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A 12-year study of menarcheal age
British Journal of Preventive & Social Medicine
|March 1, 1975
Summary
The age of menarche (first menstruation) in UK girls appears to have stopped decreasing around 1965. This study suggests a potential reversal in the trend of earlier puberty onset, with physique being a key factor.
Area of Science:
- Human biology
- Reproductive health
- Anthropometry
Background:
- Secular trends in menarcheal age have historically shown a decrease in recent centuries.
- Understanding factors influencing menarcheal age is crucial for public health and developmental studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in menarcheal age among female students at the University College of Swansea over a 12-year period.
- To investigate potential shifts in the secular trend of menarcheal age and associated factors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective data collection on menarcheal age for female students admitted over 12 years.
- Statistical analysis to assess the influence of birth year, family size, birth order, region, physique, and socioeconomic status.
Main Results:
- A cessation of the downward trend in menarcheal age was observed for girls born around 1946 (1965 student intake).
- An upward trend in menarcheal age may have occurred subsequently.
- Physique remained a significant factor, while family size, birth order, regional origin, and socioeconomic status did not explain the observed trend change.
Conclusions:
- The secular trend of decreasing menarcheal age may have reversed or stabilized in the studied UK cohort.
- Physiological factors (physique) continue to influence menarcheal age, independent of socioeconomic and demographic variables.