Pubertal development

Simpler methods of determining pubertal stage may, in the future, allow adjustment for this complicating factor. Such methods could include appropriate line drawings or photographs of different Tanner stages. In contrast, it may be easier and more accurate when assessing adolescents to consider pre-pubertal and post-pubertal adolescents separately. Ideally, this would require the assessment of the presence or absence of only one landmark of sexual development, rather than the determination of different levels of a development indicator, such as Tanner breast or genital stages. Such separation may make it possible to include pre-pubertal adolescents with school age children and post-pubertal adolescents with adults when choosing which anthropometric indicator or cut-off point to use.