Age of thelarche and menarche in contemporary US females: a cross-sectional analysis. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2014 Jan;27(1-2):47-51
Date
08/21/2013Pubmed ID
23959659Pubmed Central ID
PMC4137967DOI
10.1515/jpem-2013-0286Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84893751226 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 91 CitationsAbstract
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.
Author List
Cabrera SM, Bright GM, Frane JW, Blethen SL, Lee PAAuthor
Susanne M. Cabrera MD Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAge Factors
Breast
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Menarche
United States
