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Age at menarche in Greek girls
A Papadimitriou1, E Gousia, E Pitaouli
1First Department of Paediatrics, Penteli Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Annals of Human Biology
|April 9, 1999
Summary
Greek girls are experiencing earlier menarche, the first menstrual period, indicating a continuing secular trend. This study tracked menarcheal age and menstrual cycle duration in 1134 girls.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Reproductive Health
- Anthropometry
Background:
- Secular trends in menarcheal age are influenced by environmental and socioeconomic factors.
- Understanding menarcheal timing is crucial for assessing reproductive health and development.
- Previous studies have documented shifts in menarcheal age globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the current age of menarche in contemporary Greek girls.
- To analyze the duration of the menstrual cycle in this population.
- To compare current findings with historical data to identify secular trends.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 1134 Greek girls.
- Data collection on age at menarche and menstrual cycle length.
- Statistical comparison with a study conducted 15 years prior.
Main Results:
- The study reports the menarcheal age for 1134 contemporary Greek girls.
- Menstrual cycle duration was also recorded.
- A small but significant secular trend towards earlier menarche was observed compared to 15 years ago.
Conclusions:
- A secular trend towards earlier menarche persists in Greek girls.
- The observed trend, while small, highlights ongoing changes in reproductive development.
- Continued monitoring of menarcheal age is important for public health.