would be wrong to believe that the "I-ideal" is formed ONLY by an external mechanism. This is just a starting point. Then follows the mastery of adult skills and abilities, caring for others, and, most importantly, the measure of one's feasible RESPONSIBILITY for what is happening in the family and around, for oneself and one's actions.
23. If a significant adult regards a teenager as his main assistant, this inevitably increases the level of self-esteem.
24. The level of knowledge for many teenagers becomes a factor in life success. There is a specialization of knowledge in order to build a further, certainly successful" career. For the first time, study turns not into study for evaluation, but into study, as self-education and an incentive for self-development, that is, it acquires personal meaning and personal value.
25. If such a way of comprehending new knowledge, skills and abilities is supported by significant adults, sometimes with the help of competition, then the prospect of growth of the "I-ideal" is greatly enhanced.

Discussion

23.04.2004 00:59:34

Comment on the article "Hormonal storm and psychological features adolescence"

Hormonal storm and psychological characteristics of adolescence. Teenagers. Education and relationships with children Transitional age. Adolescence is a difficult time for children and their families. At this age, the usual relationship with ...

Problem skin at a teenager. Health. Teenagers. Education and relationships with adolescent children: transitional age, problems at school Hormonal restructuring of the body does not occur often, but for everyone without exception. The question is how it goes, that's all.

Education and relationships with adolescent children: transitional age, problems at school, career guidance, exams, olympiads, the Unified State Examination, preparation for a university. Hormonal storm and psychological characteristics of adolescence.

About transitional age again. Children and parents. Teenagers. Hormonal storm and psychological characteristics of adolescence. Section: Children and parents (I'm 14, like a transitional age, but the stress has been 3 weeks).

About raging hormones. Psychology, transitional age. Teenagers. About raging hormones. Please tell me experienced parents who have already gone through this - when is the peak moment transitional age and the child can not cope with emotions, it can be somehow ...

Fatigue or dullness? Education, school. Teenagers. Education and relationships with adolescent children: transitional age, problems at school, career guidance, exams, competitions Hormonal storm and psychological characteristics of adolescence.

Hormonal background and harmonious development. Do not forget to show it to the endocrinologist - so says our expert, children's This The term "retardation" appeared, that is, a slowdown in physical development and the formation of functional systems in children and adolescents.

Hormonal storm and psychological characteristics of adolescence. Hormonal storm? I have two teenagers - both fourteen and a half years old. Divide by 4, make allowances for the hormonal storm - maybe everything is not so bad.

hormonal changes: in girls, an increase in the amount of estrogen, in boys - testosterone. What determines the growth of the child and is it possible to somehow influence it? The first growth spurt usually occurs at the age of 4-5 years.

Teenage psychologist about transitional age. Reluctance to learn Transitional age is that stage in a teenager's life when it is important not to lose control over his life course. Hormonal storm and psychological characteristics of adolescence.

Hormonal restructuring of the body, which is natural in adolescence. Teenagers. Parenting and relationships with adolescent children: transitional age, problems at school, career guidance, exams I would be very grateful for ...

Hormonal storm and psychological characteristics of adolescence. Section: Children and parents (I'm 14, like a transitional age, but the stress has been 3 weeks). How long does it last, hormonal changes?

During puberty, the hypothalamus controls the body's hormonal changes, which do not always go smoothly. In Russia, more than 3 million children and adolescents (6-10%) are obese. How to deal with excess weight.

Breast-feeding Child from 3 to 7 Teenagers Adult children (children over 18) Child psychology Nanny, governess. The son in the lumbar region of the back has a period of hormonal changes in the body, nothing surprising: acne, stretch marks - many teenagers go through this ...

Children's medicine. Prolonged fever in a teenager. Girl 13.5 years old. Last year, the temperature from 37.3 to 38.5 lasted 2.5 months until about mid-March, i.e. until sunny days. numerous drippings in different directions actually did not give anything.

Problem. Teenagers. Parenting and relationships with adolescent children: transitional age, problems at school In many countries child labour is of particular value. Of course, we are not talking about very young children and about physically difficult ...

Psychological. And I neither ... Hormonal storm and psychological characteristics of adolescence. What are the psychological characteristics of adolescence? In the psychological literature, this stage is called the stage of "second cord cutting".

Late pregnancy: psychological aspect. Hormonal storm and psychological characteristics of adolescence. Psychological age - test. - get-togethers. About his own, about a girl's. Discussion of questions about the life of a woman in the family, at work, relationships with ...

Problematic skin of teenagers. It's no secret that these teenage "troubles" are the result of hormonal changes in the body that occur in all children. Skin problems begin, as a rule, in adolescence, when ... About stretch marks in children.

Teen slang. . Teenagers. Parenting and relationships with adolescent children: transitional age, problems at school Hormonal storm and psychological characteristics of adolescence. Always apathy and fatigue more than in spring and summer.

Do you want your child to develop harmoniously? Do not forget to show it to the endocrinologist - this is what our expert, pediatric endocrinologist Ph.D. Tatiana Varlamova.

