Margaret A McDowell1, Debra J Brody, Jeffery P Hughes. 1. National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782, USA. mxm7@cdc.gov
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.
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.
Authors: Andrew G Rundle; Shakira F Suglia; Ezra S Susser; Pam Factor-Litvak; Dana March; Katrina L Kezios; Gina S Lovasi; Kim M Fader; Howard Andrews; Piera M Cirillo; Barbara A Cohn; Bruce G Link Journal: Ann Epidemiol Date: 2019-03-28 Impact factor: 3.797
Authors: Rosenie Thelus Jean; Anna V Wilkinson; Margaret R Spitz; Alex Prokhorov; Melissa Bondy; Michele R Forman Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2011-03-31 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Ai Kubo; Julianna Deardorff; Cecile A Laurent; Assiamira Ferrara; Louise C Greenspan; Charles P Quesenberry; Lawrence H Kushi Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2018-07-01 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Patricia G Moorman; Rachel T Palmieri; Lucy Akushevich; Andrew Berchuck; Joellen M Schildkraut Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2009-07-15 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Jee H Rah; Abu Ahmed Shamim; Ummeh T Arju; Alain B Labrique; Mahbubur Rashid; Parul Christian Journal: J Health Popul Nutr Date: 2009-12 Impact factor: 2.000