A study of menarcheal age in India

A study of menarcheal age was carried out in southern India. A logit method of analysis was applied to status quo data on 1267 Tamil and Telugu speaking girls aged 9 to 18 years in 3 schools catering for different socio-economic groups. There appears to be no relationship of menarcheal age with dietary pattern classified simply as vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Differences in median age at menarche between schools correspond well with the socio-economic differences between them. The median age in the most advantaged school (12·86 years) is comparable with that in recent studies in southern and eastern Europe, and may perhaps be in advance of some recent north-west European samples.     

Secular trend in age at menarche for South Korean women born between 1920 and 1986: the Ansan Study

BACKGROUND: There is strong evidence of a downward secular trend in age at menarche in Europe and the USA during the last century and in Japan and China during the past few decades. However, no study on this trend in age at menarche has been reported in South Korea. AIM: To measure the trend in age at menarche in South Korea during the past few decades and the association of height with this trend. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 1061 South Korean women born between 1920 and 1986 were randomly recruited from Ansan Cohort Study samples and separate school girl samples, and subjected to this analysis. The data on age at menarche were collected by the retrospective method. Height was measured at time studied and assumed to be relatively constant since age at menarche. Women were grouped with respect to decade of birth and mean age at menarche was determined. The secular trends in annual age at menarche and in height were analysed by the 3-year moving average. RESULTS: Mean menarcheal age decreased from 16.8 to 12.7 years during the past 67 years, corresponding to -0.64 years per decade. Height increased from 149.23 to 161.75 cm during the same period, showing an inverse relationship in the change of trend between height and mean age at menarche. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the downward secular trend in age at menarche may reflect the secular change in physical growth in South Korean women during the past 67 years.     

Height, weight and menarcheal age of adolescent girls in Oman

A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 683 school girls aged 11.5-18.5 years in Oman, in order to assess their physical growth. Height, weight and age at menarche were measured. Results showed that median height and weight of Omani girls fluctuates between 25th and 5th percentiles and 25th and 10th percentiles of the North American reference standard (NCHS), respectively. The mean age at menarche was 13.3 +/- 0.09 years. In general Omani girls are shorter and lighter than girls of similar age in other Arabian Gulf countries (Bahrain and Kuwait).     

The relation of menarcheal age to anthropometric profiles in Korean girls

The aim of this study was to represent the trend of early menarche and to assess the association of age at menarche with anthropometric profiles of Korean children and adolescents. A cross sectional survey was conducted with 13,371 girls aged 10 to 18 yr, recruited nationwide from April, 2005 to March, 2006. Height, weight and waist circumference of the subjects were measured; and the subjects self-reported their ages at menarche. We found that the menarcheal girls were taller (P<0.05 for the girls between 10 and 14 yr) and heavier (P<0.05 for the girls between 10 and 18 yr) than non-menarcheal ones. Menarcheal girls also showed higher body mass index (BMI), and greater waist circumference than non-menarcheal ones. Significant differences were represented according to the age at menarche in terms of BMI, waist circumference, % body fat mass, waist hip ratio and neck circumference as well as height and weight (P<0.05). In conclusion, girls who matured early were taller and heavier in early adolescence than those who matured later.     

Influence of family size and birth order on menarcheal age of girls from Bilbao city (Biscay,Basque country)

From a sample of 895 girls from Bilbao 9.5 to 18.5 years of age, the possible influence of family size and birth order on menarcheal age was analyzed. The earliest mean ages of menarche occurred in girls from families of one or four or more children, or who occupied the first or last birth order in their families. Later mean ages of menarche occurred in girls belonging to sibships with two or three children or who occupied the second or third birth order in their families, the latest being girls belonging to sibships of three children or of third birth order. This may be due to the variations in the interval of time between births, leading to better care and less stress for the youngest individual of the family and, hence, may be indicative of psychological as well as biological factors affecting maturation. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 11:779–783, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Trend in menarcheal age in Spain: rural and urban comparison during a recent period

Menarcheal age of a sample of rural (n = 342) and urban (n = 469) girls with ages ranging from 9 to 16 years from Madrid province was analysed. Results, obtained through the status quo method and probit analysis (age 12.79 SD 1.04 in Madrid city and 12.90 SD 1.03 in rural sample), were compared with data from previous studies carried out in the same area, as well as those from other regions of the Iberian Peninsula. The aim of these comparisons was to establish the variability of menarche in the recent past, considering physical environment, degree of urbanization and socio-economic development. Decline in menarcheal age was detected and, in general, a tendency towards similar means among Spanish populations in the period studied.     