Does the child’s character deteriorate, does he grow too rapidly or, on the contrary, suffers because he is the smallest in the class, too plump and chews all the time, or, on the contrary, is thin and categorically refuses to eat? “The transitional age,” we say, “time will correct everything.” And, exchanging experience with other parents, we are convinced that our baby is still nothing, but the son is with the neighbors ...

Diabetes got younger?

Modern children have become shorter, but fatter, because they eat improperly, get sick more often and are nervously excitable, to say the least - they are mentally unbalanced. Such unhappy conclusions were reached by specialists dealing with children's health at the All-Russian Forum "Health of the Nation", held in Moscow this spring. The results of recent scientific research have made it possible to assess the real state of children's health, which is very different from official statistics.

Risky Legacy
Diabetes mellitus type I. The risk of inheriting insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, so-called juvenile diabetes, is low.
The likelihood of illness in a child:
2-3% - if the mother is sick
5-6% - with diabetes in the father
15-20% - if both parents are sick
10% is the incidence of diabetes among siblings with diabetes.
Type II diabetes due to hereditary predisposition is much stronger:
40-50% - if one of the parents is sick. True, the disease usually occurs after the age of 40 years.
50-80% - if parents are also diagnosed with obesity in combination with type II diabetes, the so-called diabetes mellitus of obese adults.

According to Science Center health of children of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, only 2% of school graduates can be considered healthy. Over the past few years, children with normal physical development have decreased by 8.5%. A generation of conditionally healthy children, or, as doctors say, "healthy patients," is growing. The term "retardation" appeared, that is, a slowdown in physical development and the formation of functional systems in children and adolescents.

And the number of endocrine disorders in children for 15-20 years has increased significantly. This is due, firstly, to the epidemic of our century - obesity. Second, with the increased incidence of diabetes (both insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, formerly called geriatric diabetes), it has become much younger and is now increasingly occurring in children as well.

Naturally, this is connected both with the environment and with urbanization, that is, with the costs of urban life. And, of course, food. On the one hand, children began to eat more, on the other hand, not always what they need. Often, even at home, children are treated to fast food and sweet drinks - not only carbonated, but also oversweetened “morsiks” and “kompotiki”.

In addition, children move less, and this contributes to the development of functional disorders.

But the main risk factor is burdened heredity. True, if there are cases of diabetes in the family, this does not mean that the child will definitely get sick, but he is at risk. And this means that he needs special supervision of an endocrinologist (2-3 times a year) and nutritional correction. Now there are a lot of cases of obesity in children - I and II degrees! A violation of fat metabolism leads to a violation of carbohydrate metabolism and the development of diabetes.

Common mistakes parents make:

• Overfeeding a child. If the child is healthy but thin and has poor appetite, this may be a manifestation of gastroenterological diseases or increased excitability. So, it makes sense to show him to a neurologist and a gastroenterologist, but just do not force him to eat, arranging painful hysterical performances from feeding.
• Unhealthy diet: foods containing trans fats (cookies, chips) and an excess of sweets. The child's diet must be balanced.
• Failure to regularly check the child's body mass index.
• Feeding newborns during the day without a break at night. Common Mistake mothers - to breastfeed the baby at night every time he wakes up. So he has a need to eat and drink all the time. But the number of fat cells is laid precisely during this period of development - at the age of up to two years!

Alarm symptoms:

• A child after suffering adenoviral infections, or childhood diseases, cannot recover for a long time.
• Often thirsty and drink too much liquid.
• He has frequent and profuse urination.
• He stays in a state of lethargy, irritability for a long time.
• He starts to noticeably lose weight.

These are possible signs of diabetes. Therefore, you should immediately check the level of glucose in the blood.

Height and bone age

When a child lags behind their peers, this is perceived as a tragedy by both parents and by themselves, teenagers are especially painful about it.

What does human growth depend on? It is influenced by two main factors - these are genes, that is, heredity, and again nutrition in early childhood. Tall parents usually have taller children, and vice versa. And, if the parents are above average height, and the child is lagging behind, you need to check his level of somatotropic hormone (STH).

Growth rates can also be reduced by severe (especially chronic) diseases. A weakened baby temporarily switches the energy that should have been spent on growth to the healing process.

An important role is played by the state of health of the mother during pregnancy, as well as the individual characteristics of the metabolic processes in the body of the child.

And the functions of the endocrine glands - the thyroid gland and the sex hormone testosterone - have a very large influence on growth. An increase in its production stimulates bone growth up to a certain limit, but in the future it begins to suppress growth zones, stopping growth. This can be observed in young men during puberty, when the acceleration of growth is replaced in the period of maturation (at 16-18 years old) by its stop.

Norm and deviations:

It is very important to track growth rates during the first two years of life.

