Human anogenital distance: an update on fetal smoke-exposure and integration of the perinatal literature on sex differences.

ABSTRACT:

Study question

Do sex and maternal smoking effects on human fetal anogenital distance (AGD) persist in a larger study and how do these data integrate with the wider literature on perinatal human AGD, especially with respect to sex differences?

Summary answer

Second trimester sex differences in AGD are broadly consistent with neonatal and infant measures of AGD and maternal cigarette smoking is associated with a temporary increase in male AGD in the absence of changes in circulating testosterone.

What is known already

AGD is a biomarker of fetal androgen exposure, a reduced AGD in males being associated with cryptorchidism, hypospadias and reduced penile length. Normative fetal AGD data remain partial and windows of sensitivity of human fetal AGD to disruption are not

SUBMITTER: Fowler PA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4716811 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature