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'''Pubarche''' refers to the first appearance of [[pubic hair]] at [[puberty]]. Pubarche<ref>The word results from the combination of a Latin and a Greek word: pub-es, "adult, full-grown, manly", and ἀρχή {{IPA-el|arkʰɛ̌ː|}}, "beginning, onset".</ref> is one of the physical changes of puberty and can occur independently of complete puberty. Pubarche usually results from rising levels of androgen and not estrogens in females, and [[androgen]]s in males from the [[adrenal gland]]s, [[ovary |ovaries]], or [[testis|testes]] but may also result from exposure to an [[anabolic steroid]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Blueprints Obstetrics & Gynecology|first1=Tamara L. |last1=Callahan|first2= Aaron B.|last2= Caughey|first3= Linda|last3= Heffner|publisher=Blackwell Publishing|year= 2003|isbn=1-4051-0331-0}}</ref>
'''Pubarche''' refers to the first appearance of [[pubic hair]] at [[puberty]]. Pubarche<ref>The word results from the combination of a Latin and a Greek word: pub-es, "adult, full-grown, manly", and ἀρχή {{IPA-el|arkʰɛ̌ː|}}, "beginning, onset".</ref> is one of the physical changes of puberty and can occur independently of complete puberty. Pubarche usually results from rising levels of androgen and not estrogens in females, and [[androgen]]s in males from the [[adrenal gland]]s, [[ovary |ovaries]], or [[testis|testes]] but may also result from exposure to an [[anabolic steroid]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Blueprints Obstetrics & Gynecology|first1=Tamara L. |last1=Callahan|first2= Aaron B.|last2= Caughey|first3= Linda|last3= Heffner|publisher=Blackwell Publishing|year= 2003|isbn=1-4051-0331-0}}</ref>


When pubarche occurs prematurely (in early or mid-childhood), it is referred to as ''premature pubarche'' or [[precocious puberty]] and may warrant an evaluation. Premature [[adrenarche]] is when hormones are elevated at an early age. It is the most common cause of premature pubarche. Some cases of premature pubarche can be due to [[congenital adrenal hyperplasia]], [[androgen]]-producing tumors of the adrenals or [[gonad]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rosenfield |first=Robert L |date=2021 |title=Normal and Premature Adrenarche |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8599200/ |journal=Endocrine Reviews |volume=42 |issue=6 |pages=783–814 |doi=10.1210/endrev/bnab009 |issn=0163-769X |pmc=8599200 |pmid=33788946}}</ref> 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.
When pubarche occurs prematurely (in early or mid-childhood), it is referred to as ''premature pubarche'' or [[precocious puberty]] and may warrant an evaluation. Premature adrenarche is the most common cause of premature pubarche. Premature [[adrenarche]] is when hormones are elevated before the age of 8 to 9 years old. For premature adrenarche to be diagnosed, some conditions must be ruled out such as [[congenital adrenal hyperplasia]], [[androgen]]-producing tumors of the adrenals or [[gonad]]s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Novello |first=Laura |last2=Speiser |first2=Phyllis W. |date=2018 |title=Premature Adrenarche |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29323690/ |journal=Pediatric Annals |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=e7–e11 |doi=10.3928/19382359-20171214-04 |issn=1938-2359 |pmid=29323690}}</ref> 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.


==Average age==
==Average age==

Revision as of 23:12, 25 July 2023

Pubarche refers to the first appearance of pubic hair at puberty. Pubarche[1] is one of the physical changes of puberty and can occur independently of complete puberty. Pubarche usually results from rising levels of androgen and not estrogens in females, and androgens in males from the adrenal glands, ovaries, or testes but may also result from exposure to an anabolic steroid.[2]

When pubarche occurs prematurely (in early or mid-childhood), it is referred to as premature pubarche or precocious puberty and may warrant an evaluation. Premature adrenarche is the most common cause of premature pubarche. Premature adrenarche is when hormones are elevated before the age of 8 to 9 years old. For premature adrenarche to be diagnosed, some conditions must be ruled out such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia, androgen-producing tumors of the adrenals or gonads.[3] 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.

Average age

Five Tanner stages of male genitalia and pubic hair, The Adolescent Period
Stages of female genitalia and pubic hair during puberty

The average beginning of pubarche varies due to many factors, including climate, nourishment, weight, nurture, and genes. First (and often transient) pubic hair resulting from adrenarche may appear between ages 10–12 at the beginning of puberty.

See also

References

  1. ^ The word results from the combination of a Latin and a Greek word: pub-es, "adult, full-grown, manly", and ἀρχή [arkʰɛ̌ː], "beginning, onset".
  2. ^ Callahan, Tamara L.; Caughey, Aaron B.; Heffner, Linda (2003). Blueprints Obstetrics & Gynecology. Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 1-4051-0331-0.
  3. ^ Novello, Laura; Speiser, Phyllis W. (2018). "Premature Adrenarche". Pediatric Annals. 47 (1): e7–e11. doi:10.3928/19382359-20171214-04. ISSN 1938-2359. PMID 29323690.