Did I stop growing?

Posted by vamp14 @vamp14, Aug 8, 2021

I’m 14 years old and have been 5’6 for about a few months now and I’m not sure if I should be worried or not. I hit my first growth spurt back in 4th grade when I was 4’9 and grew, by the time I was in 6th grade I was 5’1 . Then 7th grade came and I grew 5 more inches. By the time the pandemic started I was 5’6. I started 8th grade and finished 8th grade (currently about to go to 9th) and still haven’t grown a single inch. The doctor says I have a lot of testosterone and should be exercising more so I did but no signs of growth yet. Is there a certain exercise or medication or any remedies I can take to increase my height or maximize it?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the About Kids & Teens Support Group.

my mom is 5’5 and my dad is 5’8 if anybody was wondering. I’ve been growing at a pretty fast pace until now according to my doctor. I also hit puberty a bit earlier than my friends.

REPLY

@vamp14 - Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!
I certainly understand why you are concerned about your sudden slower growth pattern.
You mentioned 2 important factors- you started puberty earlier than your friends and your parents’ heights.
Traditionally, you would expect to fit in near your parents’ heights, probably closer to your Dad. I don’t believe you are completely done growing, but it will be slower.
Since your puberty started earlier, you had an earlier growth spurt than your friends, who kept growing at a steady rate until they hit puberty.
There is one test that can be used to CVSat 5 see if you are still growing- Bone age test. Your wrists are x-rayed to see if your growth plates have closed.
Please let me know if I can help with more questions.

REPLY

@vamp14

I am not a medical person… and can only share what is in my family history.

You may or may not have stopped growing. I stopped growing in height.. 5’6 1/4” around age 12 after being tallest in my classes all through elementary school. My dad about 5’10” and mom around 5’8”. My 3 brothers.. oldest 2 around 6’, next brother 5’10” and my sister 5’9”. Both of my grandmas were about 5’4” and grandpas were a little under 6’. My son and my sister's son are 6’4”. My daughter about 5’6”. .. my husband 5’10”. Both my children grew about 2 inches in their early 20s. Height varies from generation to generation… and the growth spurts can vary and slow down in your teens and you may grow a little when you are in your 20s.

As Ingegerd said there are test available. If you do have a hormonal imbalance that also can be addressed. Your primary doctor should be able to direct your parents and you to appropriate specialist. My sister started having her period at age 9 and me a couple of weeks before my 12th birthday. Sis had irregular, light periods… mine were regular and heavy. Just considered normal back in the dark ages.

ZeeGee

REPLY
@astaingegerdm

@vamp14 - Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect!
I certainly understand why you are concerned about your sudden slower growth pattern.
You mentioned 2 important factors- you started puberty earlier than your friends and your parents’ heights.
Traditionally, you would expect to fit in near your parents’ heights, probably closer to your Dad. I don’t believe you are completely done growing, but it will be slower.
Since your puberty started earlier, you had an earlier growth spurt than your friends, who kept growing at a steady rate until they hit puberty.
There is one test that can be used to CVSat 5 see if you are still growing- Bone age test. Your wrists are x-rayed to see if your growth plates have closed.
Please let me know if I can help with more questions.

Jump to this post

Ah I see thank you very much. I was also wondering if things like fixing my posture and exercise also helps maximize my growth. Another question is that since I wake up around 5:30 AM EST in the morning for school what time do you suggest should I try to sleep by?

REPLY
@fourof5zs

@vamp14

I am not a medical person… and can only share what is in my family history.

You may or may not have stopped growing. I stopped growing in height.. 5’6 1/4” around age 12 after being tallest in my classes all through elementary school. My dad about 5’10” and mom around 5’8”. My 3 brothers.. oldest 2 around 6’, next brother 5’10” and my sister 5’9”. Both of my grandmas were about 5’4” and grandpas were a little under 6’. My son and my sister's son are 6’4”. My daughter about 5’6”. .. my husband 5’10”. Both my children grew about 2 inches in their early 20s. Height varies from generation to generation… and the growth spurts can vary and slow down in your teens and you may grow a little when you are in your 20s.

