Abstract
A 7-year longitudinal study of 40 normal boys, aged 8.6-11.7 years at entrance. 24-hour urine analysis for spermatozoa and testosterone was performed every three months and physical examinations every six months. The median age at spermarche was 13.4 years (range: 11.7-15.3 years). Considerable variation in secondary sexual characters was found at spermarche. The median testicular volume at spermarche was 11.5 ml (range: 4.7-19.6 ml) and the median pubic hair stage was 2.5 (range: 1-5). A pubic hair stage 1 and a testicular volume of 4.9 ml at spermarche in one boy aged 13.5 years revealed that spermatogenesis occurs in boys who may be judged clinically as preadolescents. The median age at peak velocity of urinary testosterone excretion was 13.9 years (range: 11.6-16.0 years). In most boys spermarche preceded the age at peak velocity of urinary testosterone excretion.
Conclusion: Spermarche occurs early in puberty, when the phenotype is still rather infantile.
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Nielsen, C., Skakkehæk, N., Richardson, P. et al. 174 SPERMARCHE (ONSET OF RELEASE OF SPERMATOZOA) IN RELATION TO SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT. Pediatr Res 19, 632 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198506000-00194
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198506000-00194