Indications of younger age at menarche in Greek adolescents but no relation to body mass index

Abstract

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to present recent trends in the pubertal timing of a Greek female sample. Methods Data were collected retrospectively from medical records of healthy females aged 6–18 years who attended a tertiary Adolescent Friendly Health Center over a 5-year period (2016–2020) and included gestational age, birth weight, age of thelarche and/or pubarche and/or menarche along with corresponding anthropometric, hormonal, and biochemical measurements. Results Data from 298 girls’ medical records were included in the analysis. Median age at menarche and thelarche was 12 and 9 years respectively, while mean age at pubarche 8.97 years. The mean interval between pubertal onset and menarche was 1.99 years. Mean body mass index (BMI) at menarche and thelarche was 20.99 kg/m2 and 18.90 kg/m2 respectively. Mean weight at menarche was 49.6 kg, whereas the mean height difference between thelarche and menarche was 19.17cm. Among participants, 6.3% had premature menarche, while 24.0% had premature thelarche. Birth weight was moderately correlated with BMI at thelarche/pubarche (rs=0.334, p = 0.005). Birth weight and BMI at thelarche/pubarche were not predictive of premature menarche or premature thelarche. Median (interquartile range, IQR) levels at menarche vs. thelarche were higher for insulin-like growth factor-1 [358.00(140.50) vs. 176.00(55.00) ng/ml], follicle stimulation hormone [5.65(3.14) vs. 3.10(4.23) mIU/ml], testosterone [25.50(31.00) vs. 13.00(21.00) ng/dl], dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate [117.00(112.50) vs. 46.40(51.90) µg/dl] and insulin [17.40(15.05) vs. 8.47(4.97) µIU/ml]. Conclusion The timing of pubertal stages in the Greek female sample studied followed the recent international downward trends. Younger age at menarche was not related to body mass index.