Changes of recollected menarcheal age and month among women in Tokyo over a period of 90 years.

Data on the recollected age at menarche of 47,881 women born between 1881 and 1970 were examined. The mean menarcheal age had changed from 15.1 years in those born up to 1900 to 12.5 years in those born during the 1960s. The age at menarche differed according to the month of birth, and the pattern of average age distribution by month of birth was not the same when the year of birth was different. Among women born before 1955 the menarcheal age was earlier in those born in the summer. However, among women born after 1955, menarche occurred later when they were born in the summer. The monthly distribution of menarche had also changed during this 90-year period. Two peaks in April and August were prominent among those born up to 1960. A third peak in January became also apparent in those born after 1960.