Introduction: The Life-Milch project (www.lifemilch.eu) investigates Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) in breast milk, formula milk and urine samples of mothers and infants from 1 to 12 months age. The study evaluates any relationship between growth, adiposity, neurodevelopment to define a risk assessment model in order to prepare health preventive guidelines. AGDs are surrogate biomarkers of foetal androgen action, and they can be influenced by exposure to EDCs. Currently there are few sexspecific reference for AGDs, in the first year of life, in females. The aim of this research was to provide AGD normative data in females. Methods: Data from 346 female newborns (physiological pregnancies) were collected at 3 different Italian hospitals from March 2021 to November 2024. Anthropometric measurements and AGDs were taken at 1 (T1), 3 (T2), 6 (T3), 1 and 2 months (T4) of life. AGD1 refers to ano-clitoral distance and AGD2 to anofourchette distance. Trained staff measured AGDs using the TIDES method and an analogical caliper. Correlations among AGDs and anthropometric measurements were evaluated by multivariate analysis. Data were expressed as mean ± 2SD. Results: Both AGD1 and AGD2 increased from T1 (N=281) to T4 (N=178). AGD1 was 39±14.3 mm at T1 and increased to 48±16.3 mm at T4. AGD2 was 12.5±9.9 mm at T1 and increased to 16±10 mm at T4. AGD2 was positively correlated with length and weight at T1 and T2 (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study presented longitudinal data for both short and long AGDs in females during the first year of life, providing a useful instrument for clinical practice and the basis for further studies.
Ano-genital distances (AGDs) in the first year of life in females: data from the LifeMilch project / Alberghi, F., Pelosi, A., Righi, B., Fontana, M., Davolio, E., Rotteglia, C., Rinaldi, R., Sartori, C., Brambilla, M., Petrolini, C., Perrone, S., Shulhai, A., Dessì, A., Petza, S., Pintus, R., De Fanti, A., Gargano, G., Maria Papini, A., Fanos, V., Palanza, P., et al.. - (2026). (64th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) Marseille, France 8–10 September 2026).
Ano-genital distances (AGDs) in the first year of life in females: data from the LifeMilch project
Annalisa Pelosi;Chiara Sartori;Serafina Perrone;Anna-Mariia Shulhai;Vassilios Fanos;Paola Palanza;Maria Street
2026-01-01
Abstract
Introduction: The Life-Milch project (www.lifemilch.eu) investigates Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) in breast milk, formula milk and urine samples of mothers and infants from 1 to 12 months age. The study evaluates any relationship between growth, adiposity, neurodevelopment to define a risk assessment model in order to prepare health preventive guidelines. AGDs are surrogate biomarkers of foetal androgen action, and they can be influenced by exposure to EDCs. Currently there are few sexspecific reference for AGDs, in the first year of life, in females. The aim of this research was to provide AGD normative data in females. Methods: Data from 346 female newborns (physiological pregnancies) were collected at 3 different Italian hospitals from March 2021 to November 2024. Anthropometric measurements and AGDs were taken at 1 (T1), 3 (T2), 6 (T3), 1 and 2 months (T4) of life. AGD1 refers to ano-clitoral distance and AGD2 to anofourchette distance. Trained staff measured AGDs using the TIDES method and an analogical caliper. Correlations among AGDs and anthropometric measurements were evaluated by multivariate analysis. Data were expressed as mean ± 2SD. Results: Both AGD1 and AGD2 increased from T1 (N=281) to T4 (N=178). AGD1 was 39±14.3 mm at T1 and increased to 48±16.3 mm at T4. AGD2 was 12.5±9.9 mm at T1 and increased to 16±10 mm at T4. AGD2 was positively correlated with length and weight at T1 and T2 (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study presented longitudinal data for both short and long AGDs in females during the first year of life, providing a useful instrument for clinical practice and the basis for further studies.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