• In the first year, children grow by an average of 25-30 cm, in the second - up to 12 cm, and in the third - 6 cm. Then, rapid growth is replaced by the so-called uniform growth, that is, 4-8 cm are added per year.
• At the beginning of puberty, children tend to experience growth spurts again. This period rapid growth caused by the influence of sex hormones - hormonal "splash".
• In girls, this period begins at 10 years old (maximum 12), when they add an average of 8 cm per year.
• In boys aged 12-14 years, the increase in height is on average 10 cm per year, with possible individual deviations of 1-1.5 years.
• During the period of puberty "jump" (in boys this usually happens at 13-16 years old, in girls - at 12-15 years old), both main indicators of physical development are intensively manifested - height and body weight. In a relatively short period of time, height can increase by 20%, and body weight - even by 50%.
  In girls, this "leap" can begin at 10.5 years, reaching its greatest expression by 12.5. And their body growth continues until the age of 17-19.
• Boys at the beginning of puberty lag behind girls, and at about 14.5 years old they begin to intensively catch up with them, and their growth continues until about 19-20 years old.

Alarm symptoms:

• Weight and height figures may vary - it depends on individual characteristics specific child, so that the cause for excitement should not be one figure, but a steady age trend of lagging behind or accelerating growth. Here genes play a big role, but the hereditary program can fail for some external reasons.
• Adolescents in physical and sexual development may be delayed by 1-2 years compared to their peers who are intensively involved in sports with constant physical activity (gymnastics, wrestling, etc.).
• Chronic diseases, such as gastritis, gastroduodenitis, which sometimes occur almost asymptomatically in adolescents, can significantly affect growth retardation.
• Diseases of cardio-vascular system, such as arterial hypertension, rheumatism, heart defects, some lung diseases, also contribute to a decrease in height.
• And, of course, endocrine diseases, the first signs of which sometimes appear in early age, and sometimes only in adolescence, lead to a slowdown in the physical development of the child - and primarily to a decrease in growth.

It is important not to lose time, to notice in a timely manner that the growth of the child does not correspond to the norm, and be sure to contact specialists - a pediatrician and an endocrinologist.

It is also necessary to check the bone age - its compliance with the passport - and growth zones. To do this, take an x-ray of the hands and wrist joints. The growth zones are clearly visible in the picture. If these zones are closed at the age of 14-15, then the child will no longer grow, and this is an unfavorable sign.

Thyroid

The last two decades have been marked by a steady increase in thyroid disease in children. In addition to burdened heredity, the region of residence also plays an important role. If there is a shortage of iodine in the region, its deficiency must be replenished with iodine preparations - iodomarin, potassium iodide, etc.

How do hormones work?
The endocrine system is endocrine glands, such as the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pineal gland, thyroid gland, pancreas, ovaries, testicles, etc. Hormones (endocrine substances) are secreted by the endocrine system directly into the bloodstream and regulate vital processes in the body. All over the world, there has recently been an increase in diseases associated with endocrine disorders. Moreover, most endocrine diseases manifest themselves in childhood. Typical symptoms of endocrine disorders - causeless fatigue, sudden mood swings, irritability, obesity or sudden weight loss, too early or delayed puberty - should be a serious reason for contacting an endocrinologist.

To some extent, insufficient physical activity and even too much time at the computer at an early age can provoke the development of thyroid diseases, such as autoimmune thyroiditis - a deficiency of thyroid hormone, which leads to further functional disorders.

If, after a careful examination and ultrasound, it turns out that the gland is enlarged, but the level of thyroid hormones is normal, then iodine preparations are sufficient. If the level of the hormone is increased or decreased, a serious correction is necessary, treatment with hormonal drugs.

The widespread opinion that the hormones that the mother took during pregnancy also lead to the development of endocrine disorders in children is not confirmed by doctors. Hormones are usually prescribed to women with problems of the reproductive system - miscarriage, etc. Such a course of treatment under the supervision of a doctor almost never - there are many studies on this topic - does not affect the health of children. On the contrary, in the correct, precisely selected dosage, the hormonal drug helps to maintain pregnancy. Hypothyroidism can also be congenital - it is a hereditary disease when a child is already born with a "bad" thyroid gland. Therefore, since 1992, we have been screening newborns for endocrine diseases.

Such early diagnosis is very important: if treatment is started immediately (and children with hypothyroidism need lifelong treatment), then developmental delays can be avoided.

Cases of congenital hypothyroidism in Russia average 1 per 4000 newborns. So the best prevention endocrine system disorders in children - examination of pregnant women in early dates when the laying of the nervous system and thyroid gland in the fetus occurs.

Alarm symptoms:

• Slowdown in growth.
• Weight disorders - both its deficiency and excess. If the child is too full, this may indicate a violation of metabolic processes.
• In case of insufficiency of thyroid hormones, children are lethargic, pasty, weak - they quickly get tired in comparison with their peers, it is very difficult to get up in the morning.
• If the gland works too actively, weight loss, increased emotional excitability are observed, especially in girls. They become whiny, even aggressive, there may be hand tremors, enlarged eyeballs, a difference in pressure - reduced diastolic and increased systolic (pulse), thin, tender, even dry skin and general fussiness of movements.

An experienced doctor can identify violations already by the way the child enters the office: this is noticeable by his plasticity, hyperactive demeanor, and excessive fussiness.

Gender issues

Puberty in children is mainly due to heredity, but not only genetic characteristics determine the type of development of the child, but the national, racial affiliation of parents - children of southern or eastern peoples, for example, mature earlier.

