Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (37139 Views)
779 primary and high school boys of East-Tehran were evaluated in 1984. The occurance of pubic hair and testicular development were investigated and rated according to Marshall and Tanner's clas- sification. The pubic hair begun to develop between 6.5 years and 15.1 years in all boys (mean= 9.28 ±- 1.02). In age group of 10 years 62.5%, 12 years 80%, 14 years 94.3% and 16 years 100% of the boys had developed the first signs of pubic hair development. 6% of seven years old boys had testicular enlargement. Mean age for the development of testicular growth was 9.79 .:!: 1.01 year. In age group of 10 years 64.1%, 12 years 85.3%, 14 years 98% and 16 years 100% of the boys showed the evidence of testicular growth. This study demonstrates that: 1) the mean age for the beginning of puberty is 1.8 years earlier in boys of East-Tehran than their Western counterparts; 2)the occurance of pubic hair preceeds the testicular development; 3) the first signs of puberty occurs earlier in boys than girls in East-Tehran.