Understanding pubertal precocity—are kids growing up faster?

Razzak, Mina

doi:10.1038/nrurol.2012.206

Research Highlight
Published: 13 November 2012

Paediatrics

Understanding pubertal precocity—are kids growing up faster?

Mina Razzak

Nature Reviews Urology volume 9, page 668 (2012)Cite this article

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Pubertal data are an integral part of monitoring health trends in children. Two recent studies have shown that children are entering puberty at younger ages than have been historically noted. Furthermore, much variability is evident between individuals as to what the defining features are of the pubertal transition.

The first study, led by Annette Mouritsen, had a longitudinal design (over 5 years) and repetitively analysed serum samples from 179 healthy Danish children (89 girls and 90 boys). The researchers found that only a minority of girls (7%) and boys (25%) experienced pubarche (attainment of pubic hair) as the first sign of puberty. Instead, girls predominantly developed breast tissue as the first sign (78%), with boys experiencing testicular growth (59%). In this cohort, girls were approximately 10 years old when these signs became evident, and boys were 11 years old.

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPERS

Mouritsen, A. et al. The pubertal transition in 179 healthy Danish children: associations between pubarche, adrenarche, gonadarche and body composition. Eur. J. Endo. doi:10.1530/EJE-12-0191
Herman-Giddens, M. E. et al. Secondary sexual characteristics in boys: data from the Pediatric Research Office Settings Network. Pediatrics doi:10.1542/peds/2011-3291

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