Girls In Age Group Research Articles

Longitudinal comparison of skeletal age determined by the Greulich and Pyle method and chronologic age in normally growing children, and clinical interpretations for orthodontics

Coinciding treatment with periods of accelerated skeletal growth and maturation might be advantageous in clinical practice. Better understanding of the concordance between skeletal and chronologic ages during the period that children frequently receive orthodontic treatment is needed. The literature on skeletal age determination from hand-wrist radiographs lacks reports based on longitudinal data, creating lacunae in the understanding of the magnitudes and variations of differences between skeletal and chronologic ages. The aims of this research were to comprehensively analyze the concordance between skeletal and chronologic ages determined by using the Greulich and Pyle method at different ages in the preadolescent and adolescent periods, and to determine any age- and sex-related differences in the concordance. By using the Greulich and Pyle method, skeletal age determinations were made from 572 hand-wrist radiographs of 68 white children with normal facial growth, selected from the records of the Burlington Growth Centre, spanning the growth period from 9 to 18 years. Skeletal age and chronologic age differences for each sex were analyzed by using paired t tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests at yearly intervals. Differences over the longitudinal duration were examined by using the mixed model approach. The limits of agreement were determined by using the Bland-Altman method. In each yearly chronologic age group, differences were clinically categorized based on the proximity of the skeletal and chronologic ages. Overall, a slightly greater proportion of the total skeletal age determinations made in girls (41.9%) were within 0.5 year of their chronologic age, compared with 38% in boys. The largest proportions of subjects having skeletal age-chronologic age differences within 0.5 year were in the 10-year age group in girls (64.5%) and the 13-year age group in boys (64.7%). Mean skeletal age-chronologic age differences were significantly larger in the 13- to 16-year age groups in girls and in the 16- and 17-year age groups in boys, but the differences were not statistically significant at other ages. Several patterns of variations were identified in the direction of differences when individual plots were examined. This longitudinal analysis of differences between skeletal and chronologic ages showed wide ranges and distributions of differences at each yearly age group during the growth period from 9 to 18 years, even when mean differences were small. Variations in the magnitude and direction of differences observed at different ages highlighted the variability in skeletal maturation among normally growing young people. Overall, the differences in skeletal and chronologic ages were positively related to age, with little effect of sex or its interaction with age.

Incidence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in youth in the US Virgin Islands, 2001-2010

To report the annual incidence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes among youth and to describe characteristics of youth diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). All residents ≤19 years of age diagnosed with diabetes between January 2001 and December 2010 were identified from review of medical records of all hospitals and confirmed by physician query. A total of 82 eligible patients were identified and the registry ascertainment was estimated to be 98.7% complete. The overall age-adjusted annual incidence rates (per 100, 000) of type 1 and type 2 diabetes for the study period were 15.3 (95% CI: 11.3-20.1) and 9.6 (95% CI: 6.8-13.5), respectively. The incidence of type 1 diabetes increased significantly over the study period, with an epidemic-like threefold increase occurring from 2005 (8.7/100, 000) to 2006 (26.4/100, 000; p = 0.05). The incidence of type 1 diabetes was highest in the 10-19 age group in girls (25.6/100, 000), but no age difference was seen in boys, resulting from the lack of a pubertal peak in non-Hispanic Black boys. The incidence of type 2 diabetes rose significantly between 2001 (5.3/100, 000) and 2010 (12.5/100, 000; p = 0.03). The incidence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in youth is increasing in the USVI, similar to global patterns. Further studies are needed to explore the missing pubertal rise in type 1 diabetes incidence in non-Hispanic Black boys and factors associated with the epidemic-like increases observed over the decade.

