Evidence for a secular trend in age of menarche

Wyshak, Grace; Frisch, Rose E.

doi:10.1056/nejm198204293061707

Cited by 448Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormonesHistorical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal ChangesHistorical Economic and Social Studies

Evidence for a secular trend in age of menarche

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Wyshak, Grace, Frisch, Rose E.·1982·New England Journal of Medicine

DOI 10.1056/nejm198204293061707

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Abstract

WE present data documenting a secular trend toward an earlier age of menarche in Europe and the United States in the past century. There has been recent controversy on whether such a change has taken place.1 , 2 We have reviewed 218 reports on age of menarche in Europe from 1795 to 1981, covering 220,037 individuals.3 4 5 6 The historical European data are mainly from Backman's extensive collation.3 Figure 1 and Table 1 show that in Europe the age of menarche has become earlier by two to three months per decade in the past century and a half. The greatest rate of decline, 3.2 months per decade, has . . .

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The decrease in average age of menarche between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries has been attributed to improvements in general health, nutrition, and other living conditions during this period.
“This change has been attributed to improvements in general health, nutrition, and other living conditions during this period.”
From Pubertal development and regulation (2016) · cites this paper as [20]
Studies have shown a decrease in the average age of menarche between the mid-19th and the mid-20th centuries in the USA and in some countries in Europe.
“Studies have shown a decrease in the average age of menarche between the mid-19th and the mid-20th centuries in the USA and in some countries in Europe.20”
From Pubertal development and regulation (2016) · cites this paper as [20]
The decrease in the average age of puberty initiation between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries suggested an association of nutrition and environmental factors with reproduction.
“The decrease in the average age of puberty initiation between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries suggested an association of nutrition and environmental factors with reproduction,20,41”
From Pubertal development and regulation (2016) · cites this paper as [20]

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Self-citation

Authors: Wyshak, G., & Frisch, R. E.
Venue: New England Journal of Medicine
Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society
Published: 1982-04-29
Volume: 306
Issue: 17
Pages: 1033-1035
ISSN: 0028-4793 (ISSN-L)
1533-4406
DOI: 10.1056/nejm198204293061707
OpenAlex: W2110239433
Cited by: 448
References: 16
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 19
FWCI: 5.48
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
nrs.harvard.edu
Licence: cc-by
Locations: New England Journal of Medicine (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes
Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Historical Economic and Social Studies
Keywords: age at menarche, secular trends, menarche timing, European women, American women, pubertal timing
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Age Factors, Altitude, Environment, Europe, Physical Exertion, Female, Growth, Humans, Menarche, Statistics as Topic, United States

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Evidence for a secular trend in age of menarche

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