Pubarche
- Main Article: Puberty
Pubarche refers to the first appearance of pubic hair in a child. Pubarche[1] is one of the physical changes of puberty but should not be equated with it since it may occur independently of complete puberty. Pubarche usually results from rising levels of androgens from the adrenal glands or the testes but may also result from exposure of a child to an anabolic steroid.[2]
When pubarche occurs prematurely (in early or mid-childhood), it is referred to as premature pubarche and may warrant an evaluation. Premature adrenarche is the most common cause of premature pubarche. Rarer causes include precocious puberty, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and androgen-producing tumors of the adrenals or gonads. When adrenarche, central puberty, and all pathologic conditions have been excluded, the term isolated premature pubarche is used to describe the unexplained development of pubic hair at an early age without other hormonal or physical changes of puberty.
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[edit] Average Age of Pubarche Initiation for Males and Females
See Also: Tanner Scale
The average beginning of pubarche varies due to many factors, including climate, nourishment, weight, nurture, and genes. However girls tend to begin pubarche earlier than men, as with most puberty stages and puberty as a whole. The exact age for females varies between 11-13 on average, and for males, about 12.5-14. However, evidence is this age is decreasing.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ The word results from the combination of a Latin and a Greek word: pub-es, "adult, full-grown, manly", and ἀρχή [arkʰɛ̌ː], "beginning, onset".
- ^ Callahan, Tamara L.; Caughey, Aaron B.; Heffner, Linda (2003). Blueprints Obstetrics & Gynecology. Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 1405103310.
[edit] External links
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