Abstract
BackgroundPrevious studies suggest significant ethnic and racial differences in clitoral sizes and anogenital distances in the newborn. This study aimed to document normative data on clitoral sizes and anogenital distances of apparently normal term female infants in Sagamu.MethodsThe study was a multi-center, cross-sectional descriptive research carried out among 317 female term infants within the first 72 h of life. Interviewer-based questionnaire was applied to obtain sociodemographic data, pregnancy and birth history. A sliding digital caliper was used for measurement. Data analysis was with SPSS version 20.0.ResultsThe mean clitoral length was 6.7 ± 1.6 mm while the mean clitoral width was 5.6 ± 0.8 mm. The mean fourchette-clitoris distance, anus-clitoris distance and anus-fourchette distance were 21.9 ± 2.1 mm, 35.5 ± 2.5 mm and 17.0 ± 2.6 mm respectively. The anus-clitoris and anus-fourchette distances significantly correlated with the anthropometric parameters while the clitoral measurements did not.ConclusionThe mean values recorded in this study were higher than observed in most previous studies. This simple, affordable and non-invasive evaluation could aid early diagnosis and treatment of female infants with potentially harmful conditions such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Highlights
Previous studies suggest significant ethnic and racial differences in clitoral sizes and anogenital distances in the newborn
The exclusion criteria included the presence of dysmorphic features, ambiguity of the genitalia, known maternal ingestion of substances that are deemed by the investigator to have androgenic effects, features of masculinization in pregnancy and if either of the parents was not from any tribe in Nigeria
A total of 317 term female newborns were included in the study which spanned between April 2014 and March 2015
Summary
Previous studies suggest significant ethnic and racial differences in clitoral sizes and anogenital distances in the newborn. This study aimed to document normative data on clitoral sizes and anogenital distances of apparently normal term female infants in Sagamu. A delay, for any reason in assigning the sex could be distressing for the doctor, the midwife as well as having a significant psychosocial effect on the parents and family [1]. In a newborn female could be due to foetal or maternal causes and should be regarded as potentially pathologic [5]. These observations indicate the importance of clitoral and ano-genital measurements as markers of in-utero exposure to androgens
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