How to determine ideal weight child?
For children from 1 to 12 years old, the deviation of body weight from the ideal can be assessed in points - from five to two. Body mass index (BMI) for children from 2 years of age is calculated using the same formula as for adults: weight in kg divided by height in cm squared.
5 points - exact correspondence of the child's weight to his age
+4 - slightly overweight
+3 - moderate overweight
+2 - pronounced excess weight
-4 - mild underweight
-3 - moderate underweight
-2 - severe weight deficit

Assessment of body weight in girls

A sign of the norm or deviation may be the sequence of the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics: in girls, the mammary glands must first develop, then hair growth occurs in the pubic area, then menstruation occurs. If the sequence is broken, this is not yet a sign of the disease, but a reason for consulting an endocrinologist. When girls have hair on their arms, legs and back, it is necessary to exclude an excess of androgens by making special studies. With their excess, we can talk about the pathology of the adrenal glands. If the hormonal background is normal, this may be a manifestation of a constitutional feature.

Normally, in girls at 8-9 years old, the first signs of maturation appear: the areas of the nipples begin to protrude a little, slightly change color and shape. And then, from the age of 10-12, the redistribution of adipose tissue, the development of the mammary glands, etc. gradually begin to occur. areas.

Normal puberty in boys usually occurs between 9 and 14 years of age. The first signs are testicular enlargement, then, after 6 months, the appearance of pubic hair, reaching a peak in the final stage of genital growth.

Boys at this age sometimes have swelling mammary glands- one or both, as a rule, this is caused by an excess of prolactin and does not need treatment. This is not a disease, but a physiological phenomenon - the so-called gynecomastia. It may be due to obesity.

Alarm symptoms:

• Pubic hair in girls in the absence of other secondary sexual characteristics can be caused by a malfunction of the adrenal glands, such as an adrenal tumor. This is a serious reason for contacting an endocrinologist.
• Lagging behind peers. In this case, it is necessary to conduct an examination for the correspondence of bone age to biological.
• Obesity in boys can also contribute to the pathology of the development of the genitals.
• Endocrine deviation - cryptorchidism, when one or both testicles do not descend in time into the scrotum, but remain in the abdominal cavity.
• Underdevelopment of the genitals, if, for example, a boy at the age of 13 began to have hair growth (axillary and in the pubic area), and the size of the genitals is still childish, the child is taken under the supervision of endocrinologists.
• Children of both sexes may experience precocious puberty. This is an alarming symptom if secondary sexual characteristics appear in boys under 9 years of age or in girls under 8 years of age. In any case, it is necessary to show an endocrinologist at least once a year, even in the absence of pronounced deviations.

How does a child become a boy or girl?

Puberty is a very important and exciting time in the life of yesterday's child. Remember how you felt at that age? For example, I constantly asked questions: “Is everything all right with me?”, “Why is this happening to my body?”, “It happens to everyone, but they are silent? Or am I special?

Svetlana Anatolyevna FEKLISTOVA

An endocrinologist answered the questions of the “Health Expert” Svetlana Anatolyevna FEKLISTOVA. This article is a hint for parents who, by observing their children of adolescence, can understand where the norm is and where an appeal to a specialist is required. In the first part of the material, the specialist spoke in detail about puberty and hormonal changes, the result of which is the transformation of a child into a boy or girl.

–Svetlana Anatolyevna, at what age do children enter puberty today? In what cases is there cause for concern?

First, let's define puberty. Puberty is an age period characterized by a restructuring of the body, changes in the physiological, hormonal and psychological nature. The period ends with the onset of puberty and the body's readiness for reproduction. Puberty in girls begins around the age of 10-11 years, but a shift of 1-2 years is considered a variant of the norm. Puberty in boys begins somewhat later than in girls: at about 12-13 years old, sometimes later.

In some cases it may come earlier or later due date. If a girl begins puberty before the age of 8, and in boys before the age of 9, then this condition is called premature sexual development. If puberty does not occur in girls after 15-16 years, and in boys after 16-17 years, then this condition is called delayed puberty. Both conditions require a mandatory visit to an endocrinologist, as there is a hormonal imbalance that did not initiate puberty in time. The doctor will assess the child's puberty or its absence, prescribe certain tests and diagnostic procedures.

– What tests will the doctor prescribe?

- As a rule, the endocrinologist necessarily sends for a hormonal blood test to determine the level of sex hormones, adrenal hormones, thyroid hormones. You may need an ultrasound of the endocrine organs. The doctor will prescribe the necessary types of diagnostics after examining the patient. A lot depends on the intended diagnosis and monitoring of the adolescent's condition.

–What happens to a child's body during puberty?

- This is a unique process, the result of which will be the transformation of a child into a boy or a girl. In simple terms, we have a certain hierarchy in the hormonal system, where the main hormonal structures of the brain are the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. They secrete hormones - gonadoliberin, LH, FSH. In the body of a child, these hormones are secreted in negligible amounts, and from the age of 10–12, their increased impulse secretion begins, first at night, then during the day. These hormones affect the ovaries/testicles and stimulate the production of sex hormones - estrogen in girls, testosterone in boys. Those, in turn, begin to influence target organs - the musculoskeletal system, hair, skin, etc.

