During adolescence, both boys and girls change a lot, and this is due mostly to the development of estrogen in girls and testosterone in boys. Testosterone gives men their masculine traits, such as a deeper voice and facial hair. If you’re wondering about the effect this hormone has on a young boy’s growth, you’ve come to the right place.

The truth is that testosterone can make a young man taller and bigger, but only until adulthood. After boys turn around 20-21 years old, all of that changes.

Does an Increase in Testosterone Make You Taller?

The amount of testosterone in a man’s body reaches its peak during the teenage years; therefore, that’s when most of their growth occurs. While testosterone does make boys taller, the growth in height usually stops when they’re in their early 20s or sooner. Afterwards, the testosterone they have will not make them any taller.

Of course, to complement the spike in testosterone and increase the odds that they’ll get even taller, boys also have to take good care of themselves, which means regular exercise and healthy eating. Without this, they may not get as tall as they were supposed to get.

And while all of this sounds fine and dandy, keep in mind that around the age of 30, testosterone levels in men start to taper off, which may result in low energy levels, depression, decreased sex drive, and other symptoms. Fortunately, a good testosterone replacement product can help.

In other words, while testosterone does help boys grow taller and bigger when they’re teenagers, that usually stops in their early 20s even though they still have this hormone in their bodies.

Is it Possible for a Male to Stop Growing at 14-15 Years of Age?

For most males, growth can end anywhere from the age of 17 until they’re in their early 20s. It is very rare for a teenage boy to stop growing at 14-15 years of age. In fact, it could indicate a problem. If your son isn’t growing taller on a regular basis and gaining weight, it could be for one or more of the following reasons:

• He is not consuming enough calories
• He is not eating a well-balanced diet
• He may be experiencing a genetic disorder
• He may be suffering with problems with his kidney, heart, pancreas, or gastrointestinal tract

This is not meant to alarm you; in fact, the problem is a very easy one to fix in most cases. Nevertheless, always consult with the child’s pediatrician if you have any concerns about your teenage boy’s growth or development. The sooner the problem is diagnosed, the more likely you’ll be able to do something about it.

When Will I Hit My Growth Spurt?

For most people, one or more growth spurts will occur between the ages of 10 and 20, with most of the growth occurring as teenagers. It’s difficult to predict exactly when a growth spurt will happen, but you can expect boys to get their first growth spurt at around 13-14 years of age, or roughly two years after they start puberty.

In boys, hands and feet will grow first, followed by the arms, legs, and torso. Before the age of 18, most boys will experience another growth spurt. For most of them, growth will end around the age of 16, although the muscles will continue to grow. Between the ages of 12 and 15, boys can easily grow four inches per year.

How Can You Tell If Your Growth Plates Have Closed?

Growth plates are made of tissue and are located at each end of the long bones in the body. They eventually close, at which time growth can continue for another two years. The growth plates determine the bones’ length and shape during puberty, and they usually “close” at around 14-16 years of age for boys and 12-14 years for girls.

If you visit a doctor concerned about growth plates, they’ll often take X-rays that can tell them if the plates are closed or not. When growth plates are closed, it means that the tissue has been replaced by solid bones. X-rays can tell definitely if the growth plates have closed, but there are ways you can answer this question yourself without an X-ray.

Although it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when growth plates in a teen are closed, using their age can help. In other words, if your son is 14-16 years old, the chances are good that they have already closed even though his body will likely continue to grow for a few more years.

What Is the Best Way to Increase Male Height?

Keep in mind that most boys stop growing by age 19, although some of them keep growing in height until the age of 20 or 21. This means that there is only a small window of opportunity to increase a boy’s height, and it requires three main things:

• This includes a certain number of calories consumed each day, which is crucial for growth.
• Teens must not only eat a certain number of calories, but their diets need to be well-balanced as well.
• Regular exercise is a must for teens who want to grow tall and strong.

Many teenagers ask if it’s possible to  reopen growth plates, and the general consensus among specialists seems to be that this is not possible. Once the growth plates close, they are closed for good. Some teens consider getting limb-lengthening surgery, but most doctors recommend against this surgery because it can actually do more harm than good.

Taking good care of themselves during puberty is, in fact, the best way to increase the odds of getting taller throughout your teen years. If there are any problems along the way, it might cause your growth to slow down some or even stop.

What Is the Final Age to Increase Height for Boys?

For most teenagers, growth will stop by the age of 19, depending on exactly when they started puberty. Boys can still grow some more before their early 20s, but most of their growth will be finished by the time they’re 19.

If a teen boy isn’t growing like he thinks he should and the problem is with his spine, some parents consider a spinal fusion. This should be considered with a lot of caution only and should be thoroughly discussed with the pediatrician and other specialists before making a final decision.

For the most part, it’s best if teen boys accept the fact that by the time they’re 19-21 years old, they are as tall as they’ll ever get. Surgical answers are usually not favored by either parents or the teenager himself, but if he eats right and exercises regularly, his height should be something he’s proud of in the end.

Conclusion

All teenagers want to be tall, and in boys, testosterone helps them do just that. The thing is, even though there is still testosterone in a man’s body after they reach 20 or 21 years of age, they are very unlikely to continue growing at that point. The best way for boys to increase the possibility of being as tall as they wish is to eat right and exercise throughout puberty.