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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
06:38
Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats
Published on: October 13, 2018
Early Life Factors Associated with Pubertal Development in Girls: A Cohort Study.
Yang Zhou1, Linhong Li1, Yujie Wang2
1Research Center for Environment and Human Health, Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 401331, China.
Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
|June 6, 2026
Summary
Maternal factors during pregnancy and early life influence daughters' pubertal timing. Early-life health management is crucial for healthy pubertal development in girls.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Early-life exposures can impact pubertal development.
- Associations between maternal perinatal characteristics and daughters' puberty are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between maternal factors during the perinatal period and the timing of pubertal development in school-aged girls.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 733 girls in Chongqing, China.
- Pubertal development assessed via breast, pubic hair, axillary hair development, and menarche.
- Cox proportional hazards regression models analyzed maternal characteristics and pubertal onset.
Main Results:
- Maternal use of tocolytic agents was linked to delayed breast development.
- Maternal disease during pregnancy and advanced maternal age (≥35) were associated with earlier axillary hair development.
- Mixed feeding in infancy correlated with earlier menarche compared to exclusive breastfeeding.
Conclusions:
- Maternal and perinatal factors significantly influence specific pubertal milestones in girls.
- Early-life health management strategies may be important for optimizing pubertal timing.
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