Menstruation starts earlier in children, and according to a new study, how long it takes to become regular changes.
These findings were published in JAMA Network Open on May 29 using data collected as part of the Apple Women’s Health Study, developed by the Harvard School of Public Health’s TH Chan with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the technology company .
Looking at cycle tracking data provided by more than 71,000 individuals from iPhone and Apple Watch, the results found that the average age of first period was 11.9 years among those born between 2000 and 2005, compared to 12.5 years for those born between 1950 and 1969.
Study participants who self-identified as Asian, non-Hispanic black, or multiracial reported an earlier average age of first period than their white counterparts.
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“Among people born between 1950 and 2005, we found that younger generations started their first period earlier, and the time it took them to become regular also increased,” lead study author Dr. Zifan Wang, a postdoctoral research associate at Harvard University School of of Public Health TH Chan, said in a statement to CNN.
Wang added that the findings are “important” because early and irregular periods “can signal physical and psychosocial problems later in life.”
Wang also noted that “these trends may contribute to increasing adverse health outcomes and disparities in the US.”
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Researchers associated with the study said that early menstruation can be caused by a number of factors.
“Notably, obesity is a risk factor for early onset of puberty, and the prevalence of childhood obesity has increased in the US, leading to hypotheses about the potential role of obesity in trends toward earlier menarche,” the study said.
The researchers also noted that “environmental factors,” “dietary patterns, “psychosocial stress” and “adverse childhood experiences” could also play a role.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education