Microbiological aspects of vulvovaginitis in prepubertal girls

This study aimed to establish the vaginal introitus microbial flora in girls with and without symptoms of vulvovaginitis, and to present the distribution of isolated microorganisms by age groups in girls with vulvovaginitis. We enrolled 500 girls with vulvovaginitis symptoms, aged 2-12 years, referred by their pediatricians for microbiological examination of the vaginal introitus swabs, and 30 age-matched asymptomatic girls. Similar microbial flora was isolated in both groups, but the symptomatic girls had significantly more common positive microbiological findings compared to controls (p < 0.001). In symptomatic girls, the following pathogenic bacteria were isolated: Streptococcus pyogenes (4.2%), Haemophilus influenzae (0.4%), and Staphylococcus aureus (5.8%). Bacteria of fecal origin were found in vaginal introitus swabs in 33.8% of cases, most commonly Proteus mirabilis (14.4%), Enterococcus faecalis (12.2%), and Escherichia coli (7.0%). The finding of fecal flora was more common compared to controls, reaching a statistical significance (p < 0.05), as well as in girls aged up to 6 years (p < 0.001). Candida species were found in 2.4% of girls with vulvovaginitis symptoms. The microbial ecosystem in girls with clinical signs of vulvovaginitis is complex and variable, and the presence of a microorganism does not necessarily imply that it is the cause of infection. The diagnosis of vulvovaginitis in prepubertal girls requires a complex and comprehensive approach, and microbiological findings should be interpreted in the context of clinical findings.

A study of protein energy malnutrition in the school girls of a rural population

India has shown remarkable progress and has a number of nutrition intervention programs, but malnutrition remains highly prevalent in the poor states of the country. Malnutrition results due to imbalance between the needs of the body and the intake of nutrients. In India, gender inequality in nutrition is present from infants to adulthood. Women and girls never reach their full growth potential due to nutritional deprivation. It may be due to poverty, lack of awareness and illiteracy. In the present study, Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) in the school girls from rural areas was measured. Moderate and severe malnutrition was observed in the 11-13 and 13-15 age groups of girls. Anemia was found to be higher in the 17-19 age groups of girls. In additional the illiteracy of the mothers and the occupation of fathers of the girls analyzed were studied and it was found that these conditions may be the main reason for the PEM and anemic condition. A wide variety of development actions are needed to improve the food security and nutrition of women. Prevalence of malnutrition along with anemia, and common ailments in an urban slum of India's modern city highlights the significance of developing integrated child illness management programs for the urban poor and strengthening nutrition intervention programs.

Growth Charts for Croatian School Children and Secular Trends in Past Twenty Years

The aim of this study was to construct new Croatian growth charts for body height and weight of boys and girls aged 6.5 to 18.5 years and to investigate differences between our and pre-existing studies. Analysis was based on a multistage stratified sample representative for school children aged 6.5 to 18.5, 6046 boys and 5656 girls. Growth reference was constructed using LMS method. Present results demonstrated an increment of body height and weight during the last two decades. Highest increase of body height is in boys aged 13-14 years 6.5 cm, in girls aged 12 years is 5.0 cm. Highest increase of body weight is in 16 year age group of boys 8.7 kg and in 11-12 year age group of girls 5.2 kg. In conclusion, regarding presence of secular trend because previously used growth charts in Croatia are obsolete.

Multi-age-grouping paradigm for young swimmers

The purpose of this study was to examine the adequacy of “multi-age” classification systems in youth sports with a specific focus on the unisex multi-age-groupings used by USA Swimming. In addition, we offer an analytical rationale for the multi-age-groupings and potential alternatives. We examined the top 100 US swim performances for three years (2005, 2006, and 2007) for girls and boys in 15 age-groups (7 to 20 years and a singular group of 21 years and older). Data for each age and sex were pooled over the three years and means were calculated for each of seven competitive swim events. Swim times differed among each age up to the 14-year age-group in girls (F 14,30885 = 183.9, P < 0.01, Cohen's d = 1.19–3.72, large effect) and 16-year age-group in boys (F 14,30885 = 308.7, P < 0.01, Cohen's d = 0.81–3.64, large effect) for all events. Age-related differences in swim times continued later in boys than girls likely due to differences between the sexes in timing of growth and maturation. Because of the differences in swim performance in contemporary multi-age-groups, stratifying swimmers by a single age is the best means to ensure competitive fairness and equality, although there is no rationale for swimmers under the age of 8 years to compete in separate unisex competitive groups.

