By Kat English

Producer, BBC One's One life



Lawrence Koomson is a doctor living and working in London. On the face of it, he seems no different from any other young man but Lawrence has a secret.

At 33, he has never been through puberty. He's never had a spot. He's never had an erection. And he's trapped in the body of a 12-year-old boy.

But this all changed in April 2005, when he began treatment to bring on puberty.

The thought of treatment scared Lawrence

Lawrence has Kallmann's syndrome, a rare condition affecting predominantly men, but also women. A small area in the brain called the hypothalamus cannot work properly causing a hormonal imbalance.

For men like Lawrence, this means his body doesn't produce testosterone, which prevents puberty being triggered. Another characteristic of Kallmann's syndrome is an absent sense of smell.

Having Kallmann's syndrome can lead to extreme difficulties, especially during adolescence, when all one's peers are going through puberty. And the consequences of delayed puberty and not becoming sexually mature naturally has a far-reaching impact on sufferers' lives.

In essence he's got the testosterone levels of a one-year-old so we've got quite a lot of catching up to do

Professor Pierre Bouloux

"We've tested Lawrence's blood testosterone levels and the results make for quite interesting reading," he said, before the treatment. "The reference range for men Lawrence's age would be a testosterone level between 9.9 and 27.8.

"Lawrence's level is less than 0.5. In essence he's got the testosterone levels of a one-year-old so we've got quite a lot of catching up to do.

"In terms of penile length we're talking about a resting length of about four centimetres, and for a chap of Lawrence's size that shows that development hasn't occurred as yet."

With treatment, it's hoped Lawrence will grow body hair, his voice will break, he'll develop body muscle and sexual organs and for the first time will experience sexual desire.

36-hour erection

The treatment consists of six implants in the buttock, which release 200 milligrams of testosterone over six months. He will be dependent on implants for the rest of his life.

Professor Bouloux has treated more than 300 patients over the last 15-20 years.

"In extreme situations, I've seen people not being able to handle the testosterone treatment, developing erections lasting hours and hours, and in one case up to 36 hours.

"There's no script for this, we got to see what happens and navigate a safe course to give Lawrence a level which will put him in a normal range."

It happened today. I was so scared I wasn't sure if it was going to or not going to. I had an erection!

Lawrence Koomson

"The thought of treatment makes me feel a bit frightened or scared because I don't know what's going to happen. I might have the urge to have sex when I don't want to have sex!

"I feel excited - it's something I've never been through before. I'll grow a beard and I've always wanted to see how I'll be with a beard and you know I'll get more muscle, so I think the ladies are going to love the new me!"

Lawrence received his long awaited implants in April 2005. The next day, he was glued to the mirror watching and waiting for changes. What will happen first? A spot? An erection? Or signs of a beard?

Dating was a whole new world

"It happened today. I was so scared I wasn't sure if it was going to or not going to. I had an erection!

"It really woke me up! It lasted 10-15 minutes. I was happy! I wanted to call the doctor but it was too early in the morning."

For the next six months, Lawrence went through puberty.

As the massive implant of testosterone began to take hold of his body, Lawrence started to feel sexual attraction to women for the first time.

He also experienced all the usual teenage distractions - surfing internet chatrooms looking for female company, even mobile phone porn. It was all new territory for him.

"I'm resisting that push into the teenage world," he said. "I have to behave more responsibly, much more responsibly. Not only am I not a teenager. Also, there's the very fact that I'm a medical doctor and I have to behave more responsibly than that."

Novice

Moral conflicts aside, as Lawrence made tentative steps into the scary world of dating, the disappointments started to stack up. Most men make their first advances towards women at an age when it doesn't really matter but at 33 years old, Lawrence found out that the stakes were high.

He shyly arranged his first date over the internet and suggested a trip to the cinema, but baulked when he found out that she wanted to go clubbing.

I've really missed out on two decades of life and I need to catch up

Lawrence Koomson

"I'm too much of a novice to go into all that. I couldn't allow myself, for me I'm not mature yet to do that - I can't do that, not yet."

But mature enough or not, the opportunity to live a grown man's life was not something Lawrence was going to let slip by.

"I've really missed out on two decades of life and I need to catch up."

One life - Male, 33, Seeks Puberty, is on BBC One at 2235 GMT on Tuesday 6 December

Your comments:

This is really one of the "mistakes" of nature. I can imagine the ordeal Lawrence has gone through. Thanks God however, that the treatment is a simple surgical procedure with a very promising prognosis. There are other very complicated neurohormonal, genetic and congenital abnormalities that can be highly debilitating. Thanks to the recent advances in the medical profession.

A.D.Russa, Morioka, Japan

I wish Lawrence all the best, puberty can be very trying to all and to go through it at 33 wont be easy but I think he will be fine and is mature enough to get through it. I hope he meets someone who will take things slowly.

Sarah, Bracknell

I also suffer from the syndrome. As a teenager I found it very difficult and could not understand why I was the way I was. This programme will be great for other suffers, I'm glad that more people will be able to now see what my life has been like!

Ian, Newbury Park, Essex

I am 56 years old and I was diagnosed with Kallmann's Syndrome over 30 years ago. I still have testosterone injections every three weeks. I attended the endocrine clinic at St Bartholemew's Hospital. My wife and I were not able to have children and I have since had to have surgery on my testicles. I will be most interested to see the program.

Mike, Milton Keynes

Kat seems unaware that Lawrence's inability to have an erection is a separate symptom from his missed puberty. Erections do not begin at puberty; most boys are capable of having them from birth onwards.

Kelly Mouser, Upminster, Essex

What a brave man Mr Lawrence is....Puberty is never an easy time....But to go through it at the age 33....I wish him all the best....May his journey be a smooth one....

Chris Ley, Shaftsbury Vermont U.S.A.

Wow! It seems that everyone does take puberty for granted although many teenagers complain when puberty first starts, they should bear in mind Lawrence. Thankfully, there is treatment and Lawrence will now experience what every other teenager experiences.

Laura, newcastle