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Androgens and Puberty

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Androgens in Health and Disease

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

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Abstract

Puberty is the process of physical maturation manifested by an impressive acceleration of linear growth in mid- to late adolescence and the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics. The secondary sexual characteristics are a result of androgen production from the adrenals in both sexes (adrenarche)—testosterone from the testes in the male and estrogens from the ovaries in females (gonadarche). Although the rapid growth spurt had previously been attributed directly to the rising concentrations of gonadal steroid hormones, an indirect effect mediated through altered growth hormone release and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) predominates (1).

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Authors
  1. Erick J. Richmond MD
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  2. Alan D. Rogol MD, PhD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA

    Carrie J. Bagatell MD (Clinical Assistant Professor) & William J. Bremner MD, PhD (The Robert G. Petersdorf Professor and Chairman) (Clinical Assistant Professor) &  (The Robert G. Petersdorf Professor and Chairman)

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Richmond, E.J., Rogol, A.D. (2003). Androgens and Puberty. In: Bagatell, C.J., Bremner, W.J. (eds) Androgens in Health and Disease. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-388-0_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-388-0_17

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61737-314-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-388-0

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