Nutritional Status in Rural Adolescent Girls Residing at Hills of Garhwal in India (2009)

Nutritional inadequacy leads to health problems, especially during theperiod of increased demand. Adolescents are a potential group in view of rapid growth and maturation which demands extra nutrients. With the multitude of social customs and beliefs cited against adolescents especially adolescent girls it is no wonder that they form the vulnerable group of under nutrition. With poor socio economic status, hostile livingconditions and food influenced by vagaries of nature, adolescents living at hills form the distinct group to be studied. This cross-sectional prevalence study included 45 adolescent girls of age group 12-19 years residing in hills of Garhwal. The outcome measures for nutritional status were stunting, thinness and proportion of underweight/under nutrition. Inthis study 34.61% of adolescents’ girls were found to be stunted. The stunting was more (33.33%) in 16 to 19 years of age group. The overall prevalence of thinness was 43.47%. However percentage of thinness was higher (56.25%) in the lower age group (12-15 years). Under nutrition was prevalent in similar proportions in both the age groups with > 50% ofthe rural adolescent girls having less than 3rd percentile of weight for age by NCHS standards. The prevalence of stunting, thinness and underweight was high among adolescent girls living at high altitudes. In this regard special attention should be paid to the girls of hills and specific strategies should be formulated for meeting their nutritional demands.

Role of Family Environment on Socio-emotional Adjustment of Adolescent Girls in Rural Areas of Eastern Uttar Pradesh

The present study was conducted at Kumarganj, Faizabad District of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. The purpose of the study was to assess family environment of adolescent girls and its impact on their socio-emotional adjustment. One hundred adolescent girls of age group between 17-18 years comprised the sample of the study. Family Environment Scale (FES) and Adjustment Inventory for School Students (AISS) were administered. Data was analyzed in terms of percentage and multiple regression analysis. The statistical analysis revealed that all the eight family environment factors, viz. cohesion, expressiveness conflict, acceptance and caring, independence, active-recreational orientation, organization and control together showed significant role in socio-emotional and educational adjustment of adolescent girls.

Allergy, total serum immunoglobulin E, and airflow in children and adolescents in TENOR

In children and adolescents with difficult-to-treat asthma, few data exist characterizing the relationships between basic patient characteristics (e.g., age, sex) and atopic indicators in asthma. These associations were examined in The Epidemiology and Natural History of Asthma: Outcomes and Treatment Regimens (TENOR), an observational study of a large cohort of patients with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma. To characterize allergy patterns and the relationship between total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and airflow in young patients with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma. A total of 1261 patients from the TENOR study were stratified into four age groups at baseline (6-8, 9-11, 12-14, and 15-17 yr). The objective was to characterize allergy patterns and the relationship between total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and ratio of pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity (FEV(1) /FVC) in young patients with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma. The chi-square test for categorical variables and analysis of variance for continuous variables were used to identify significant differences among age groups. Multivariable linear regression was used to evaluate the association between IgE and FEV(1) /FVC. Allergic rhinitis was reported in approximately two-thirds of patients. Up to 25% of patients had atopic dermatitis, which differed across age groups in boys (p < 0.05). Positive allergen skin test rate differed across age groups in boys (p < 0.05). Rates of asthma triggers were higher and differed across age groups in girls (p < 0.05), particularly around menarche (12-14 yr). IgE levels were higher in boys and differed across age groups in boys (p < 0.01) and girls (p < 0.05). IgE was associated with a lower FEV(1) /FVC after adjusting for age and sex (p < 0.01). Severe or difficult-to-treat asthma in children and adolescents is characterized by high frequencies of comorbid allergic diseases, allergen sensitization, and high IgE levels. This burden is amplified by the association of more airflow limitation with higher IgE levels, suggesting the need for allergy evaluations.

Pediatric reference intervals for random urine calcium, phosphorus and total protein

The aim of this study was to establish age appropriate reference intervals for calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and total protein (UTP) in random urine samples. All analytes were measured using the Roche MODULAR P analyzer and normalized to creatinine (Cr). Our study cohort consisted of 674 boys and 728 girls between 7 and 17 years old (y.o.), which allowed us to determine the central 95% reference intervals with 90% confidence intervals by non-parametric analysis partitioned by both gender and 2-year age intervals for each analyte [i.e. boys in age group 7-9 years (7-9 boys); girls in age group 7-9 years (7-9 girls), etc.]. Results for the upper limits of the central 95% reference interval were: for Ca/Cr, 0.27 (16,17 y.o.) to 0.46 mg/mg (7-9 y.o.) for the girls and 0.26 (16,17 y.o.) to 0.43 mg/mg (7-9 y.o.) for the boys; for P/Cr, 0.85 (16,17 y.o.) to 1.44 mg/mg (7-9 y.o.) for the girls and 0.87 (16,17 y.o.) to 1.68 mg/mg (7-9 y.o.) for the boys; for UTP/Cr, 0.30 (7-9 y.o.) to 0.34 mg/mg (10-12 y.o.) for the girls and 0.19 (16,17, y.o.) to 0.26 mg/mg (13-15 y.o.) for the boys. Upper reference limits decreased with increasing age, and age was a statistically significant variable for all analytes. Eight separate age- and gender-specific reference intervals are proposed per analyte.

