The menarche experience in twenty-three foreign countries

Ninety-five women (aged 18-26) from 23 countries were interviewed regarding their first menstrual experience. Among the areas discussed were (1) their preparation for menarche, (2) messages from others at the time of menarche, and (3) their own emotional reactions to the first period. Although the mother, as might be expected, was the main source of information, almost one-third of the girls received no maternal assistance prior to menarche. The chief reaction of others to a girl's first period centered on help with the hygienic routine. Only in Iran was a non-hygienic response more common--reassurance of the normality of the event. The emotional reactions of the women themselves differed widely. Asians most often reported feeling "embarrassed" and "surprised." In contrast, Iranians most frequently mentioned feeling "more grown up". The discussion includes a comparison of the international women's descriptions of their menarche with data available on American samples. Finally, the paper concludes with an analysis of the importance of a culture's response to the menarcheal female.