STUDY OBJECTIVE To characterize and compare sex hormone concentrations, and uterine and ovarian volumes in adolescent girls born small for gestational age (SGA) who had experienced catch-up growth and girls born at a size appropriate for gestational age (AGA), and to investigate the association between these parameters and glucose metabolism, perinatal factors, and early growth. DESIGN A prospective, longitudinal, observational study from birth until adolescence. SETTING Mean age at final assessment was 12.7 ± 0.1 years. PARTICIPANTS We followed 55 girls (20 SGA, 35 AGA). INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Sex hormone concentrations (gonadotropins, estradiol, testosterone, and sex hormone binding globulin) were analyzed, and the oral glucose tolerance test conducted. Uterine and ovarian sizes were assessed using pelvic ultrasound. RESULTS Uterine and ovarian volumes were smaller in SGA-born compared with AGA-born girls (P = .013 and P = .039, respectively). SGA girls had lower sex hormone binding globulin levels (P = .039) and higher testosterone levels (P = .003), free androgen index (P < .001), and glycemia 2 hours post glucose load (P = .005) compared with AGA-born girls. Birth weight and early infancy height velocity explained 37.4% of variation in ovarian volume (P = .004), and body mass index at birth, increase in peripheral skinfold thickness during second year of life, and early childhood height velocity explained 43.2% of variation in testosterone levels in adolescence (P = .006). CONCLUSION SGA-born girls who experienced catch-up growth remain at risk of biochemical hyperandrogenism in adolescence, and have reduced uterine and ovarian volumes, which might influence future reproductive function. Ovarian size and androgen levels in adolescence might be influenced by early growth and subcutaneous fat deposition.

中文翻译：

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随年龄增长而出生的小女孩的性激素，性腺大小和代谢特征。

目的研究和比较妊娠期赶超生长的未成年胎龄女孩（SGA）和适龄胎龄女孩（AGA）的性激素浓度以及子宫和卵巢体积，并进行调查这些参数与葡萄糖代谢，围产期因素和早期生长之间的关联。设计从出生到青春期的前瞻性，纵向，观察性研究。设置最终评估的平均年龄为12.7±0.1岁。参与者我们追踪了55名女孩（20 SGA，35 AGA）。干预措施和主要观察指标分析性激素浓度（促性腺激素，雌二醇，睾丸激素和性激素结合球蛋白），并进行口服葡萄糖耐量试验。子宫和卵巢的大小用骨盆超声评估。结果与出生于AGA的女孩相比，出生于SGA的女孩的子宫和卵巢体积较小（分别为P = .013和P = .039）。SGA女孩的葡萄糖负荷后2小时的性激素结合球蛋白水平较低（P = .039），睾丸激素水平较高（P = .003），游离雄激素指数（P <.001）和血糖水平较高（P = .005）与AGA出生的女孩在一起。出生体重和婴儿早期身高速度解释了卵巢体积变化的37.4％（P = .004），出生时的体重指数，出生后第二年外周皮褶厚度的增加和儿童早期身高速度解释了变化的43.2％青春期睾丸激素水平升高（P = .006）。结论SGA出生的女孩经历了追赶性增长，青春期仍存在生化高雄激素血症的风险，子宫和卵巢体积减少，这可能会影响未来的生殖功能。青春期的卵巢大小和雄激素水平可能受早期生长和皮下脂肪沉积的影响。