Clitoral size in term newborns in Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Data on normative clitoral sizes in newborns is relatively sparse and racial/ethnic differences have also been reported. This study was performed to establish norms for clitoral size in term Ghanaian female newborns. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of all apparently well full-term newborns of postnatal age < 48 h and birth weight between 2.5 and 4.0 kg delivered at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital between May and September, 2014. Anthropometric and genital parameters were documented for study subjects as well as parental socio-demographic indices. RESULTS: In 612 newborn females studied, the mean (±SD) clitoral length (MCL) and the mean (±SD) clitoral width (MCW) were 4.13 ± 1.6 mm and 4.21 ± 1.1 mm, respectively. MCL was inversely related to birth weight (r = -0.62; p < 0.001 ) while MCW was inversely related to both gestational age (r = -0.1; p = 0.02 ) and birth weight (r = -0.54; p < 0.001 ). Babies with a clitoris that was completely covered by the labia majora had relatively lower clitoral sizes (p < 0.001) than those who had a partially covered or prominent clitoris. Neither MCL nor MCW differed significantly by birth length or maternal tribe. CONCLUSIONS: Clitoral size varies with birth weight and gestational age. Babies with a completely covered clitoris are unlikely to warrant detailed clitoral measurements for clitoromegaly.