7 PUBERTAL DEVELOPMENT IN ADOLESCENT FEMALES: A MARKER FOR EARLY SEXUAL DEBUT

Abstract

Puberty is viewed as having a significant impact on the psychosocial development and behavior of adolescent females. To evaluate the association of the timing of puberty and adolescent psychosexual behavior, we investigated the relationship of the following variables: age of menarche, age at sexual debut (first intercourse) and prevalence of endbcervical Chlamydia trachomatis infection (CT+) in a University teen clinic population. 98 sexually active subjects (Ss) were studied including a complete gynecological examination. Mean age of Ss was 16.8 years (SD=1.8; R=13–21). Race/ethnic distribution was 31.6% white, 36.7% black, 12.2% hispanic, 8.2%asian, and 11.2% other. Mean age of menarche was 12.4 (SD=1.4, R=9–17). Mean age at sexual debut was 14.7 (SD=1.8, R=11–19). Ss had 3.7 mean number of lifetime partners (SD=4.1, R=1-20). Adolescents who had completion of puberty (menarche before 12.9 y.o.) had an earlier onset of sexual activity (Pearson R=.48, p<.001). Endocervical CT+ cultures were associated with females with an earlier sexual debut (CT+ X debut=13.8 years, sd=1.2, CT- X debut=14.9 years, sd=1.9, t=3.35, p=.002). Early sexual debut is associated with earlier menarche and endocervical Chlamydia trachomatis. These results suggest that physiologic age may be an important factor in the prediction of adolescent females who are at risk for morbidity associated with sexual activity.