Skip to main content

Puberty Starts Earlier In Boys: Scientist Don’t Know Why

min read

By Catherine Roberts

A recent study has suggested that boys may be developing earlier than previously. The study involved testicular measurement of more than 4,000 boys. The researchers asked the boys ranging from 6-16 years old to receive regular check ups from their family doctor. This involved checking for testicular size and quantity of pubic hair.

The study also looked at Hispanic boys from different backgrounds. The research was done between 2005 and 2010. The research found that signs of puberty were found two years earlier than in 1992. The average age for puberty to start in the Hispanic boys was at 10 years old.

Scientists did not find any correlating health effects of early puberty. The researchers excluded children with previous health conditions. Early puberty has been previously found to create thyroid abnormalities and brain tumors. Other studies additionally found that early testicular development can cause testicular cancer. None of this was found to be true for the 4,000 tested boys.

This correlated with previous research finding that boys were developing faster than once thought. There has been no definitive cause for this. Some believe that obesity, inactivity, pesticide use, and other chemicals can cause early puberty.

The study did have limitations. The doctors who were recruited to measure their young patients were not randomly recruited. They had volunteered to participate. In addition, the testicles were only measured once in each patient.

Further tests need to be done on testicular growth in young men, with random sampling from across the Nation.

Source: Latino Fox News

Catherine Roberts

Contributor

Catherine is our go-to writer for women’s health news, diet trends and more. She’s dedicated to providing Activebeat readers with the information they need to maintain a healthy lifestyle every day.

Children

Explore

Parenting With ADHD: 7 Practical Tips For Success
By Joanne Park, André Plamondon, and Sheri Madigan Children

Parenting With ADHD: 7 Practical Tips For Success

Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often goes undiagnosed in adults — including parents — but it has a significant impact on family life. A parent with ADHD may struggle with time management and staying focused. They may appear to be in control, but their daily life can be chaotic with missed appointments, trouble remembering and enforcing rules […]

Read More about Parenting With ADHD: 7 Practical Tips For Success

5 min read

Screen Time Is Contributing to Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Tweens and Teens — A Pediatric Sleep Expert Explains How Critical Sleep Is to Kids’ Mental Health
By Maida Lynn Chen Children

Screen Time Is Contributing to Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Tweens and Teens — A Pediatric Sleep Expert Explains How Critical Sleep Is to Kids’ Mental Health

With the start of a new school year comes the inevitable battle to get kids back into a healthy bedtime routine. In many cases, this likely means resetting boundaries on screen use, especially late in the evenings. But imposing and enforcing those rules can be easier said than done. A growing body of research is […]

Read More about Screen Time Is Contributing to Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Tweens and Teens — A Pediatric Sleep Expert Explains How Critical Sleep Is to Kids’ Mental Health

5 min read

Positive Parenting Can Help Protect Against the Effects of Stress in Childhood and Adolescence, New Study Shows
By Jamie Hanson and Isabella Kahhalé Children

Positive Parenting Can Help Protect Against the Effects of Stress in Childhood and Adolescence, New Study Shows

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Warm and supportive parenting may buffer against the effects of stress during childhood and adolescence. That is the key takeaway of our recent study, published in the journal PNAS Nexus. Some children and adolescents who experience stressful events such as physical […]

Read More about Positive Parenting Can Help Protect Against the Effects of Stress in Childhood and Adolescence, New Study Shows

3 min read