The evolving story of female puberty

Gynecol Endocrinol. 2002 Apr;16(2):163-71.

Abstract

The successful completion of puberty is a pre-requisite for reproduction. Therefore, the gynecologist, who deals daily with reproductive issues, should have a basic knowledge of puberty and the pathology associated with it. The understanding of the basic biological processes involved in pubertal development has advanced considerably in recent years. Also, changes in the timing of normal puberty and modern treatment for pubertal disorders have altered the clinical approach to these problems. In this review we discuss some of the basic science and clinical advances in this field and present the state of the art approach as we see it today.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Body Composition
  • Child
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Gonadotropins / physiology
  • Humans
  • Puberty*
  • Puberty, Delayed / diagnosis
  • Puberty, Delayed / etiology
  • Puberty, Delayed / genetics
  • Puberty, Precocious / diagnosis
  • Puberty, Precocious / drug therapy
  • Reproduction*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / physiology

Substances

  • Gonadotropins
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid