Evaluation of pubertal onset and characteristics in Egyptian boys: A cross-sectional study.

The objective of this study was to evaluate pubertal onset and characteristics in Egyptian boys. Examination of schoolboys (9-18 years) included height (cm), penile length (cm) and testicular volume (ml). Pubertal onset was considered at gonadal (G) stage 2 (G2 indicated testicular volume from 4-8 ml). Out of 1,078 boys, 270 (25%) were residents in urban areas, 414 (38.4%) in suburban areas and 394 (36.5%) in rural areas. The mean (±SD) age of G2 was 11.1 ± 1.2 years (5th and 95th percentiles were 10 and 13 years respectively). The age of 10.5 years was predictive of G2 with 89.9% sensitivity and 86.2% specificity (95% confidence interval; p < 0.001). The changes in testicular volumes and penile lengths, at the age interval from 16 to 18 years, were not significant. Pubertal onset was earlier among Egyptian boys in urban areas, with smaller family size, less crowding conditions, adequate illumination and good ventilation, although the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the mean age of pubertal onset among Egyptian boys was 11.1 years. A tendency towards earlier pubertal onset was observed in Egyptian boys who lived in urban areas and had better socio-demographic conditions.