From girl to girl

–What happens in a girl's body?

- A lot of phenotypic changes occur in the female body - secondary sexual characteristics appear in a certain sequence.

The first stage - thelarche: breast growth. It usually starts around 10 or 11 years of age. Thelarche occurs due to an increase in the level of circulating estrogen in the blood, which stimulates the glandular tissue of the breast. Simultaneously with thelarche, estrogenization of the vaginal mucosa and development of the vagina and uterus occur. Further development of the mammary glands occurs during puberty and adolescence.

The second stage - pubarhe: the beginning of the growth of axillary, and then pubic hair. It usually follows thelarche at about 11–12 years of age, but simultaneous development of thelarche and pubarche is also normal. The development of pubic and axillary hair growth occurs due to an increase in the concentration of circulating androgens, namely adrenal glands (male sex hormones - DHEA, DHEA sulfate, which should also be in the female body).

Third stage - pubertal growth spurt. An increase in estrogen stimulates the production of growth hormone, which in turn stimulates an increase in somatic growth. The pubertal growth spurt begins at 9–10 years of age and peaks between 12–13 years of age. However, an excessive level of estrogen leads to inhibition of the release of growth hormone. In the future, a rapid growth may be followed by a cessation of growth. Estrogens also contribute to the closure of the growth zones of tubular bones. So, patients with precocious sexual development have an early onset of growth, but ultimately have a low growth due to premature closure of the epiphyseal growth zones, if treatment was not carried out in a timely manner.

Fourth stage - menarche: the appearance of menstruation. Average age The first menstrual period varies between 12–13 years, usually 2 years after breast development. The menstrual cycle in adolescents is usually irregular during the first 6 to 12 months after menarche. The establishment of regular ovulatory cycles occurs approximately 2 years after the onset of menstruation. The hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries and uterus are the components of the female reproductive system that are involved in the establishment and regulation of the menstrual cycle.

The monthly cycle is divided into two 14-day phases: 1 - follicular and 2 - luteal, characterized by changes in the ovaries during the cycle. In the first phase of the cycle, FSH is released, which causes the development of primary ovarian follicles, which in turn produce estrogen, which stimulates the growth of the endometrium. Under the influence of FSH, usually only one of these follicles (dominant) reaches its maximum development - the stage of a mature follicle, while others stop developing at different stages. By the 14th day, estrogen levels reach a maximum, at which point there is a peak in the secretion of LH by the pituitary gland. This LH peak stimulates ovulation - the rupture of the wall of the mature follicle and the release of the egg, which almost immediately enters the lumen of the fallopian tube.

After ovulation, the second - the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle begins. The dominant follicle, in which ovulation took place, accumulates luteal pigment and develops into the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum produces progesterone, which promotes secretory changes in the endometrium to ensure the implantation of a fertilized egg. If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum degenerates and progesterone (and estrogen) levels decrease. With a sharp decrease in the level of progesterone and estrogen in the endometrium, ischemia and detachment of the epithelium of the functional layer develop - menstruation occurs.

Menstruation completes puberty. That is, the body of a teenage girl with the onset of menstruation reached all hormonal changes and came to an adult state.

–What happens to the girl's weight and skin? How is sweating regulated?

- In puberty, with poor nutrition and lack of physical activity, there may be a sharp increase in body weight. This is due to the development of physiological insulin resistance, when insulin allows the circulation of glucose in the blood for a long period, which leads to the activation of gluconeogenesis and the accumulation of fat reserves.

If we talk about sweating, then hormones have an active influence on this process, since sweat, sebaceous glands are under the control of hormones such as DHEA sulfate, testosterone, TSH, DHT, and 5-alpha reductase. All of these hormones have a stimulating effect on the sweat glands, which were previously inactive and begin to function. As a result, teenagers begin to sweat intensely, and sweat can acquire an unpleasant odor. This is a temporary phenomenon, which in a healthy body goes away by itself, it is required to observe hygiene more carefully during this period. As a rule, sweating with an unpleasant odor can last for about a year, then it goes away on its own. With severe sweating and

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the normal state of the hormonal background, since the endocrine system has a decisive influence on many functions of the central nervous system (emotions, feelings, memory, physical and intellectual performance), and also participates in the regulation of the work of all vital organs.

Initially, a "hormonal failure" was called the pathology of the endocrine system in women, which was clinically manifested, first of all, by disorders menstrual cycle.

However, more and more often the phrase " hormonal disbalance" is used to denote various kinds of troubles associated with endocrine regulation disorders in men.

The fact is that, despite all the differences in the structure of the reproductive system, hormonal imbalances cause both men and women many similar symptoms that have a systemic manifestation (disorders of the central nervous activity, obesity, osteoporosis development of severe diseases of the cardiovascular system, etc.).