Social conditions and menarcheal age: the importance of early years of life

Data on the historical trends for menarcheal age and socio-economic conditions in Norway are used to investigate whether the reproductive system in humans is especially sensitive to environmental stimuli during any particular short age periods. The method which has been used is based on the irregularity in the trend for socio-economic development. These irregularities are reflected in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a quantity for which official estimates are available from 1865 onwards. Estimates of menarcheal age for women born in each year from about 1840 have been calculated from information obtained from maternity clinic records.

For the period between 1900 and World War II, a close correspondence is found between the GDP in a year, and the menarcheal age of women born in the same or the preceding year. For the years before 1900, the data on menarcheal age is less satisfactory, but the correspondence may be fairly good also for this period. When values of GDP corresponding to higher ages is used, the correlation is less satisfactory. Other information on the susceptibility of the reproductive system towards environmental influences is reviewed. The following conclusion is reached: during the period around or after birth, the processes leading to menarche are clearly more sensitive than at later ages. During adolescence, the maturation process may be influenced somewhat, but probably not much as long as the conditions are not adverse. These observations may be seen as illustrating that phenomena corresponding to the critical or sensitive periods described for animal species, are also observable during the longer-lasting process of human development.     

Association of maternal menarcheal age with anthropometric dimensions and blood pressure in children from Greater Bilbao

Abstract

Background: Earlier menarche has been related to shorter height and greater obesity-related anthropometric dimensions and blood pressure in women. Boys and girls with earlier maternal menarcheal age (MMA) have shown greater height and body mass index (BMI) in childhood.

Aim: To analyse associations of menarcheal age with their own and their children’s anthropometric dimensions and blood pressure.

Subjects and methods: The sample consisted of 493 women and their children (aged 2–19 years) from Greater Bilbao (Basque Country, Spain). For both generations there is information on 19 anthropometric dimensions, blood pressure and socio-demographic characteristics. Linear regressions adjusted for different covariates were used to analyse the associations.

Results: Menarcheal age in women showed the greatest positive associations with iliospinal height and ectomorphy and negative associations with BMI, sum of six skin-folds, endomorphy and mesomorphy. Boys with earlier MMA had greater body heights and breadths, particularly iliospinal height and biacromial breadth (0.10?z-score/year; p?<?0.05). In girls, earlier MMA predicted greater sitting height, biepicondylar humerus breadth, weight and sum of four circumferences (0.07–0.09?z-score/year; p?<?0.05). However, there was some evidence that MMA was positively associated with body heights, ectomorphy and blood pressure in girls aged ≥12.

Conclusion: Children with earlier MMA tend to have greater anthropometric dimensions. Adolescent growth spurt might affect these relationships, at least in girls.     

The reliability of recalled estimates of menarcheal age in a sample of older women

The accuracy of recalled age at first menses has been questioned, particularly if subjects are relatively old. This paper illustrates the use of a statistical technique that quantifies the reliability of recalled age at menarche based on re-interview of a small (15–20) subsample of subjects. Menarcheal age collected with the retrospective method in a sample of 108 females, 50 years of age and older, from Limón, Costa Rica, is reliable.     

Mother-daughter differences in menarcheal age in adolescent girls attending national dance company schools and non-dancers

A combination of genetic and environmental factors is thought to contribute to age of menarche. Adolescent athletes and dancers are much more likely to have a delayed menarche than are non-athletes. To examine the possible differential influence of heredity and environmental factors on menarcheal age, 350 adolescent dancers and non-dancers and their mothers were surveyed. The dancers had a later age of menarche than did the comparison group; their mothers did not differ with respect to menarcheal age, suggesting that delayed menarche in athletes is not solely due to genetic selection as inferred by maternal menarcheal age. Maternal menarcheal age was the best predictor of menarcheal age in the comparison sample, while leanness was in the dance sample.     

Menarcheal age in Turkey: Secular trend and socio-demographic correlates

Background: Menarche is an important indicator for assessing the developmental status of pubertal girls. Despite its importance, there is no nationwide information on menarcheal age in Turkey.

