title: In utero exposure to alcohol and puberty in boys: a pregnancy cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epidemiological studies have raised concerns about the reproductive consequences of in utero exposure to alcohol. Maternal lifestyle factors have been associated with altered pubertal development, but the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on male puberty is unknown. Thus, the objective was to explore whether prenatal alcohol exposure alters pubertal development in boys.
  
  
  METHODS
  Follow-up of a Danish pregnancy cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sons (N=2522) of women who were enrolled in a Danish pregnancy cohort between 1984 and 1987.
  
  
  METHODS
  Indicators of pubertal development, assessed by age at first nocturnal emission, voice break, acne and regular shaving.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a tendency towards a later age at first nocturnal emission and voice break following in utero exposure to binge drinking. Boys exposed to ≥5 binge drinking episodes during pregnancy experienced their first nocturnal emission 7.3 months (95% CI -2.8 to 17.4) later and voice break 4.9 months (95% CI -0.6 to 10.4) later than the unexposed boys. Results for average weekly alcohol consumption were in the same direction, but differences were smaller and not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found no strong support for the hypothesis that in utero exposure to weekly alcohol consumption is a risk factor for altered pubertal development, but a tendency towards delayed pubertal development among boys exposed to binge drinking during fetal life was observed. Longitudinal studies, with data collected as children go through puberty, are needed to explore this further.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Section for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Linn Berger
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Håkonsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mette Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Brath-Lund
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Marie Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hounsgaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Section for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jørn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Section for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ane Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Thulstrup
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Section for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Bodil Hammer
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Bech
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Section for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Cecilia Høst
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ramlau-Hansen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011627:Puberty / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Epidemiology; Reproductive Medicine