It is proposed that the age at the first conscious ejaculation be used as an index of maturation in male puberty. There was no correlation between the age at first ejaculation and testicular volume, pubic hair or penis length. Despite a wide range in the chronological age at occurrence of the first conscious ejaculation, the mean bone age in all groups, including that with delayed puberty, was 13 1/2 +/- 1/2 years (SD), with a range between 12 1/2-15 1/2 years. Thats been predominantly who we worked with, up until several weeks ago, when we got the first phone call about a 10-year.
(2) A group of 135 boys examined and questioned at their school served as additional controls. Over the last two years, weve worked with boys 15, 16, 17 years old. All underwent a complete physical examination at intervals of 3 to 6 months, and in most a wrist X-ray was made within three months of the first ejaculation. The age of occurrence of the first conscious ejaculation was registered in 263 boys belonging to two categories: (1) 128 boys (70 normal controls, 22 boys with unilateral cryptorchidism with normal puberty, and 36 boys with delayed puberty) who had been under regular follow-up throughout puberty.
