Female Puberty

Question 1

There may be delayed puberty in girls with low birth weight, chronic disease or eating disorders, or athletes.

Why?

Answer 1

Overweight children tend to enter puberty at an earlier age. Aromatase is an enzyme found in adipose (fat) tissue, that is important in the creation of oestrogen. Therefore, the more adipose tissue present, the higher the quantity of the enzyme responsible for oestrogen creation. There may be delayed puberty in girls with low birth weight, chronic disease or eating disorders, or athletes.

Question 2

Tanner Staging

Answer 2

Question 3

Hormonal changes during puberty - female

Answer 3

Growth hormone (GH) increases initially, causing a spurt in growth during the initial phases of puberty.

The hypothalamus starts to secrete GnRH, initially during sleep, then throughout the day in the later stages of puberty. GnRH stimulates the release of FSH and LH from the pituitary gland. FSH and LH stimulate the ovaries to produce oestrogen and progesterone. FSH levels plateau about a year before menarche. LH levels continue to rise, and spike just before they induce menarche.