Does remicade reduce the levels of hormones in my body?

This is my first post so sorry if I do anything wrong...

I was diagnosed with crohns at age 5 when it was discovered I had a fistula on my rear end. about two years after having it removed my GI started me on steroids which I took for a long 3 years until he switched me over to remicade. But after 3 doses of the remicade we stopped because my GI left and the one who replaced him had me start methotrexate. I took methotrexate for about a year, then she had me do both remicade and methotrexate. I continued that for about 2 1/2 to 3 years until the methotexate gave me aseptic meningitis. So I stopped the methotrexate but continued the remicade. So now I'm 14 almost 15 and I'm wondering, why have I just began puberty? I don't have any facial hair, no hair on legs, no hair on chest, no hair under arms...The only reason I say I have evn started it, is because I am growing. Is this normal? Does it have to do with crohns as a result of the steroids/remicade/methotrexate. I also don't have any "sexual urges" either. Thanks in advance :)

Hi Zach,

So sorry that CD has affected you especially at such a young age :( One of my friends nieces also got CD when she was 10, so a little older than when you first got it...she also had struggles to reach puberty so it's very common that crohn's can do that to kids...that happened to her even before she got on any meds as it took a long time for her to get DX and wasn't on any meds so it was the crohn's itself that slowed her from reaching puberty but eventually she did and she was even able to have a baby (she was 18 when she was able to have a baby) she had a couple of resection surgeries when they finally realized what was going on with her and of course put on meds but then was able to reach remission and hit puberty. I don't know if that's the common way it goes for kids or not but you should definitely discuss with your GI.

Also, keep in mind, that not all boys will reach puberty at the same age either, same with girls...I remember when I was in junior high and high school, there were many that were slow reaching puberty and they didn't have CD or any other major illness. I'm sure things will come around for you soon, just be patient (I know, easier said than done) like I said, definitely discuss with your GI.

Best of luck that you find relief very soon!