Age of thelarche and menarche in contemporary US females: a cross-sectional analysis
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Susanne M. Cabrera
Abstract
Aim: A recent secular trend towards earlier thelarche has been suggested. The aim of this study is to examine normative ages of thelarche and menarche in contemporary US females.
Methods: Trained physicians documented Tanner breast stage by observation in a cross-sectional cohort. Age of menarche was self-reported. The subjects were healthy female children and adolescents. The mean age of thelarche was determined by probit analysis and the mean age of menarche was determined by using a normal time-to-event model.
Results: Mean age of thelarche was 9.7 years among 610 females aged 3.0–17.9 years (70% non-Hispanic Caucasian (NHC), 14% African-Americans, 7% Hispanic, 9% “other”). The mean age of menarche was 12.8 years for NHC, with African-Americans having menarche 0.6 years earlier.
Conclusions: Thelarche occurred earlier than recently reported, while age of menarche remained unchanged, this supported a persistent secular trend towards earlier thelarche but stable age of menarche. This suggests that the observed thelarche is gonadotropin-independent or the tempo of pubertal advancement has slowed.
The interpretation of the data, manuscript preparation, and decision to submit the paper were performed independently of the funding source for the study.
Conflict of interest statement: GMB has been an employee of Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals. GMB participated in data analyses. JF consults for Genentech, Inc. and Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals. SLB is a former employee of Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals. PAL has research support from Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, NovoNordisk, Pfizer, and Abbott Laboratories and consults for NovoNordisk and Abbott Laboratories. Funding for the study, including design, collection, analysis, and interpretation was provided by Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals.
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- Coexistence of testicular microlithiasis with parathyroid adenoma in an obese child
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- Effects of metformin in children and adolescents with Prader-Willi syndrome and early-onset morbid obesity: a pilot study
- Glycemic control in familial vs. sporadic type 1 diabetes patients over 5 years
- Clinical and laboratory features of temporary brittle bone disease
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- Teriparatide (rhPTH) treatment in children with syndromic hypoparathyroidism
- Retinol and retinyl palmitate in fetal mice liver: sexual dimorphism
- Skeletal maturation and predicted adult height in children with premature adrenarche
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- Hypothalamic hamartoma associated with central precocious puberty and growth hormone deficiency
- A pediatric patient with Cushing syndrome caused by ectopic ACTH syndrome and concomitant pituitary incidentalomas
- A novel genetic mutation in a Portuguese family with GCK-MODY
- Permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus in monozygotic twins achieving low-dose sulfonylurea therapy
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- Clinical expression of familial Williams-Beuren syndrome in a Turkish family
- The first report of cabergoline-induced immune hemolytic anemia in an adolescent with prolactinoma
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- Novel AQP2 mutation causing congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus: challenges in management during infancy
- Letter to the Editors
- Mutational analysis of KISS1 and KISS1R in idiopathic central precocious puberty
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Articles in the same Issue
- Masthead
- Masthead
- Editorials
- Editorial
- Consensus, guidelines and reviews
- Review article
- Adaptation of glucose metabolism to fasting in young children with infectious diseases: a perspective
- Images in pediatric endocrinology
- Coexistence of testicular microlithiasis with parathyroid adenoma in an obese child
- Original articles
- Remission of hypertension and electrolyte abnormalities following renal transplantation in a patient with apparent mineralocorticoid excess well documented throughout childhood
- Effects of metformin in children and adolescents with Prader-Willi syndrome and early-onset morbid obesity: a pilot study
- Glycemic control in familial vs. sporadic type 1 diabetes patients over 5 years
- Clinical and laboratory features of temporary brittle bone disease
- Age of thelarche and menarche in contemporary US females: a cross-sectional analysis
- Teriparatide (rhPTH) treatment in children with syndromic hypoparathyroidism
- Retinol and retinyl palmitate in fetal mice liver: sexual dimorphism
- Skeletal maturation and predicted adult height in children with premature adrenarche
- Homozygosity for a DTDST mutation in a child with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia
- Body composition in young patients with galactose metabolic disorders: a preliminary report
- Detection of vascular risk markers in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes
- X-linked recessive nephrogenic diabetes insipidus: a clinico-genetic study
- Factors influencing neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations as a measure of population iodine status
- Pediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension and the underlying endocrine-metabolic dysfunction: a pilot study
- Patient reports
- Hypothalamic hamartoma associated with central precocious puberty and growth hormone deficiency
- A pediatric patient with Cushing syndrome caused by ectopic ACTH syndrome and concomitant pituitary incidentalomas
- A novel genetic mutation in a Portuguese family with GCK-MODY
- Permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus in monozygotic twins achieving low-dose sulfonylurea therapy
- Hypocalcemia in a paediatric case: from the clinical features to diagnosis
- A rare case of osteogenesis imperfecta combined with complete tooth loss
- Iatrogenic acute pancreatitis due to hypercalcemia in a child with pseudohypoparathyroidism
- Clinical expression of familial Williams-Beuren syndrome in a Turkish family
- The first report of cabergoline-induced immune hemolytic anemia in an adolescent with prolactinoma
- Low-level hyperinsulinism with hypoglycemic spells in an infant with mosaic Turner syndrome and mild Kabuki-like phenotype: a case report and review of the literature
- Multiple cutaneous hemangiomas in a patient with combined pituitary hormone deficiency
- Premature thelarche related to fennel tea consumption?
- A novel insertion in the FOXL2 gene in a Chilean patient with blepharophimosis ptosis epicanthus inversus syndrome type I
- Zellweger syndrome: prenatal and postnatal growth failure with epiphyseal stippling
- Marine-Lenhart syndrome in a young girl
- Novel AQP2 mutation causing congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus: challenges in management during infancy
- Letter to the Editors
- Mutational analysis of KISS1 and KISS1R in idiopathic central precocious puberty
- Carotid intima media thickness and echocardiography in risk stratification of obese adolescents with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: what is the “right” approach?
- Vitamin D and the heart: what is the truth?