Aim: This paper is the first attempt to examine age at menarche for Turkey as a whole. The aim is to present the secular trend of menarcheal age and variations across different socio-demographic groups.

Methods: Data were employed from the Turkey Demographic and Health Survey, 2008. Mean menarcheal ages were estimated for birth cohorts and socio-demographic sub-groups. The pace of decline in menarcheal age has been estimated using multiple linear regression analysis, controlling for year of birth and other variables.

Results: Mean age at menarche was estimated as 13.30 (95% CI = 13.26–13.35). It was estimated as 13.17 years (95% CI 12.95–13.38) for the youngest birth cohort (1989–1993), as opposed to 13.44 (95% CI 13.37–13.52) years for the cohort born in 1959–1968.

Conclusion: Regression analysis indicated a decrease of 1.44 months per decade, providing evidence of a secular trend in menarcheal age in Turkey. Further results suggested childhood place of residence, education, welfare status and number of siblings to be significantly associated with menarcheal age.     

Changes of recollected menarcheal age and month among women in Tokyo over a period of 90 years

Data on the recollected age at menarche of 47,881 women born between 1881 and 1970 were examined. The mean menarcheal age had changed from 15.1 years in those born up to 1900 to 12.5 years in those born during the 1960s. The age at menarche differed according to the month of birth, and the pattern of average age distribution by month of birth was not the same when the year of birth was different. Among women born before 1955 the menarcheal age was earlier in those born in the summer. However, among women born after 1955, menarche occurred later when they were born in the summer. The monthly distribution of menarche had also changed during this 90-year period. Two peaks in April and August were prominent among those born up to 1960. A third peak in January became also apparent in those born after 1960.     

Secular trend in age at menarche for women born between 1920 and 1979 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: This article presents data on the secular trend in age at menarche for 1955 women from 16 to 76 years of age born between 1920 and 1979 and studied under the Nutrition and Health Survey conducted in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1996. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Age at menarche was defined by the retrospective method. Women were grouped according to decade of birth, and the trend was estimated using simple linear regression between age at menarche and year of birth for the following specific periods: 1920-1940, 1920-1960, 1960-1979 and 1920-1979. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Mean age at menarche decreased from 13.07 to 12.40 years when comparing the group of women born in the 1920s with the 1970s birth cohort, corresponding to a mean rate of -0.0123 years per year (p < 0.001). The downward trend was -0.0120 years per year (p > 0.05) for the 1920s, 30s and 40s, -0.0093 years per year (p < 0.05) for the period from 1920 to 1960, and -0.0224 years per year (p < 0.01) for the 1960s/70s. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a secular trend in age at menarche. The literature points to such environmental variables as improved living conditions and expanded access to health services. Within this context, age at menarche could be used as a marker for social development.     

Short Report: Trend in menarcheal age in Spain: rural and urban comparison during a recent period

Menarcheal age of a sample of rural (n = 342) and urban (n = 469) girls with ages ranging from 9 to 16 years from Madrid province was analysed. Results, obtained through the status quo method and probit analysis (age 12.79 SD 1.04 in Madrid city and 12.90 SD 1.03 in rural sample), were compared with data from previous studies carried out in the same area, as well as those from other regions of the Iberian Peninsula. The aim of these comparisons was to establish the variability of menarche in the recent past, considering physical environment, degree of urbanization and socio-economic development. Decline in menarcheal age was detected and, in general, a tendency towards similar means among Spanish populations in the period studied.     

The effect of homozygous sickle cell disease on the age at menarche in Nigerian schoolgirls

Two thousand two hundred and four schoolgirls from four secondary schools in Enugu, the capital of Anambra State in south-eastern Nigeria, were interviewed and provided information regarding their age, menstrual status and the presence or absence of some common chronic disorders. Sickle cell disease was identified and confirmed by haemoglobin electrophoresis in 1.36% of the students. Average age at menarche, determined by probit analysis, was significantly delayed among subjects with sickle cell disease when compared with normal students (14.5 +/- 1.13 years vs. 13.3 +/- 1.09 years; P less than 0.005). Comparison of the average menarcheal age of the normal subjects in this study with previous reports of studies from southern Nigeria confirms a continuing decline of the average age at menarche at a rate of about four months per decade.