Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 12, 2025

Author Spotlight: Enhancing the Offspring Health in Rats with Maternal Exercise During Pregnancy

Author Spotlight: Enhancing the Offspring Health in Rats with Maternal Exercise During Pregnancy

Published on: April 5, 2024

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and timing of pubertal development in daughters and sons

Lea Lykke Harrits Lunddorf¹, Nis Brix¹, Andreas Ernst^1,2

¹Department of Public Health, Research Unit for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)

|August 9, 2020

Insights

Maternal hypertensive disorders may lead to earlier pubertal development in daughters. This study found no significant impact on sons' pubertal timing, suggesting a potential sex-specific effect.

Area of Science:

Reproductive endocrinology
Maternal-fetal medicine
Pediatric development

Background:

Existing literature shows mixed results on preeclampsia and pubertal timing in daughters, with no clear association in sons.
Previous studies have not extensively explored other hypertensive disorders like hypertension, eclampsia, or HELLP syndrome in relation to pubertal timing.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the association between maternal hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and pubertal development in daughters and sons.
To examine specific hypertensive conditions, including preeclampsia, eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and hypertension, and their impact on pubertal milestones.

Main Methods:

A longitudinal cohort study of 15,819 mother-child pairs from the Danish National Birth Cohort.
Maternal hypertensive disorders were recorded during pregnancy; pubertal development (Tanner stages, menarche, ejaculation, etc.) was self-reported by children from age 11 to 18.
Compared pubertal timing in children exposed to maternal hypertensive disorders versus unexposed children, analyzing mean differences in age at pubertal milestones.

Main Results:

Daughters of mothers with preeclampsia, eclampsia, or HELLP syndrome showed a tendency towards earlier pubertal timing (combined marker: -2.0 months).
Daughters of mothers with hypertension also exhibited trends towards earlier pubertal milestones, though not statistically significant (combined marker: -1.0 months).
No significant differences in pubertal timing were observed in sons of mothers with any hypertensive disorder.

Conclusions:

Maternal hypertensive disorders during pregnancy may be associated with accelerated pubertal timing in daughters.
The findings suggest a potential sex-specific effect, with no observed impact on sons' pubertal development.
Further research is necessary to establish causality and understand the underlying mechanisms linking maternal hypertensive disorders to daughter's pubertal timing.

Read full analysis

Abstract

Study Question:

Do maternal hypertensive disorders affect pubertal development in daughters and sons?

Summary Answer:

Pubertal development tended to occur earlier in daughters of mothers with 'preeclampsia, eclampsia or HELLP syndrome' (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low blood platelets) or hypertension in pregnancy compared to daughters born of normotensive mothers.

What Is Known Already:

The existing literature suggests some or no association between preeclampsia and pubertal development in daughters, but not in sons. None of the previous studies has investigated the possible association between other types of hypertensive disorders (hypertension, eclampsia or HELLP syndrome) and pubertal timing in children.

Study Design, Size, Duration:

Longitudinal cohort study consisting of 15 819 mother-child pairs with information on maternal hypertensive disorders collected during pregnancy and information on pubertal development collected half-yearly from the age of 11 years and until fully developed or 18 years of age.

Participants/Materials, Setting, Methods:

Participants are children from the Puberty Cohort nested within the Danish National Birth Cohort. The exposure was register-based and self-reported information on maternal hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. The outcomes were children's self-reported information on pubertal development, including Tanner stage 1-5 (pubic hair (both daughters and sons) and breast development (daughters) or genital development (sons)), first menstrual bleeding (daughters) or first ejaculation (sons), voice break episode (sons), axillary hair development and acne occurrence (both daughters and sons). The main outcome was mean difference in age at attaining each pubertal milestone and a combined pubertal marker in children of mothers with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (either hypertension (n = 490), 'preeclampsia, eclampsia or HELLP syndrome' (n = 419) or 'unspecific hypertensive disorders' (n = 334) with unexposed children as reference (n = 14 576)).

