According to a recent study, children are experiencing their first menstruation at younger ages and experiencing more irregularities than in previous years. This research, published in JAMA Network Open on May 29, analyzed data from the Apple Women’s Health Study, a collaboration between the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), and Apple.
Examining cycle tracking data from over 71,000 participants using iPhones and Apple Watches, the study found that the average age of first menstruation was 11.9 years for those born between 2000 and 2005, compared to 12.5 years for those born between 1950 and 1969. Additionally, individuals of Asian, non-Hispanic Black, or multiracial backgrounds reported earlier onset of menstruation compared to their White counterparts.
Lead author Dr. Zifan Wang, a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, emphasized that these findings are significant because early and irregular menstruation patterns can indicate potential health issues later in life.
Factors contributing to early menstruation include obesity, which has become more prevalent among children in the U.S. Environmental factors, dietary habits, psychosocial stress, and adverse childhood experiences were also cited as potential influences on these trends.
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