Which statement describes Tanner pubic hair stage 3?

• A. Darker, coarser, curlier hair over mid-pubis
• B. Prepubertal, no pubic hair
• C. Sparse straight hair on lateral vulva
• D. Adult-like appearance but does not extend to thighs

Answer: (A)

Pubic hair development is described using Tanner stages, which track puberty by how hair appears and spreads in the pubic region. At this stage, hair is darker, coarser, and curlier, and begins to spread beyond the initial patch to cover more of the pubic area, typically reaching toward the mid-pubis. This pattern marks a progression from early pubic hair growth but not yet reaching the thighs, which is why it’s described as over the mid-pubis.

The other descriptions fit earlier or later stages: prepubertal (no hair) is stage I; sparse, straight hair along the labia or base of the pubic area matches stage II; adult-like hair that hasn’t reached the thighs fits stage IV.