Evaluation and comparison of nine growth- and development-based measures of pubertal timing

Abstract

ABSTRACTPuberty timing is fundamentally part of life-course health. Yet, little is known about the value of different measures of pubertal timing, particularly in males. We used a population-based cohort to examine nine measures of pubertal age (n=8,500), identifying development of pubic hair in males (12.6y) and breasts in females (11.5y) as early indicators of puberty, and voice breaking (14.2y) and menarche (12.7y) as late indicators. All measures showed evidence of positive phenotypic intercorrelations (e.g., r=0.49: male genitalia and pubic hair ages), and positive genetic intercorrelations. A genetic risk score (GRS) for age at menarche associated positively with all other measures (e.g., difference in female peak height velocity age per SD higher GRS: 0.24y, 95%CI: 0.21 to 0.26), as did GRS for voice breaking age (e.g., difference in male axillary hair age: 0.11y, 0.07 to 0.15). We illustrate the value of different pubertal age measures and their use in life-course research.