Causes of hormonal failure in women and men

So all the factors of hormonal failure in their origin can be divided into:
1. Causes associated with violations of the central regulation.
2. Causes due to the pathology of peripheral glands (infectious and inflammatory diseases, congenital hypoplasia(underdevelopment), tumors, injury etc.).

Disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, in turn, can be caused by its direct organic damage (severe traumatic brain injury, tumor, encephalitis), or indirect influence of unfavorable external and internal factors ( chronic fatigue syndrome, general exhaustion of the body, etc.).

In addition, the general hormonal background is strongly influenced by endocrine glands that are not directly related to reproduction. This is especially true for the cortex. adrenal glands and thyroid gland.

The causes of hormonal failure can be nervous or physical overexertion, acute infectious diseases, avitaminosis. According to statistics, practically healthy girls who study on an intensive schedule (lyceums, gymnasiums, etc.) fall into the risk group.

Clinically, JUB is uterine bleeding that develops in girls during puberty (usually within 2 years after the first menstruation), after a delay in the next menstruation for a period of two weeks to several months.

Such bleeding, as a rule, is profuse, and leads to severe anemia. Sometimes SMCs are not abundant, but long (10-15 days).

Severe rebleeding can be complicated by an imbalance between the coagulation and anticoagulation systems of the blood (DIC), against which the bleeding intensifies even more - this condition poses an immediate threat to life and requires emergency medical care.

Signs of hormonal imbalance in women of reproductive age

Amenorrhea

According to the mechanism of occurrence, they distinguish:
1. Amenorrhea of ​​central origin.
2. Amenorrhea associated with dysfunction of the adrenal cortex.
3. Amenorrhea caused by ovarian pathology.

Severe mental trauma, as well as physical exhaustion caused by prolonged illness or alimentary factors (prolonged starvation), can lead to amenorrhea of ​​central genesis. In addition, direct damage to the hypothalamic-pituitary system is possible in case of injuries, infectious-inflammatory or oncological processes.

In such cases, hormonal failure occurs against the background of nervous and physical exhaustion, and is accompanied by symptoms of bradycardia, hypotension , anemia.

Amenorrhea can also be one of the manifestations of Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome. In such cases, hormonal imbalance leads to severe damage to many organs and systems. Patients have a very specific appearance: cushingoid obesity (moon-shaped purple-red face, fatty deposits on the neck and upper half of the body with atrophy of the muscles of the limbs), male-type hair growth, purple striae on the body. In addition, arterial hypertension and osteoporosis, reduced tolerance to glucose.

Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome indicates hyperproduction of hormones of the adrenal cortex, so its cause may be neoplasms that secrete these hormones, or pituitary tumors that stimulate the synthesis steroids in the adrenal glands.

However, the so-called functional hypercortisolism (pseudo-Cushing's syndrome) is quite common, when the cause of hormonal failure is functional disorders of the neuroendocrine system associated with obesity, alcoholism, neuropsychiatric diseases.

The most common cause of ovarian amenorrhea is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can occur under the influence of stress factors, such as the onset of sexual activity, abortion, childbirth, etc. In addition to amenorrhea, the leading symptom of hormonal failure in PCOS is obesity, reaching the second or third degree, as well as male pattern hair growth (on upper lip, chin, inner thighs). Also very characteristic are dystrophy skin and its appendages (stretch marks on the skin of the abdomen, chest and thighs; brittle nails, hair loss). In the future, disorders of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism develop - there is a tendency to develop atherosclerosis and diabetes second type.

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding

This disrupts the normal periodicity of the menstrual cycle, and there is a predisposition to malignant neoplasms endometrium. The ability to conceive and normal childbearing in women with DMC is reduced.

This kind of hormonal failure most often occurs after 30 years, but it can also develop in young girls. The causes of PMS are not fully understood. Great importance has a hereditary predisposition (the family nature of the pathology is often traced). Provoking factors are often abortions, severe nervous shocks, and infectious diseases.

Risk factors for developing PMS are exposure to stress and hypodynamia(living in big cities, intellectual work, sedentary lifestyle), as well as incorrect nutrition, chronic gynecological diseases and lesions of the central nervous system (trauma, neuroinfection).

PMS got its name from the time of onset: symptoms appear a few days before the onset of menstruation, peak on the first day of menstrual bleeding, and disappear completely when the period ends. However, in severe cases, progression of PMS is observed - its duration increases, and light intervals are reduced.

Conventionally, all the symptoms of PMS can be divided into several groups:
1. Neurosis-like disorders: irritability, tendency to depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance (drowsiness during the day and insomnia at night).
2. Migraine-like syndrome: severe headache, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
3. Signs of metabolic disorders (swelling of the face and limbs).
4. Symptoms vegetative-vascular dystonia(lability of pulse and blood pressure, flatulence).

In severe cases, vegetative-vascular disorders proceed according to the type of sympathoadrenal crises (unmotivated bouts of fear of death, accompanied by an increase in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate, ending in profuse urination). Such crises indicate the involvement of the adrenal medulla in the process.

Most women complain of increased sensitivity to smells and painful engorgement. mammary glands. Often there are violations from various organs and systems ( heartache, insignificant temperature increase body, itching skin, allergic manifestations).

