Sexual precocity in girls. An association with sexual abuse?
M. E. Herman-Giddens, A. D. Sandler and N. E. Friedman
Child Protection Team, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
The development of secondary sexual characteristics before 8 years of age
in girls is uncommon and little is known of its epidemiology. In a
retrospective study of a population of 105 girls 10 years old and younger
who were victims of confirmed or suspected sexual abuse, we found a one in
15 prevalence of early development (before 8 years of age) of one or more
secondary sexual characteristics. We speculate on possible associations
between early development of secondary sexual characteristics and sexual
abuse. The data suggest that further research explore this possible
association.
