Sexual maturation in girls with severe mental handicap.

It is becoming accepted that sex education of handicapped adolescents should not be neglected. For such education to be effective, it should begin before sexual maturity. In an attempt to provide a starting guideline for girls attending ESN(S) schools in the Manchester area, a cross-sectional survey was performed to determine mean age of menarche. The results showed the group as a whole to be on average 13 months later than normal. However, Down's syndrome formed a large identifiable subgroup with a mean menarcheal age 11 months earlier than normal, leaving the non-Down's group 21 months later than normal, and 2 years 8 months behind the Down's group. The implications for education are discussed.