As Ingegerd said there are test available. If you do have a hormonal imbalance that also can be addressed. Your primary doctor should be able to direct your parents and you to appropriate specialist. My sister started having her period at age 9 and me a couple of weeks before my 12th birthday. Sis had irregular, light periods… mine were regular and heavy. Just considered normal back in the dark ages.

ZeeGee

Jump to this post

Ah I see! Thank you for your experience I’ll be sure to check that out.

REPLY

@vamp14 - Do you have a pediatrician or family doctor that has been monitoring your growth since you were very young? Such a doctor would be able to explain and possibly predict how much more you will grow.
Regarding sleep- more is better at your age! Everyone is different, but I would think you could try to go to sleep by 9 -9:30 at the latest.
Moderate daily exercise is healthy for anyone to help maintain good health.

REPLY

I am 15.6 years old and 178 cm (5'10). My mother is 5'6 and my father is 6 foot. Although all my other family members are quite short, my dad grew to be surprisingly tall. Although i was estimated to be over 6 feet when i was younger, i havent grown a single inch since june of last year. ( i was 5'6 march 2020.) June is coincidentally the year i started to start lifting heavy weights. I exercised frequently and even made sure to eat healthy. I grew pubic hair around (late 13-early 14) and i have yet to grow any significant facial hair. Is this the end of my growth? Is there anything stunting my growth such as my bad posture or my weightlifting? Is there anything i can do to help my growth?

REPLY
@dk119s

I am 15.6 years old and 178 cm (5'10). My mother is 5'6 and my father is 6 foot. Although all my other family members are quite short, my dad grew to be surprisingly tall. Although i was estimated to be over 6 feet when i was younger, i havent grown a single inch since june of last year. ( i was 5'6 march 2020.) June is coincidentally the year i started to start lifting heavy weights. I exercised frequently and even made sure to eat healthy. I grew pubic hair around (late 13-early 14) and i have yet to grow any significant facial hair. Is this the end of my growth? Is there anything stunting my growth such as my bad posture or my weightlifting? Is there anything i can do to help my growth?

Jump to this post

Hello @dk119s and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It sounds like you are getting close to the average age, 16, when boys may stop growing. I found some articles that you may find helpful that talk about age and other factors for growth.

- What's the best way to predict a child's adult height?: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/expert-answers/child-growth/faq-20057990

- What age do boys stop growing?: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320676

- How to Increase Your Height: Is There Anything I Can Do?: https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-increase-height#takeaway

Are you hoping to grow a bit more? Do you fee like you are getting good sleep and nutrition?

REPLY
@amandajro

Hello @dk119s and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It sounds like you are getting close to the average age, 16, when boys may stop growing. I found some articles that you may find helpful that talk about age and other factors for growth.

- What's the best way to predict a child's adult height?: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/expert-answers/child-growth/faq-20057990

- What age do boys stop growing?: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320676

- How to Increase Your Height: Is There Anything I Can Do?: https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-increase-height#takeaway

Are you hoping to grow a bit more? Do you fee like you are getting good sleep and nutrition?

Jump to this post

i am getting around 6-7 hours of sleep everyday and i carefully watch what i eat. I just find it strange that i have not grown since 14 when my puberty hasnt exactly been early or late.

REPLY
@dk119s

i am getting around 6-7 hours of sleep everyday and i carefully watch what i eat. I just find it strange that i have not grown since 14 when my puberty hasnt exactly been early or late.

Jump to this post

@dk119s - I agree that it can be very confusing to get a clear picture of growth in puberty.
Amanda included some good links to articles in her post above.
With the information you gave us, it seems that you are not finished with puberty or growth. However, if you have not grown anything since last June you should talk to a doctor.- Pediatrician or Endocrinologist- or if you have a Family Physician that has followed your growth over the years.
As mentioned in one of the articles one good way to see if you still have growth potential is to X-ray a wrist- the test is called a Pediatric Bone Age. It will show if your growth plates are still open.
A doctor can also request lab tests- checking for hormones- such as thyroid, growth hormone and sex hormones.
For max health benefits you should sleep 8-9 hours a night.
It’s not advisable to lift heavy weights either at your age.
Make sure you get enough Calcium in your diet- milk, cheese, yoghurt - and avoid sweet fruit juices.
Will you please get back to us after you have seen a doctor?

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.