Has Age at Menarche Changed? Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2004

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health 2007-03, Vol.40 (3), p.227-231
• Main Authors: McDowell, Margaret A., M.P.H., R.D, Brody, Debra J., M.P.H, Hughes, Jeffery P., M.P.H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age; Age Distribution; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Continental Population Groups - statistics & numerical data; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developmental psychology; Ethnicity; Female; Females; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gynecology and obstetrics; Humans; Menarche; NHANES; Nutrition Surveys; Pediatrics; Psychology and medicine; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Race; United States - epidemiology; USA
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.10.002

Abstract Purpose To examine self-reported age at menarche in U.S. adults and the associations between age at menarche and race/ethnicity. Methods Data from 1999–2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for 6788 females 20 years and over were analyzed. Self-reported age at first menses (in years) by birth year groups is reported overall and for Mexican Americans, non-Hispanic whites, and non-Hispanic blacks. Results Mean age at menarche in the United States declined over time from 13.3 years (95% CI: 13.2–13.5) in the oldest age group, those born prior to 1920, to 12.4 years (95% C.I. 12.2–12.5 years) in the youngest group, born between 1980 and 1984. Declines in age at menarche were observed for all race/ethnicity groups. Non-Hispanic black females had the largest decline in mean age at menarche from 13.6 years (95% CI: 13.1–14.1) in women born prior to 1920, to 12.2 years (95% CI: 11.8–12.6) in the 1980–84 birth cohort. Mean age at menarche among non-Hispanic white females declined from 13.3 years (13.1–13.6) in the pre-1920 birth cohort to 12.5 years (12.3–12.8) in the 1980–84 birth cohort. Conclusions Significant declines in the mean age of menarche for U.S. females occurred overall and for all race/ethnic groups examined. Mean age of menarche declined by .9 year overall in women born before 1920 compared to women born in 1980–84; the declines in the mean age at menarche ranged from .7 to 1.4 years depending on the race/ethnicity group.