Abstract
On the basis of biannual examinations of 40 normal boys followed longitudinally for a period of up to 7 years (initially aged 8-11), the following maturity measures were studied: first occurrence of a testis size of more than 4 ml., pubic hair stage greater than Tanner stage one, broken voice, axillary hair greater than stage one, beard growth, occurrence of acne and the age of maximal height growth velocity and spermarche (onset of the release of spermatozoa).
Spermarche was estimated on the basis of occurrence of spermatozoa in quarterly collected 24-h urine samples, using the information of first occurrence of spermaturia and the frequency of intermittent occurrence of spermaturia after the first.
With confidence limits of about ± 4 months, the maturity measures showed the following time lags. Prior to spermarche: testis size >4 ml (16 months), pubic hair stage>1 (10½ months), first occurrence of broken voice (½ month). After spermarche: max. height growth velocity (5½ months), axillary hair stage>1 (8 months), growth of beard (12 months) and occurence of acne (13 months).
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jørgensen, M., Skakkebæk, N., Keiding, N. et al. 133 TIME LAGS BETWEEN VARIOUS MATURITY MEASURES AND SPERMACRCHE. Pediatr Res 24, 539 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00154
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00154