Posted on 06/02/2024 8:37:39 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Young girls are starting their first periods earlier than they have in previous decades—a shift associated with adverse health outcomes later in life.
A new study published on May 29 in JAMA Network Open revealed that the median age at menarche has remained relatively stable at around 12 years, and the proportion of girls starting menstruation before age 11 has significantly increased over time.
Menarche, or the first menstrual period, marks the beginning of the monthly hormonal cycle and reproductive lifespan. Additionally, it signifies the end of female puberty.
Researchers with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Apple Women’s Health Study examined data from more than 71,000 U.S. women born between 1950 and 2005, encompassing various ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. They aimed to determine the age at which these women experienced their first menstrual cycle and how long it took for their cycle to become regular.
The study found that nearly 16 percent of women born between 2000 and 2005 started their menstrual cycles between ages 9 and 11, compared to almost 9 percent of those born between 1950 and 1969. Additionally, researchers observed an increase in the number of women experiencing irregular menstrual cycles for three years or more after menarche.
When stratifying trends by race and ethnicity, participants who were Asian, Hispanic, non-Hispanic black, or of other or multiple races or ethnicities were consistently more likely to experience early menarche than non-Hispanic white participants.
An exploratory analysis of a subset of 9,865 participants estimated that 46 percent of the trend could be attributed to body mass index—a measure of a person’s body fat based on height and weight. The authors noted that obesity is a risk factor for early-onset puberty and that childhood obesity is on the rise in the United States, which could explain the trend toward earlier menarche. However, it’s unknown to what extent changes in early BMI affect the trend. The underlying cause of the remaining 54 percent experiencing early menarche remains unclear.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) considers the menstrual cycle to be a vital sign of overall health, and irregularities can indicate underlying health issues, such as hormonal imbalances, thyroid disorders, or other medical conditions. The menstrual cycle also involves the immune system as uterine immune cells undergo substantial changes and facilitate the thickening and thinning of the uterine lining.
According to ACOG, girls typically have their first period between 12 and 13 years of age, but it takes a few years for menstrual cycles to become regular. Until then, adolescents may experience irregular periods as their bodies adjust to new hormonal patterns.
A growing body of evidence, including the current study, links early menarche and a longer time to regularity with an increased risk of health conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, asthma, multiple sclerosis, metabolic conditions, and all-cause mortality.
A 2021 study published in the Annals of Epidemiology found that earlier menarche in girls and a longer time to reach menstrual regularity were associated with an increased risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Girls who started their first period at age 11 or younger were at an increased risk of death from diabetes, breast cancer, and other cancers compared to those who had their first period at 13 years.
A 2021 study in Cancer Research found that early exposure to sex hormones associated with early-onset menstruation is associated with an increased risk of seven cancers in middle-aged women.
A 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis of 28 studies in PLOS Medicine found that girls who experience earlier menarche have an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in adulthood.
In a meta-analysis of eight prospective studies involving 4,553 subjects with endometrial cancer, researchers found that an earlier age of menarche is associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer. Likewise, a previous study by the same authors found a “statistically significant inverse association” between ovarian cancer and later menarcheal age.
Evidence also suggests early menarche may enhance multiple sclerosis disease activity in children. In a Canadian prospective study, researchers found a 36 percent decrease in the probability of having a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis for each year menarche was delayed, although a delayed-onset menstrual cycle accompanies its adverse health problems.
that was 50 years ago, and by evolutionary standards insignificant. But the recent decades may have introduced phenomenon that directly affects the biological growth of young individuals; i.e., vaccinations, technology, “pandemics”, etc. The current trends may be an indication of instinctual survival where the physiological potential for procreation occurs on shorter cycles.
Amen. Such kids are lucky.
Were those experiencing irregularities also vaxxed by chance?
In the 19th Century, the average age for menarche was 16. It keeps dropping lower.
If nonwhites experience it earlier, it is not surprising that the overall population is trending earlier. Our demographics have changed significantly, especially among our youth.
I think it’s the chicken nuggets.
“…and the proportion of girls starting menstruation before age 11 has significantly increased over time.“
Many years ago I read that body weight was triggering menstruation as young girls got fatter. 100lbs was the flashpoint in the article.
“Global warming. Why not?”
Additives in processed food, hormones used in animal husbandry... the variety of inoculations over the long term... herbicides, pesticides... i.e. Monsanto. Plastics? One could just go on, and on, and on...
Humankind is very vain in that they think that humankind is going to be the cause of our destruction during the next major extinction event when it could really come from just about any place. Asteroid impacts volcanic activity, magnetic pole shift etc ... this shall come to pass and it will be yet another catastrophic reset.
“I remember well my freshman girlfriend at college (fall ‘69) had problems with irregular periods and her doctor put her on the pill. It really improved her regularity.”
Hormonal therapy has it’s good side, and it’s ugly side. Over the long term it could cause problems women on the pill I’ve been taking hormones for years and many of them don’t even realize it but there are drawbacks to persistent hormonal therapy. If you can get around it it’s probably recommended from what we know through various studies and through the passage of time over the last 50 years or so...
Does hormonal therapy have its benefits? Yes and no. Some people absolutely need hormonal therapy for quality of life. As in anything else there are trade-offs. Doctor rarely talked about trade-offs, but that is changing, which is necessary for medical transparency.
Far more believable then some of the comments!!
Obviously caused by Climate Change.
Look at the demographic shifts throughout the world. Whitey isn't moving to equatorial regions - it's the opposite.
What about the boys? As we all know boys are just as able to menstruate as girls.
Now the “P” Will be added to the demonic gaystapo flag for the pedos and “N” for the homosexual NAMBLA pedos.
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