title: Evaluation of self-assessment of pubertal maturation in boys and girls using drawings and orchidometer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Self-assessment of puberty has been reported to correlate well with staging by a physician. No previous study has evaluated the use of an orchidometer to assess testicular size in boys.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 44 girls and 56 boys, 10-16 years old, with assessed Tanner staging. The boys also used an orchidometer. The correlation with a professional's staging was analyzed using percentage agreement (PA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  For girls, the PA for breast development was 52%, and for pubic hair, 64%. There was no case of the difference being greater than one stage. For boys, the PA for pubic hair was 75%. For testicular volume, the PA was 36%; in 95%, the difference was only one size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found pubertal self-assessment, including the use of an orchidometer for boys, to be a useful method. However, if the purpose is to determine exact pubertal onset, the assessment should be made by a trained professional.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatric Unit, Lund University, Skane University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rollof
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elfving
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011627:Puberty; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology