Navigating your child through puberty, including that first period, can feel overwhelming for any parent. If you thought you had to wait until your twenties to worry about this, think again, my friend. The average age of menarche is dropping in the United States, according to new research, which means you need to start talking to your kids about it earlier than you planned.
The study, recently published in JAMA Online Open Edition as part of the Apple Women’s Health Study, confirms that the average age at menarche has declined over the past 50 years. But new research shows early menarche is more common among black, Hispanic, Asian and mixed-race participants, as well as those of lower socioeconomic status.
Respondents were grouped into brackets based on the year they were born (1950 to 2005) and self-reported when menstruation began and when menstrual cycles became regular. Among participants born between 1950 and 1969, the average age at menarche was 12.5 years, and the proportions of early menarche (less than 11 years old) and very early menarche (less than 9 years old) were 8.6% and 0.6%, respectively. Among participants born between 2000 and 2005, the average age at first menstruation was 11.9 years old, and the proportions of early and very early menstruation were 15.5% and 1.4% respectively.
But what does it all mean, and should parents be worried? What should parents do if they notice signs of menarche before their child reaches double digits? Have no fear because two professionals are here to help.
Why does menstruation come earlier?
It turns out this trend isn’t new, as Diane J. Snyder, MD, FACOG, tells Scary Moms. Snyder, a pediatric and adolescent gynecologist at Advantia Health, noted that more than a century ago, the average age at first menarche was 16 years old, and the age has gradually declined since then. Now, she says it’s not uncommon to have menarche around 11 o’clock or even earlier, especially among certain ethnic minorities and socioeconomic groups.
Experts aren’t sure what’s causing the age decline, but as Jillian LoPiano, MD, MPH, FACOG, adds, there are several potential factors. LoPiano, an obstetrician-gynecologist and Wisp’s chief health officer, noted that environmental endocrine disruptors such as air pollution can cause hormonal changes.
“We know that girls need a certain proportion of body fat to initiate menstruation and a slightly higher proportion of body fat to maintain menstruation,” Snyder said. “Weight and body fat definitely play a role in the onset of puberty,” she noted, which begins about two years before menstruation begins.
“One working hypothesis focuses on food deserts, where low-income communities lack access to healthy, nutrient-dense foods,” Lopiano added.
Another possible factor? Exposure to stress in childhood. Childhood sexual abuse is associated with early menarche, parental conflict, and/or family tension among African American women.
This trio disproportionately affects low-income and/or non-white children compared to their peers, as they may have greater access to nutritious food, clean air, safe outdoor spaces, and lower levels of stress.
What are the potential impacts?
As two experts point out, even if you’re prepared to support your child through adolescence and provide them with a safe landing zone to ask questions and express their emotions, early puberty can be detrimental to their physical and mental health Influence.
“If a child gets their period early (i.e. in elementary school), they will look older than the average elementary school kid because they will be taller and have breast development,” Snyder said. “The challenge is matching emotional maturity with physical maturity and the consequences of that ” She adds that looking older than you are can affect how your child is treated, especially if friends and classmates haven’t yet gone through puberty. This can exacerbate feelings of loneliness or isolation at an already vulnerable stage of life.
“We also find that sometimes girls who mature earlier and start menstruating earlier also tend to have sex earlier,” Snyder said. “This is important in terms of aspects of psychological and overall health and the need for early pregnancy prevention. It’s all very challenging.”
There’s also a risk of advancing bone age, Snyder explains, because once your ovaries start producing estrogen, which creates stronger bones, you’ll be older than you should be. “That’s why calcium intake and regular exercise are even more important during adolescence,” she says. “You grow tall early but may actually end up shorter because of premature closure of the bone growth plates.”
Snyder also points out, “When you start your period early, you tend to end it early. And then, when you’re on the other side of life, you go through menopause early, which has consequences for bone health and cardiovascular health.”
“Additionally, when your period starts early, your period ends early,” Snyder points out. “Then, when you get to the other end of life, you go through menopause early, which has consequences for bone health and cardiovascular disease.” health impact.”
“Early menarche is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and some reproductive cancers, including breast cancer,” Lopiano added.
What can parents do?
If you notice signs of puberty starting between the ages of six and nine, both doctors recommend talking to your child’s doctor. Signs to look for, says Snyder: “A growth spurt of rapid increase in height, followed by breast development, then pubic hair growth and armpit hair growth. The first period usually occurs two to two and a half years after the growth spurt. start.
“When we see precocious puberty (diagnosis of puberty before age eight), your pediatrician will perform an evaluation and refer to a pediatric endocrinologist for diagnosis and treatment. Once puberty begins early, there are treatment options that can delay it Puberty, until appropriate chronological age.
On top of all the physical changes, your child may not even be fully aware of puberty and periods, which can be scary and overwhelming. Arming yourself with knowledge is a great first step, Lopiano said. “It’s always a good idea to consult with an early childhood educator and pediatrician when talking to your child about complex topics.”
How do you talk to your children?
“As a mother, I use anatomical language and age-appropriate explanations of body functions to talk to my children, and I always avoid shame-based language and approaches,” she added. In fact, “grumpy” people can talk, Snyder said. There is no such thing as bad feelings based on gender, which she says creates problematic narratives around periods. “We all get grumpy at other times besides our period. Boys get grumpy too,” she points out.
Snyder also recommends openly showing your kids what your own period is like so they know it’s nothing to be afraid of and just a normal body function. “Don’t be afraid to show kids a menstrual pad or how to insert a tampon and that it doesn’t hurt,” she says, adding, “It’s important for parents to understand normal puberty. Everyone goes through it differently, and every Everyone goes through different situations.
Yes, it’s equally important to include all non-menstruating family members in the conversation. “Boys should feel comfortable talking about menstruation,” Snyder said. “It shouldn’t be a secret thing that only mom can talk about. I think dads should feel completely comfortable talking to their daughters about periods. The more you can normalize periods, the more comfortable the kids will be with the whole process.”
Snyder recommends the following “wonderful parent and patient resources” for additional support:
