Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab.  2013 Jun;18(2):76-80. 10.6065/apem.2013.18.2.76.

Age at menarche and adult height in girls born small for gestational age

• Shim YS
• Park HK
• Yang S
• Hwang IT

• KMID: 2047465
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2013.18.2.76

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between birth characteristics based on birth weight for gestational age, timing of menarche and adult height in girls born small for gestational age (SGA).
METHODS
Thirty subjects born from 1988 through 1999 whose birth weight below 10th percentile for their gestational ages were recruited based on hospital chart reviews. The age of each subject at menarche was recorded, and the subject's heights and bone age were assessed.
RESULTS
The adult height of the girls born SGA was significantly lower than the normal adult height and slightly shorter than their target height. The adult height was associated with the birth weight for gestational age. The age at menarche was not different with the menarche timing of the general population.
CONCLUSION
More attention may need to be paid to the growth outcomes of SGA patients whose birth weight is lower for their gestational age than other SGA subjects.

Keyword

Small for gestational age infant; Menarche; Body height

MeSH Terms

Adult
Birth Weight
Body Height
Female
Gestational Age
Humans
Menarche
Parturition

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Distribution of the ages at menarche of the girls born small for gestational age. The mean age at menarche was 11.8±1.2 years.

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  Fig. 2 Birth weights versus the ages at menarche of the girls born small for gestational age. There was no correlation between these two parameters (P=0.099).

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  Fig. 3 Birth weight standard deviation score (SDS) compared with the degree of growth potential reached. There was a positive correlation between these two parameters.

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