Developmental influences on adult ovarian hormonal function

The hypothesis is advanced that levels of ovarian hormonal function in adult women are associated with the tempo of growth and maturation in childhood and adolescence. Empirical data are presented documenting a correlation between menarcheal age and adult ovarian hormonal function both within and between populations. It is noted that this relationship is compatible with current understanding of the mechanisms underlying pubertal maturation of ovarian hormonal function. Functionally, such a relationship could serve the purpose of modulating adult fecundity to chronic environmental conditions. Alternative hypotheses include the possibility that the relationship is not causal but rather reflects either confounded effects of some common cause or the persistence of acute environmental effects through time. Proper testing of such alternative hypotheses will require longitudinal data on migrant populations, changing environments, or secular trends within populations. The importance of establishing the relationship between development and adult ovarian hormonal function is not limited to issues of fecundity and fertility, but includes other areas of female general and reproductive health. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.