Age at puberty of boys and girls in France. Measures from a survey of the sexuality of adolescents
L.Rochebrochard, Elise De
Population 54(6): 933-962
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0032-4663 Document Number: 255577
Life tables of male and female puberty were constructed using the Analysis of Sexual Behaviour of Young People (ACSJ) survey conducted in France in 1994 on the 1975-1978 generations, at that time aged between 15 and 18. Puberty in girls is identified by the onset of menstruation, at a median age of 13.1. Using this indicator, a long-term decline in age at puberty has been established for the developed countries as a whole. This historical change seems to be continuing in France though it has stabilized in several countries. Puberty in boys is harder to identify and there is continuing debate over the choice of a suitable indicator. Using the ACSJ survey, three possible indicators can be suggested: the breaking of the voice (median age 14.8), the maximum growth rate (median age 16) and the first masturbation (median age 14.2). Of these three indicators, the breaking of the voice appears to be the most satisfactory for identifying male puberty.