Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
People File • Medical Case

Lina Medina

Lina Medina is a Peruvian woman known for becoming the youngest confirmed mother in medical history.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Lina Medina is a Peruvian woman recognized as the youngest confirmed mother in medical history, giving birth at age 5 in 1939. Her case is a key reference in discussions of precocious puberty and child pregnancy.

What it is

Lina Marcela Medina de Jurado was born on 23 September 1933 in Ticrapo, Peru. In 1939, at just 5 years, 7 months, and 21 days old, she gave birth by caesarean section to a son named Gerardo. The identity of the father was never publicly confirmed.

Why it matters

Medina’s case remains the youngest confirmed pregnancy in recorded history, often cited in medical studies on precocious puberty. It raises significant ethical and child-protection questions relevant to medicine and society, including in Canada.

Key details

Medina was taken for medical evaluation due to abdominal swelling, leading to the discovery of her pregnancy. Her son Gerardo was delivered via caesarean section on 14 May 1939. She later lived a private life with limited public information.

In short

  • Youngest confirmed mother in medical history at age 5.
  • Birth by caesarean section in 1939 in Peru.
  • Case linked to precocious puberty.
  • Father’s identity never publicly confirmed.
Canadian angle

Lina Medina’s case is of general medical and historical interest to Canadian readers as an internationally known example of precocious puberty and child pregnancy, topics relevant to medicine, ethics, and child protection.

Quick questions

Who is Lina Medina?
Lina Medina is a Peruvian woman known for being the youngest confirmed mother in recorded medical history.
How old was Lina Medina when she gave birth?
She was 5 years, 7 months, and 21 days old.
What is Lina Medina known for medically?
Her case is commonly linked to precocious puberty, an unusually early onset of sexual development.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lina_Medina
    Supports: Birth date, Peruvian identity, record as youngest confirmed mother, age at childbirth, son's name.
  2. HowStuffWorks — https://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/pregnancy/conception/lina-medina.htm
    Supports: Childhood medical presentation, pregnancy discovery, caesarean delivery, age at birth, precocious puberty context.
  3. German Wikipedia — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lina_Medina
    Supports: Youngest mother in history and youngest confirmed case of pubertas praecox; birthplace and birth date variants.
  4. St. Mary's College archive PDF — https://archive.stmarys-ca.edu/archive-top3-18/lina-medina-historia.pdf
    Supports: Background summary, medical and social significance, childbirth details, son's name.