Abstract
Study Objective
To assess pubertal events in a Hispanic female population and to create normograms
of puberty.
Design
Longitudinal.
Setting
University facility.
Participants
Five hundred forty-nine girls from the Growth and Obesity Chilean Cohort study.
Interventions
Follow-up twice a year beginning at age 6 years.
Main Outcome Measures
Breast development, pubic hair development, and age. Breast development (B2, B3, and
B4) and pubarche (P2) were determined. Age at menarche was obtained from the adolescents
and their mothers. Age and growth velocity at peak height velocity were calculated.
Results
In girls, B2, B3, and B4 occur at median ages of 9.2, 10.2, and 10.9 years, respectively.
The median age at P2 was 9.7 years. The mean age at peak height velocity and the growth
velocity were 10.6 years (SD = 1.1) and 8 cm/y, respectively. The mean age at menarche
was 11.9 years (SD = 1.1); only 2.8% (15 /530) of girls experienced menarche after
14 years and 1.9% before 10 years. The mean interval time between B2 and menarche
was 2.5 ± 1.0 years. Transient thelarche occurred in 8.6% of girls.
Conclusion
This longitudinal cohort shows that thelarche occurred 1.2 months later than previously
reported in cross-sectional studies. Conversely, we found that pubic hair appeared
12 months earlier and menarche occurred 9 months earlier than previously reported.
These findings are important in setting normalcy data and avoiding unnecessary clinical
consultations.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 21, 2019
Footnotes
The authors indicate no conflicts of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology.
