Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 27, 2026

Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats
06:38

Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats

Published on: October 13, 2018

16.5K

Clinical Implications of Minipuberty

Anders Juul1,2,3

  • 1Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen.

The New England Journal of Medicine
|March 25, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Minipuberty is a brief, active phase of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in infants. This early hormonal activity is crucial for diagnosing endocrine disorders and predicting future reproductive health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Minipuberty describes a transient period of elevated hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis activity in early infancy.
  • This phase is characterized by high levels of gonadotropins (follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone) and gonadal steroids.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the significance of minipuberty as a diagnostic window for endocrine and sexual differentiation disorders.
  • To emphasize its role in guiding therapeutic interventions and predicting adult reproductive capacity.

Main Methods:

  • The study reviews existing literature on the hormonal profiles during early postnatal life.
  • Analysis focuses on the HPG axis activity in infant boys and girls.

Main Results:

  • Infant boys exhibit high follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, insulin-like 3, inhibin B, and antimüllerian hormone.
  • Infant girls show adult levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone during this period.
  • The HPG axis is subsequently silenced until puberty onset.

Conclusions:

  • Minipuberty serves as a critical early diagnostic period for conditions like congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
  • Understanding minipuberty aids in optimizing gonadotropin therapy dosing.
  • This early hormonal state is a predictor of adult reproductive potential.

More Related Videos

Ultrasonography of the Adult Male Urinary Tract for Urinary Functional Testing05:25

Ultrasonography of the Adult Male Urinary Tract for Urinary Functional Testing

Published on: August 14, 2019

20.5K
Murine Prostate Micro-dissection and Surgical Castration08:49

Murine Prostate Micro-dissection and Surgical Castration

Published on: May 11, 2016

48.1K

Related Concept Videos

Signs of Puberty01:27

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)...
1.9K
Disorders of the Male Reproductive System01:20

Disorders of the Male Reproductive System

Men's health issues are increasingly recognized as significant, with several conditions posing common threats. Among these, testicular cancer is especially prevalent in younger men, particularly those aged 20 to 35 years. The disease often manifests as a painless mass in the testicles, sometimes accompanied by a sensation of heaviness or a dull ache.
Prostate disorders are another major concern. These conditions can impair urinary flow due to the prostate's location around the urethra....
5.4K
Menopause01:28

Menopause

Menopause, a natural biological process marking the end of a woman's fertility, typically occurs between the fifth and sixth decade of life. This phase is characterized by the exhaustion of the ovarian follicle pool, leading to less responsive ovaries despite the high levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). The consequential decrease in estrogen production results in symptoms like hot flashes, heavy sweating, headaches, hair loss, muscle pains, vaginal...
5.1K
Infertility in Males01:23

Infertility in Males

Male infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, arising from various factors that impact different stages of the reproductive process. An endocrine imbalance resulting from conditions like hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, or pituitary disorders can disrupt hormone levels and reduce sperm production. Testicular defects, such as tumors, cryptorchidism, atrophic testes, abnormal sperm morphology, and low sperm count or motility, may arise due to genetic factors, structural...
680
Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus01:15

Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus

Development of the reproductive organs in an embryo starts from a bipotential state. This means the early embryo can develop either male or female reproductive organs. The formation of these organs begins with the growth of gonadal ridges that arise from the intermediate mesoderm during the fifth week of development.
Near the gonadal ridges, two duct systems are present: the mesonephric ducts (Wolffian ducts) and paramesonephric ducts (Müllerian ducts). These ducts form the basis for the...
4.8K