Pubertal development in girls born small for gestational age

Abstract

Puberty is one of the most important milestones in life. It not only represents the step into maturity, but also involves important body and physiological changes. There is increasing evidence for a link between prenatal growth and pubertal development, but the data concerning the timing, duration and progression of puberty in these children are scarce and the results are difficult to compare due to the various methodologies employed. In girls most studies document a relationship between intrauterine growth retardation and earlier pubertal development or normal timed puberty but with rapid progression. This review attempts to discuss the factors that could influence pubertal development in girls born small for gestational age and the information reported to date.