Familial Short Stature Quiz
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Too short
Growth disorders
Short height
Shorter than others
I am/was shorter than other children
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What is Familial Short Stature?
A genetic cause of short stature. It occurs when a child inherits genes for short height from one or both parents.
Typical Symptoms of Familial Short Stature
- Short height compared to peers
- Either parent has a short height
- Late or incomplete puberty
Diagnostic Questions for Familial Short Stature
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Are you shorter than your peers?
- Do either of your parents have short height?
- Did you experience delayed or absent puberty, delayed development of sexual characteristics?
Treatment of Familial Short Stature
A doctor may need to examine and confirm the diagnosis. There is no specific or proven treatment for this condition. Managing a child's expectations and emotional well-being is important, as they may be victims of bullying or discrimination from peers.
Reviewed By:
Scott Nass, MD, MPA, FAAFP, AAHIVS (Primary Care)
Dr. Nass received dual medical degrees from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Charles R. Drew University in Medicine and Science. He completed Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center with subsequent fellowships at Ventura, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, George Washington University, and University of California-Irvine. He holds faculty appointments at Keck School of Medicine of USC, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and Western University of Health Sciences.
Content updated on Feb 19, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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With a free 3-min Familial Short Stature quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Delayed puberty
- Height did not increase compared to peers
- Stunted height growth
- Underdeveloped external genitalia
- Lack of secondary sexual characteristics
- No testicular enlargement
- Small or absent prostate
- No pubic hair
- Menstruation did not occur
- Never had voice change
- Late bloomer
See full list
Symptoms Related to Familial Short Stature
Diseases Related to Familial Short Stature
FAQs
Q.
Below Average? The Science of Average Male Height and Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
There are several factors to consider: the average male height in the U.S. is about 5 ft 9 in, and being below that is common and usually normal, with doctors focusing more on percentiles, growth trends, and red flags like being under the 3rd to 5th percentile, slowed growth, or delayed puberty. Next steps include reviewing family height, tracking growth and nutrition, and seeking care for concerning symptoms; after growth plates close in the late teens to early 20s, natural height increase is not possible and growth hormone is reserved for specific conditions, so see the complete guidance below for details that could change which steps you take.
References:
* NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC). Global trends in adult height over the past 100 years. eLife. 2016;5:e13410. doi: 10.7554/eLife.13410. PMID: 26192221.
* Molitch ME, Clemmons DR, Malozowski S, Merriam GR, Vance ML; Endocrine Society. Diagnosis and treatment of adult growth hormone deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Nov;96(11):3265-81. doi: 10.1210/jc.2011-1793. Epub 2011 Oct 5. PMID: 21976762.
* Backeljauw PF, Dattani MT, Cohen LE, Rosenfeld RG, Rogol AD. Growth Hormone Therapy in Children and Adolescents With Short Stature. Front Pediatr. 2021 Jan 12;8:620241. doi: 10.3389/fped.2020.620241. PMID: 33585098; PMCID: PMC7852102.
* Cohen LE. Idiopathic Short Stature: Diagnosis and Treatment. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2020 Sep;49(3):477-486. doi: 10.1016/j.ecl.2020.06.002. Epub 2020 Jul 15. PMID: 32653245.
* Rogol AD. Short Stature. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. PMID: 31869157.
Q.
Am I Too Short? Why Average Height for Men Varies & Medically Approved Steps
A.
There are several factors to consider: average male height varies by country and genetics, and being below average is usually normal, while medical short stature typically means below the 3rd percentile, about 5 ft 4 in in the U.S. Adults cannot naturally grow taller once growth plates close, though posture may help and surgery carries real risks; if you are still growing, nutrition, sleep, exercise, and timely medical evaluation matter. See below for country averages, causes, red flags for seeing a doctor, and medically approved steps that can guide your next move.
References:
* Dauber A. Height variation in humans: a review. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2019 Mar;20(1):7-12.
* Zhang X, Li S. Genetic and Environmental Factors Affecting Height in Human Populations. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Feb 7;23(3):1800.
* Argente J. Adult height: definition, genetic and acquired influences. Horm Res Paediatr. 2014;81(2):66-70.
* Molitch ME, et al. Consensus Statement on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency: An Update. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019 Jan 1;104(1):127-152.
* Colao A, et al. Short Stature: From Diagnosis to Treatment. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Nov;101(11):3813-3827.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Plachy L, Dusatkova P, Amaratunga SA, Neuman V, Sumnik Z, Lebl J, Pruhova S (2021). Monogenic causes of familial short stature. Frontiers in endocrinology.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39749023/Lin YJ, Cheng CF, Wang CH, Liang WM, Tang CH, Tsai LP, Chen CH, Wu JY, Hsieh AR, Lee MTM, Lin TH, Liao CC, Huang SM, Zhang Y, Tsai CH, Tsai FJ (2020). Genetic Architecture Associated With Familial Short Stature. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32170311/Rogol AD, Hayden GF (2014). Etiologies and early diagnosis of short stature and growth failure in children and adolescents. The Journal of pediatrics.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24731744/