Abstract
Pubertal development begins in utero with the formation of the fetal ovary, foundation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, and production of sex hormones. Development of the fetal ovary and hormone production is incredibly complex. It has been studied extensively but the exact embryologic origin of the ovary remains uncertain. The gonadotropin and subsequent ovarian hormone production has been well documented, but the exact mechanism of the cycle is unknown. There are several physical findings that occur as a result of early hormonal exposure. Most of these findings are benign and self-limited, but it is important to be familiar with situations that are outside the realm of normal. There are circumstances where the hormonal milieu at birth is associated with developing medical complications later and these situations should be recognized.
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Sokkary, N.A. (2014). Fetal and Neonatal Puberty. In: Dietrich, J. (eds) Female Puberty. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0912-4_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0912-4_5
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