Thorarche—a seasonal influence but no secular trend

Bibliographic Data

ID10208406
AuthorsRoy J Levin (0000-0001-5580-1946, University of Sheffield, corresponding author)
Year1976
Volume12
Issue3
Pages173-179
Publication date1976-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Journal of Sex Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-4499 • E-ISSN: 1559-8519
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00224497609550936
PMID979168
OpenAlexW1965971921
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited4

The term ‘thorarche’ is proposed for the first seminal ejaculation in boys. A retrospective study on thorarche with 142 male, undergraduates (aged 18–21 years) indicated that 80.3% remembered their thorarche. Less than a third had had any instruction about its occurrence compared to the 91.7% of 133 female undergraduates who were instructed about menarche. The cause of thorarche for 92.4% was sexual, it occurred in sleep for only 25.6%. Approximately 43% felt thorarche made them aware that a milestone in masculinity had been attained but only 12.4% told anyone about it while just under half (41.7%) tried to hide its occurrence. In the case of the girls, 46.2% reported that menarche made them feel that a milestone in female development was attained and 49.1% told other girls about its occurrence. Of those who could recall the time of year of their thorarche a strong seasonal effect was apparent, the highest incidence occurred in the spring (40.6%) and summer (34.8%) sharply decreasing in the autumn (15.9%) and winter (8.7%). This was in contrast to menarche which was evenly distributed between spring, summer, autumn and winter. Unlike menarche, there was no evidence for a secular trend in thorarche

Cartography · Geography · Incidence (geometry · Menarche · Milestone · Secular variation · Sociology · Demography · Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones · Medicine · Ovarian function and disorders · Plant Reproductive Biology · Psychology

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