Secondary Sexual Characteristics and Menstruation in Young Girls

The study by Herman-Giddens and colleagues provided valuable normative data on the development of secondary sexual characteristics and menses in young girls, highlighting racial differences, particularly the earlier onset of puberty in African-American girls compared to white girls. The study suggested that early pubic hair and breast development in African-American girls might be due to increased androgen production rather than estrogen, as previously thought. Concerns were raised about the methodology, including the calculation of mean ages for menses onset and the high enrollment rate of eligible subjects. The study also noted potential overestimation of breast development in obese girls using the Tanner staging system. While the study focused on girls, there was a call for similar research on boys and more data on Asian populations. The study's findings underscored the need for further research to understand the genetic and hormonal factors influencing pubertal development across different racial and ethnic groups.