Today, the list of symptoms of hormonal failure in PMS has exceeded 200 items, but psycho-emotional disorders are the most common. At the same time, young women are more likely to depression, and for mature - irritability.

Hormonal failure in women after an abortion

General rule: during abortions in primiparas, the likelihood of complications is much higher, regardless of the method of termination of pregnancy. Of course, the earlier the intervention was made, the lower the risk.

But if we are talking about medical abortion, then in this case, hormonal failure occurs already during the intervention itself. That is why after a medical abortion, a course of hormonal therapy is required to restore the cycle.

Normally, the menstrual cycle should be restored a month after the abortion. If this does not happen, you should immediately consult a doctor.

In addition, the symptoms of hormonal failure after an abortion are:

• weight gain;
• the appearance of stretch marks on the skin;
• symptoms from the nervous system (irritability, headache, fatigue, depression);
• instability of blood pressure and pulse, sweating.

Hormonal failure in women after childbirth

Weight gain after childbirth during lactation, is physiological - this is a side effect of hormones that stimulate milk production. Therefore, lactating women can only be advised to move more, and also to exclude easily digestible high-calorie foods (sweets, muffins, etc.). During lactation diets contraindicated.

As a rule, after a period of feeding, the weight gradually decreases as the hormonal background returns to normal.

If in the post-lactation period, despite dietary restrictions and normal physical activity, weight does not return to normal - you can suspect the presence of hormonal failure.

Thus, it is necessary to consult a doctor in cases where, after childbirth and the end of the lactation period, the following symptoms are observed:

• unmotivated weight gain;
• signs of virilization (male pattern hair growth);
• irregular menstrual cycle, spotting bleeding between periods;
• symptoms of neurosis (headaches, irritability, drowsiness, etc.).

Such a hormonal failure after childbirth can be triggered by various adverse factors: stress, acute infectious diseases, exacerbation of chronic somatic ailments, gynecological pathology, overwork.

Signs of hormonal failure in women during menopause

However, the physiological decline of the reproductive function today is less common than the so-called climacteric syndrome - a symptom complex caused by hormonal failure.

By the time of onset, all the symptoms of pathological menopause are divided into the following groups:
1. Early - appear two to three years before menopause(complete cessation of menstruation).
2. Delayed - develop over two to three years after menopause.
3. Late - occur five or more years after menopause.

To early signs include the most characteristic symptom of hormonal failure in menopausal syndrome - the so-called hot flashes, which are bouts of heat, especially strongly felt in the face.

Other early symptoms of pathological menopause are in many ways similar to signs of hormonal failure in premenstrual syndrome: psycho-emotional disorders (irritability, depression, fatigue), vegetative-vascular pathology ( heartbeat, lability of blood pressure, pain in the region of the heart), attacks of headaches resembling migraines are possible.

Delayed symptoms are associated with insufficiency of female hormones - estrogen. Estrogen deficiency causes dystrophic lesions of the skin and its appendages.

These processes, as a rule, are most pronounced in relation to the mucous membranes of the female genital organs, and lead to the development of a complex of urogenital disorders (dryness of the vagina, lowering of its walls, pain during intercourse, discomfort during urination, urinary incontinence), in severe cases, inflammatory processes occur ( cystitis , vulvovaginitis).

In addition, there is often an increased dry skin, brittle nails, hair loss.

Late symptoms of hormonal failure in pathological menopause are signs of a gross violation of metabolic processes. The most characteristic systemic osteoporosis, metabolic disorders lipids(vascular atherosclerosis) and carbohydrate metabolism (decrease in glucose tolerance, development of type 2 diabetes mellitus).

The causes of hormonal disruptions in pathological menopause are not fully understood. However, the importance of hereditary predisposition has been proven. As provoking factors, stress, malnutrition, physical inactivity, bad habits (smoking frequent alcohol abuse).

The risk group for the development of pathological menopause includes women with the following pathologies:
1. neuroendocrine disorders: premenstrual syndrome, toxicosis pregnancies and dysfunctional uterine bleeding in history.
2. Diseases of the central nervous system: neuroinfections, neurosis, mental illness.
3. Gynecological pathologies: chronic inflammatory diseases of the pelvic organs, endometriosis.
4. Complicated obstetric history: abortions, miscarriages, heavy childbirth.

Causes of hormonal failure in men

Interestingly, for the normal functioning of the male body, female sex hormones (estrogens) are also needed, so the blood of a healthy man contains more estrogens than the blood of a woman during menopause.

Clinical studies have proven that it is estrogens that provide normal libido(sexual desire is reduced both with an excess and with a lack of female sex hormones in men). In addition, estrogens are responsible for normal sperm maturation and cognitive abilities, and also affect lipid metabolism. Another important function of estrogens is to ensure normal calcium metabolism in the bones.

Most of the estrogen in the male body is formed as a result of transformation testosterone in liver and adipose tissue. Only a small percentage is synthesized directly in the sex glands.

In men, as well as in women, the regulation of the activity of the sex glands is coordinated with the help of a complex hypothalamic-pituitary system.

