Trends in Menarcheal Age between 1955 and 2009 in the Netherlands

Abstract

AimTo assess and compare the secular trend in age at menarche in Dutch girls (1955–2009) and girls from Turkish and Moroccan descent living in the Netherlands (1997–2009).MethodsData on growth and maturation were collected in 20,867 children of Dutch, Turkish and Moroccan descent in 2009 by trained health care professionals. Girls, 9 years and older, of Dutch (n = 2138), Turkish (n = 282), and Moroccan (n = 295) descent were asked whether they had experienced their first period. We compared median menarcheal age in 2009 with data from the previous Dutch Nationwide Growth Studies in 1955, 1965, 1980 and 1997. Age specific body mass index (BMI) z-scores were calculated to assess differences in BMI between pre- and postmenarcheal girls in different age groups.ResultsMedian age at menarche in Dutch girls, decreased significantly from 13.66 years in 1955 to 13.15 years in 1997 and 13.05 years in 2009. Compared to Dutch girls there is a larger decrease in median age of menarche in girls of Turkish and Moroccan descent between 1997 and 2009. In Turkish girls age at menarche decreased from 12.80 to 12.50 years and in Moroccan girls from 12.90 to 12.60 years. Thirty-three percent of Turkish girls younger than 12 years start menstruating in primary school. BMI-SDS is significantly higher in postmenarcheal girls than in premenarcheal girls irrespective of age.ConclusionThere is a continuing secular trend in earlier age at menarche in Dutch girls. An even faster decrease in age at menarche is observed in girls of Turkish and Moroccan descent in the Netherlands.

Extending Prednisolone Treatment Does Not Reduce Relapses in Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome

“…Height SD scores were calculated with Dutch pediatric reference data. 32 High BP was defined as systolic and/or diastolic BP more than or equal to the 95th percentile for sex, age, and height. 33 Severe infections were defined as nonselflimiting infections requiring hospital admission.…”

Mean Difference of Age at Menarche and Body Mass Index among Government and Private High-School Students of Mekelle City, Northern Ethiopia

“…Different literature stated that as the BMI of the girls increased, the age at their menarche will be lower [4][5][6][7][8]. This trend was statistically significant (Chi-square for trend p ≤ 0.00).…”

“…Similarly, a study in Northern Uganda indicated that BMI and waist circumference was not correlated with menarche [15]. In the contrary, different studies indicated as the BMI increased, the number of girls attaining menarche also increased [4][5][6][7][8]. This could be explained by the nature of the study design that temporal relationship could not established by conducting cross sectional study.…”

“…The median age at menarche in Dutch, Turkish and Moroccan girls was 13.05, 12.50 and 12.60 years, respectively [4,6,8]. The estimated mean and median age at menarche was 12.72 years (SD = 1.05) and 12.67 years, respectively [12,13].…”

Gender differences in risk behaviours: Does sexual maturation matter?

“…In girls, menarche is considered the milestone of entering puberty, representing an indicator of sexual maturity and revealing normal physical, biological, psychological, and emotional development [1][2][3]. Although there is variability in the menarche age, European and North-American studies pointed out a menarche age of between twelve and thirteen years [4][5][6]. In boys, it is difficult to determine at what age this stage begins, because there is no event that culminates this life phase.…”