Optimal age of sexual maturation in Egyptian children

ABSTRACT

To establish the optimal age of sexual maturation in Egyptian children, Tanner's maturity stages were determined for a sample of children and adolescents [1550 girls, 1563 boys] ranging from 6.5 to 18.5 years. The mean age for attainment of pubic hair [stage PH2] was 10.46 [SD 1.36] years for girls and 11.86 [SD 1.45] years for boys. For axillary hair [stage A2], mean age was 11.65 [SD 1.62] years for girls and 13.55 [SD 1.52] years for boys. The mean age at menarche in girls was 12.44 years and for breast development [stage B2] was 10.71 [SD 1.30] years. Testicular volume by palpation showed that the mean age of genital stage G2 for boys was 10.56 [SD 1.40] years. The study results can aid in the assessment of sexual maturation and pubertal disorders in Egyptian adolescents