Menarcheal timing and growth curve shape during the adolescent growth spurt

Ahn, Yong soo; Lee, Ki Soo; Nam, Jong Hyun; Kang, Yoon Goo

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the onset, peak height velocity (PHV) and end of adolescent growth spurt as well as menarcheal timing deduced from surveying accumulative height growth over many years.
METHODS
Ninety six students of Samgoe high school between 1st and 3rd grade that were in good health participated in the research. A survey questionnaire was distributed to examine the students' health status and menarche timing.
RESULTS
Adolescent growth spurt typically began at the age of 9.9 and reached a PHV at the age of 11.6. The growth spurt ended at the age of 14.1 on average. The average age of menarche was 12.6 years, which was about one year after the PHV of adolescent growth spurt. In most cases, menarche came after PHV. But in 24% of the students, menarche and PHV was nearly coincident or menarche preceded PHV. The growth curves were classified into four types. A typical adolescent growth spurt showed one PHV on graph that drastically drops after the PHV. However, there were cases with two PHVs.
CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that individual growth patterns show large individual differences, however the categorization into the various growth curves may aid in predicting individual growth patterns.