Sex Selection &amp; Pre Birth Elimination of Girl Child

Consumerist Culture oriented economic development, commercialisation of medical profession and sexist biases in our society, combined together have created a sad scenario of ‘missing girls’. Global comparisons of sex ratios shows that Sex ratios in Europe, North America, Caribbean, Central Asia, the poorest regions of sub Saharan Africa are favourable to women as these countries neither kill/ neglect girls nor do they use NRTs for production of sons. The lowest sex ratio is found in some parts of India. Deficit of women in India since 1901 - Violence against Women over the Life Cycle, from womb to tomb - female infanticide, neglect of girl child in terms of health and nutrition, child marriage and repeated pregnancy taking heavy toll of girls’ lives - Selective Elimination of Female Foetuses and selection of male at a preconception stage - Legacy of continuing declining sex ratio in India in the history of Census of India has taken new turn with widespread use of new reproductive technologies (NRTs) in India. NRTs are based on principle of selection of the desirable and rejection of the unwanted. In India, the desirable is the baby boy and the unwanted is the baby girl. The result is obvious. The Census results of 2001 have revealed that with sex ratio of 927 girls for 1000 boys, India had deficit of 60 lakh girls in age-group of 0-6 years, when it entered the new millennium- Female infanticide was practiced among selected communities, while the abuse of NRTs has become a generalised phenomenon encompassing all communities irrespective of caste, class, religious, educational and ethnic backgrounds. Demographers, population control lobby, anthropologists, economists, legal experts, medical fraternity and feminists are divided in their opinions about gender implications of NRTs. NRTs in the context of patriarchal control over women’s fertility and commercial interests are posing major threat to women’s dignity and bodily integrity. The supporters of sex selective abortions put forward the argument of “Women’s Choice” as if women’s choices are made in social vacuum. In this context, the crucial question is - Can we allow Asian girls to become an endangered species? Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act was enacted in 1994 as a result of pressure created by Forum Against Sex-determination and Sex-preselection. But it was not implemented. After another decade of campaigning by women’s rights organisations and public interest litigation filed by CEHAT, MASUM and Dr. Sabu George, The Pre-natal Diagnostics Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Amendment Act, 2002 received the assent of the President of India on 17-1-2003. The Act provides “for the prohibition of sex selection, before or after conception, and for regulation of pre-natal diagnostic techniques for the purposes of detecting genetic abnormalities or metabolic disorders or sex-linked disorders and for the prevention of their misuse for sex determination leading to female foeticide and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”. The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Amendment Rules, 2003 have activated the implementation machinery to curb nefarious practices contributing for MISSING GIRLS. We have a great task in front of us i.e. to change the mindset of doctors and clients, to create a socio-cultural milieu that is conducive for girl child’s survival and monitor the activities of commercial minded techno-docs thriving on sexist prejudices. Then only we will be able to halt the process of declining sex ratio resulting into deficit of girls/women. Eliminate Inequality, Not women Destroy Dowry, Not Daughters Daughters are not for Slaughter

Dental Age Assessment of 8.5 to 17 Year-old Saudi Children Using Demirjian's Method

The aim of this study was to assess the dental age in Saudi children aged 8.5 to 17 years using the Demirjian method. Four hundred ninety panoramic radiographs of boys and girls were reviewed retrospectively. All children were placed in the age group closest to their chronological age. The dental age was scored on all seven left mandibular teeth by one examiner. Both boys and girls in age groups nine to 14 years showed advanced dental age compared to their chronological age which was found to be statistically significant except in age groups nine and 13 years. Saudi boys were 0.3 years and Saudi girls 0.4 years ahead, on average, of French-Canadian children as analyzed by the Demirjian method. The standard values for French-Canadian children provided by Demirjian vary slightly for application to Saudi children. As a result, new graphs and tables were produced to convert these maturity scores, calculated by the Demirjian method, to the dental age for Saudi children.