Main Results And The Role Of Chance:

In daughters of mothers with 'preeclampsia, eclampsia or HELLP syndrome', we observed tendencies of earlier pubertal timing (combined marker: -2.0 (95% CI: -3.9; 0.0) months). In daughters of mothers with hypertension, several pubertal milestones tended to occur earlier than in daughters of normotensive mothers; however, all 95% CIs overlapped the null resulting in a combined pubertal marker of -1.0 (95% CI: -3.2; 1.1) months. In sons of mothers with any of the hypertensive disorders, we observed no difference in pubertal timing (combined markers: 'preeclampsia, eclampsia or HELLP syndrome': 0.1 (95% CI: -2.0; 2.1) months; hypertension: -0.6 (95% CI: -2.3; 1.1) months; 'unspecific hypertensive disorders': 0.2 (95% CI: -1.9; 2.2) months).

Limitations, Reasons For Caution:

The study is subject to non-differential misclassification of self-reported information on maternal hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and current pubertal status; possibly causing bias toward the null.

Wider Implications Of The Findings:

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy might accelerate pubertal timing in daughters; however, more studies are needed for causal conclusions.

Study Funding/Competing Interest(S):

The study was funded by the Faculty of Health at Aarhus University. The authors have no financial relationships or competing interests to disclose.

Trial Registration Number:

N/A.

Keywords:

Tanner stages hypertension preeclampsia pubertal development puberty

More Related Videos

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis

Published on: January 7, 2018

A Hyperandrogenic Mouse Model to Study Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

A Hyperandrogenic Mouse Model to Study Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Published on: October 2, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...

Factors affecting Blood pressure

Factors affecting Blood pressure

Several physiological and lifestyle factors influence blood pressure (BP). Understanding these factors is crucial as they are significant in patient education and blood pressure management.
Physiological Factors:

Hypertension II: Pathophysiology

Hypertension II: Pathophysiology

Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the blood's force against artery walls is excessively high, posing risks such as heart disease. The condition's underlying mechanisms involve complex interactions among the cardiovascular, kidney, and autonomic nervous systems.Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): This system significantly influences blood pressure regulation. When blood pressure decreases, the kidneys secrete renin. This enzyme transforms angiotensinogen, a plasma protein,...

Hypertension I: Introduction

Hypertension I: Introduction

Hypertension is a widespread, long-term medical condition where blood pressure in the arteries remains elevated. It is characterized by systolic blood pressure readings of 130 mm Hg or above or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) readings of 80 mm Hg or higher. Unmanaged hypertension poses significant health risks, making the distinction between primary (or essential) hypertension and secondary hypertension crucial, as their management and implications vary.Primary HypertensionPrimary hypertension,...

Signs of Puberty

Signs of Puberty

Puberty is a critical phase, typically beginning between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though timing can vary based on genetics, environmental factors, and overall health. This period is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the attainment of reproductive potential. Endocrine changes underpin puberty, with hormonal surges of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) instigated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)...

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sexual intercourse frequency and fecundability in the Norwegian mother, father and child cohort study.

PloS one·2026

Risk of Subsequent Recurrences and Progression in Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Patients With Early Recurrence.

Urology·2026

A Catalogue of Dispensation Lengths for Building Treatment Episodes-Application of the Waiting Time Distribution to All Commonly Prescribed Drugs in Denmark.

Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety·2026

Changes in appetitive traits and binge-eating following lifestyle intervention in 7-14-year-olds: a 3-year follow-up.

Eating disorders·2026

Expanding enhanced influenza vaccines programs for adults aged ≥65 in the Nordic region predicted to improve public health and health system resilience.

Vaccine·2026

Intrauterine Growth and Male Reproductive Health: A Follow-up Study From the Danish National Birth Cohort.

Andrology·2026

See all related articles