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 Vol. 13 No. 2, February 2005
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Right arrow Endocrinology

AAP Grand Rounds 13:16 (2005)
© 2005 American Academy of Pediatrics

ENDOCRINOLOGY

Estrogen for Reducing the Adult Height of Tall Girls: Effects on Fertility

Source: Venn A, Bruinsma F, Werther G, et al. Oestrogen treatment to reduce the adult height of tall girls: long-term effects on fertility. Lancet. 2004;364:1513–1518.[Medline]

The first 20% of the full text of this article appears below.

Estrogens have been used to reduce the height of unusually tall girls since the 1950s1–4 based upon the concept that, during normal puberty, increased estrogen levels lead to epiphyseal fusion in the long bones. In girls whose projected final heights were over 177–183 cm, the decision whether to use the estrogen has been based upon psychosocial concerns. Although a greater acceptance of tall stature was recognized in a recent survey, pediatric endocrinologists in the United States reported that 96 (23%) of 411 respondents had treated tall girls within the past 5 years, most often with ethinyl estradiol (EE) and conjugated estrogens.2 Although the short-term side effects of estrogen treatment have included menstrual irregularities, ovarian cysts, and weight gain,2,3 there has been little previous research on long-term adverse effects. This . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Donald Schiff, MD, FAAP
Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine and The Children’s Hospital, Denver, CO