Urinary Tract Infection in Childhood

Eight per cent of girls and 2% of boys have a urinary tract infection (UTI) in childhood — the majority in the first year of life. Among neonates, boys have more infections than girls. In all other age groups girls are ten times more likely to have UTIs than boys. Risk factors are listed in Box 1 . Most childhood UTIs are caused by normal bowel flora such as E. coli (80%), Klebsiella, Pseudomonas and other Gram-negative organisms.

Childhood Obesity Predicts Adult Metabolic Syndrome: The Fels Longitudinal Study

To determine the age of significant divergence in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference in adults with and without the metabolic syndrome, and to provide age- and sex-specific childhood values that predict adult metabolic syndrome. Part 1 of this study is a retrospective cohort study of 92 men and 59 women (mean age, 51 years) who had metabolic syndrome and 154 randomly selected adults matched for age and sex who did not have the syndrome. Part 2 is a study of predictive accuracy in a validation sample of 743 participants. The first appearance of differences between adults with and without metabolic syndrome occurred at ages 8 and 13 for BMI and 6 and 13 for waist circumference in boys and girls, respectively. Odds ratios (ORs) for the metabolic syndrome at 30 years and older ranged from 1.4 to 1.9 across age groups in boys and from 0.8 to 2.8 across age groups in girls if BMI exceeded criterion values in childhood. The corresponding ORs for waist circumference ranged from 2.5 to 31.4 in boys and 1.7 to 2.5 in girls. These ORs increased with the number of examinations. Children with BMI and waist circumference values exceeding the established criterion values are at increased risk for the adult metabolic syndrome.

Youth Suicides on Rise—Question Is Why?

Youth Suicides on Rise—Question Is Why?

Trends in hospitalization for childhood asthma in Finland in 1996–2004

To discuss trends based on data on all asthma-related admissions of children under 15 years of age. retrospective analysis of records of the Finnish National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health in 1996-2004. The analysis was stratified for age. Out of the total of 23,715 such admissions, 66.8% involved boys. The number of all admissions for boys aged 0-under 3 years declined by 42.7% (relative to the child population) between 1996 and 2004, that for boys aged 3-under 5 years by 55.1% and that for boys aged 5-under 15 years by 59.0%, the figures for the corresponding age groups of girls being 53.0, 48.7 and 66.1%, respectively. The overall rate of first admissions for asthma among children (relative to population) declined by 36.8% during that period. CONCLUSIONS. The hospitalization of children for asthma has declined in Finland in recent times in all age and both sex groups. This favourable development coincides with the systematically programmed national shift into effective anti-inflammatory therapy in the paediatric age groups.

Schmerzen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen in Deutschland: Prävalenz und Inanspruchnahme medizinischer Leistungen

As part of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS), representative data were collected on pain in 14,959 children and adolescents aged 3 to 17 years in Germany. The results are reported separately for 11-17-year olds, who were asked themselves, and 3-10 year olds, whose parents reported on their pain. Among the 3-10 year olds, the prevalence of pain over three months was 64.5% and among the 11-17 year olds it was 77.6% (71.1% altogether for the 3-17 year old children). Pain prevalence increased significantly with age; in all age groups girls reported pain significantly more often than boys of the same age. In the 3-10 year olds the most common pain localisation was stomach pains, followed by pain in the head and throat. Children and adolescents aged 11 to 17 most often reported headaches, followed by pains in the stomach and back. Pain occurring at least once a week in the last three months was reported by 24.3% of the 11-17 year old children and adolescents and by 9.9% of the 3-10 year old children suffering from pain. More than half (54.1%) of the 3-10 year olds and more than one third of the 11-17 year olds (35.9%) who reported recurrent principal pain consulted a doctor for this reason; 36.7% and 46.7% respectively took medicine. These results show that pain is a relevant problem in children and adolescents in Germany.