Thus, hormonal disruptions in men can occur as a result of direct damage to the testicles ( congenital anomalies, injuries, infectious and inflammatory processes, etc.) and in violation of the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary system. Accordingly, primary and secondary hypogonadism (primary and secondary insufficiency in the production of male sex hormones) are distinguished.

Secondary hypogonadism (hormonal deficiency of central origin) in men occurs for the same reasons as in women (tumors of the hypothalamic-pituitary zone, trauma, neuroinfections, congenital malformations).

In addition, hormonal failure in men may be associated with an increase in the formation of estrogen from testosterone. This often occurs in chronic intoxications when the metabolism of androgens in the liver is disturbed, and their transformation into estrogens increases (chronic alcoholism, use drugs, occupational exposure to certain poisons, exposure to radiation).

Less often, insufficiency of male hormones can be caused by endocrine pathologies ( hyperthyroidism), hormone-active tumors, severe liver and kidney damage occurring with intoxication (uremia, liver failure).

Symptoms of hormonal failure in men

puberty

Premature sexual development (PPR) in boys is usually associated with neoplasms of the hypothalamic-pituitary system. Also found constitutional early sexual development. With PPR, secondary sexual characteristics in boys appear before the age of 7-8 years, there is increased growth, which suddenly stops in adolescence due to premature ossification of bone growth zones.

There are also false PPR associated with the pathology of the adrenal cortex. In such cases, it is combined with obesity and other signs of metabolic disorders. Similar clinical picture develops when eating foods containing a large number of hormones (milk and meat of animals stimulated with steroid drugs).

Sexual retardation (SPR) in boys is said to be when development is more than two years late compared to the average. Hormonal failure in such cases is most often associated with damage to the central nervous system (trauma, infection, intoxication, etc.), endocrine pathology (obesity, thyroid pathology) or severe chronic diseases that led to general exhaustion of the body.

When making a diagnosis of mental retardation, differential diagnosis with hypogonadism (primary or secondary) should be carried out, as well as the possibility of constitutional mental retardation (hereditary developmental features in healthy children) should be taken into account.

Symptoms of hormonal disruptions in men of reproductive age

• gynecomastia(breast enlargement);
• obesity;
• disorders of the nervous system;
• decreased libido, disorders in the sexual and reproductive sphere.

Signs of hormonal failure during menopause in men

With pathological menopause in men, as well as in women, symptoms of a violation of higher nervous activity come first:

• irritability;
• fast fatiguability;
• mood lability with a tendency to depression;
• tearfulness;
• low self-esteem;
• feeling of own uselessness;
• panic attacks;
• decrease in cognitive and creative abilities.

Hormonal failure is manifested by symptoms characteristic of relative hyperestrogenemia: the mammary glands enlarge, there is a rapid weight gain with fatty deposits along female type(on the abdomen, thighs, chest), often the type of pubic hair growth resembles a woman's, hair growth on the face and on the body stops or weakens.

Dystrophic changes in the musculoskeletal system are rapidly growing: osteoporosis, muscle flabbiness and weakness develop, patients complain of joint pain and bones.

Violations of the cardiovascular system are very characteristic: pain in the region of the heart, palpitations, hypertension and atherosclerosis develop.

The skin becomes dry and atrophic, brittle nails appear, hair falls out.

Violations of the vegetative-vascular system resemble the symptoms of female menopause: hot flashes, excessive sweating are often encountered.

The development of pathological menopause in men is facilitated by diseases of the central nervous system (craniocerebral trauma, neuroinfections, intoxication), pathologies of the endocrine system (obesity, thyroid disease), liver disease, unhealthy lifestyle (physical inactivity, malnutrition, alcohol abuse, smoking) .

To provoke a hormonal failure can be a strong prolonged nervous strain or a severe somatic disease. There is evidence of a hereditary predisposition to the occurrence of hormonal disruptions. In addition, men with a history of hormonal disruptions (delayed puberty, sexual dysfunction during the reproductive period) are at risk for the development of pathological menopause.

Diagnostics

In addition, it is necessary to exclude severe organic pathologies that often cause hormonal failure (hormone-producing tumors, severe lesions of the central nervous system, cirrhosis of the liver with gynecomastia, etc.).

Of course, differential diagnosis should be carried out between various neuroendocrine disorders (primary or secondary hypogonadism, hormonal deficiency or Itsenko-Cushing's syndrome, etc.).

Treatment of hormonal failure

If the cause is unremovable (climacteric syndrome, primary hypogonadism), according to the indications, a replacement is prescribed. hormone therapy.

Hormonal disruptions in women and men of the reproductive period can often be corrected by a course appointment hormonal drugs, in cases where they are not caused by a serious organic pathology.

Of great importance in the treatment and prevention of hormonal disruptions in women and men is healthy lifestyle :

• correct daily routine;
• healthy eating;
• dosed physical activity;
• getting rid of bad habits (smoking, alcoholism, drug use);
• prevention of stress reactions.

16 Symptoms of Hormonal Failure Everyone Should Know to Take Action on Time - Video