Menarcheal age in Europe

Abstract

Recent studies on secular changes, urban-rural differences, and variation of the mean age at menarche with occupation and educational level of parents, and with number of siblings and birth order in European populations are reviewed. For girls from Oslo, London, Brussels, Gorlitz, Szeged, and Zagreb, and for a selected sample of young women from the United Kingdom, a halt in the trend towards an earlier occurrence of the first menstruation has been observed. In Gorlitz girls and in a selected sample from the United Kingdom, the mean age at menarche has even increased.Results of the European investigations on the significance of factors commonly used to describe social stratification indicate the need for studies with a standardized multifactorial design, including as many parameters as possible. Indicators of social stratification may vary in sensitivity from one country to another.Recent geographical variation of mean age at menarche for urban popula-

Age at menarche of three-generation families in Taiwan

“…A combination of genetic and environmental factors contributes to age at menarche (Danker-Hopfe 1986;Brooks-Gunn and Warren 1988). While geographic location was categorized in our study into the south or not south of the Chou Shui River for multiple regression analysis, the product of the mothers' age at menarche and their geographical location had a reinforcing effect on the age at menarche of daughters.…”

“…Both genetic and environmental factors influence the timing of menarche (Danker-Hopfe 1986;Brooks-Gunn 1988;Eveleth and Tanner 1990;de Muinch Keizer and Mul 2001). Previous studies identified many factors that influence age at menarche such as ethnicity, geographical location, nutrition, socio-economic conditions, family environment, exercise, and stressful life events (Brooks-Gunn and Warren 1988;Eveleth and Tanner 1990;Malina et al 1997;Pasquet et al 1999;Marrodan et al 2000;Salces et al 2001;Biro et al 2006).…”

Age and size at maturity in women: A norm of reaction?

“…The lower individual-level than population-level slope observed in industrialized countries suggests that there may be latent population-level genetic variation in growth patterns. Perhaps for genetic reasons, Northern European populations have consistently matured at later ages and taller stature than Southern European populations throughout much of the period of secular change (Danker-Hopfe, 1986). These genetic differences are predicted to become more important as relative environmental variability declines for the reasons outlined above.…”

Is there a further acceleration in the age at onset of menarche? A cross-sectional study in 1840 school children focusing on age and bodyweight at the onset of menarche

“…For example, in Germany the median age at menarche has decreased from 15.5 in 1869 to 12.5 in 1978 years (2). However, in recent years the onset of menarche has not decreased further and ranges between 12.5 and 13.0 years in most other European countries and the USA (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). The acceleration of menarche within the same populations over time argues for environmental factors as the main contribution to the timing of the onset of puberty.…”