Prevalence of obesity in 4–18‐year‐old population in the Basque Country, Spain

The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents in the Basque Country, Spain. It consisted of an analysis of baseline data of the Nutrition Survey, a cross-sectional study, carried out in 2004-2005. The study population comprised child and adolescent living in the Basque Country. The analysis was carried out in a representative random sample of 1178 people aged 4-18 years. Anthropometric examinations were undertaken by trained observers using standardized methods and included measurements of weight and height. Subjects were classified into different body mass index categories, according to the International Obesity Task Force guidelines. A 5.4% of the population studied was obese; 6% of males and 4.7% of females, the highest in the 11-14 age group in boys (7.2%) and in the 4-6 age group in girls (12.5%). Overweight (22.9%) was slightly higher in girls. The highest prevalence of excess weight (overweight+obesity) was observed in girls aged 4-6 years (38.4%), decreasing with age. Subjects in the 15-18 age group rated 16.6%. Boys evidenced a higher excess weight rate in the 11-14 (32.9%) and 7-10 (32%) age groups; the lowest rate was found in the 4-6 age group. Prevalence of obesity was higher in the less privileged socio-economic strata (6.9% vs. 5.2%), for both boys and girls. However, this trend was observed only in girls for overweight (25.9% vs. 21.8%). This study shows a high prevalence of obesity and overweight in the studied population and similar to other European countries and regions.

Effectiveness of Reproductive Health and AIDS Education among Adolescent Girls in Udupi Taluk, India.

An intervention study was undertaken among adolescent girls in age group 16-19 years, studying in preuniversitycolleges, in Udupi town in Karnataka State, India, to asses the impact of health education onknowledge regarding reproductive health &amp; AIDS. 4 pre-university colleges were randomly selected inUdupi town. There were 551 students present for the pretest and 548 in the post test. Knowledge wasassessed at the beginning of the study with the help of a questionnaire that was duly pre-tested. Based on theresults of this baseline survey, a health education programme was developed and implemented after a weekin each of the selected colleges. A second visit was made to the same colleges after one month of conductinghealth education programme for post-test The same questionnaire was administered to assess the impact ofhealth education. Significant increase in knowledge about adolescence, menarche, pregnancy, delivery,immunization and various aspects of AIDS following health education. This study has shown that there is abeneficial effect of health education on the knowledge and awareness related to reproductive health andAIDS among adolescent girls.Key Words: Reproductive Health, AIDS, Health Education.

Hypergonadotrophinaemia with reduced uterine and ovarian size in women born small-for-gestational-age.

Fetal growth restraint has been associated with FSH hypersecretion in early infancy and in early post-menarche, and with reduced uterine and ovarian size in adolescence. It is unknown whether these reproductive anomalies persist, respectively, into late infancy and into the reproductive age range. We report follow-up findings in two age groups of girls. A cohort of infants [n=26; n=10 born appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) and n=16 born small-for-gestational-age (SGA)], who had been studied at the age of approximately 4 months, was assessed again at the age of 12 months. A cohort of teenagers (n=28), who had been studied at the age of approximately 14 years, was assessed again at the age of approximately 18 years; this group was complemented by a transversal cohort of similar age (n=19) for a total of 47 young women (n=27 AGA; n=20 SGA). In infants, only serum FSH was measured; adolescents underwent endocrine-metabolic screening, ultrasound assessment of uterine-ovarian size, and evaluation of body composition by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Serum FSH levels were higher in SGA than AGA infant girls at 4 and 12 months, and higher in SGA than AGA adolescents at 14 and 18 years (all P<0.01). Longitudinal ultrasound assessments disclosed a late-adolescent increment of uterine size that was less obvious in SGA than AGA girls. In contrast, ovarian volume remained stable in both subgroups. Compilation of longitudinal and transversal results at 18 years of age corroborated the persistent reduction in the uterine size of SGA girls (by approximately 20%; P<0.005) and in their ovarian volume (by approximately 40%; P<0.0001); moreover, SGA girls displayed not only a persistent elevation of FSH (by approximately 50%; P<0.001), but also a rise of LH and fasting insulin, as well as an excess of abdominal fat (all P<0.01). The gynaecology of young women born SGA was found to be characterized by hypergonadotrophinaemia and by a reduced uterine and ovarian size.