Endocrine-sensitive physical endpoints in newborns: ranges and predictors

In neonates, endocrine-sensitive physical endpoints, including breast and reproductive tissues, may reflect effects of fetal environmental exposure. Studies using standardized measurement techniques that describe demographic and clinical variability in these endpoints are lacking.

Three hundred and eighty-eight healthy term newborns <3 days old were evaluated, 69% African American and 25% White. Measures included breast bud diameter, anogenital distance (AGD), stretched penile length (SPL), and testicular volume (TV).

Breast buds were larger in females than males bilaterally (right: 13.0 ± 4.0 vs. 12.0 ± 4.0 mm, p = 0.008; left: 13.0 ± 4.0 vs. 11.0 ± 3.0 mm, p < 0.001). Breast bud size correlated positively with gestational age (regression coefficient = 0.46 ± 0.12 mm, p < 0.001) and weight Z-score (0.59 ± 0.24 mm, p = 0.02), and negatively with White race (-1.00 ± 0.30 mm, p = 0.001). AGD was longer in males (scrotum-to-anus) than females (fourchette-to-anus) (21.0 ± 4.0 vs. 13.0 ± 2.0 mm, p < 0.001) and did not differ by race. SPL was shorter in White infants (35.0 ± 5.0 vs. 36.0 ± 5.0 mm, p = 0.04). Median TV was 0.5 cm³, and larger in White males (odds ratio 1.71, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-2.88) CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a range of physical measurements of endocrine-sensitive tissues in healthy infants from the United States, and the associations with demographic and clinical characteristics.

This study reports physical measurements for endocrine-sensitive endpoints in healthy US newborns, including breast buds, AGD, SPL, and TV. Associations of measurements to demographic and clinical factors (including race, gestational age, and newborn length and weight) are presented. Contemporary ranges and identification of predictive factors will support further study on effects of pre- and postnatal exposures to endocrine-sensitive tissues in the infant.