The Declining Age of Puberty in Girls Raises Concern
Recent studies have shown that over the last 40 years, girls in the United States are entering puberty at a younger age. Since early puberty has been linked to an increased risk of a variety of health problems including breast cancer and certain psychopathologies, the trend raises questions about the contributing factors to this phenomenon.
Between the mid-19th and -20th centuries, the average age of menstruation declined sharply in the U.S. from age 17 to 13, with similar trends appearing in Europe. Over the last 50 years, the average age of girls reaching their first menstruation has continued to fall. According to breastcancerfund.org, studies have shown Caucasian girls now begin menstruating at 12.6-years-old, while Latin-American girls reach menarche or menstruation at an average age of 12.2. African-American girls are reaching menstruation the earliest with an average age of 12.1.
The onset of menarche is one of three key milestones that defines puberty, with the other two being thelarche (breast budding) and pubarche (the development of pubic hair, body odor, and oily skin).
Certain chemicals called endocrine disruptors can interfere with natural hormonal production and cause the body to mature at a faster rate. Two of these compounds are leptin, a natural hormone produced by body fat which induces the release of estrogen, and melatonin, a natural compound that regulates sleep patterns. However, the exact role in which melatonin interacts with sexual maturation is still being investigated.
A combination of natural endocrine disruptors and over-exposure to other chemicals prevalent in the environment such as phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), and pesticides have also shown to cause early puberty. Therefore, early sexual maturation is considered to be an “ecological disorder.”
Potential risk factors for early puberty include:
• Excess body fat and obesity
• Exposure to BPA, pesticides and hormonal chemicals found in non-organic meat and dairy
• Low birth weight
• Premature birth
Some additional factors to early menstruation are still being investigated:
• Family dysfunction
• Absence of father
• Formula feeding in infancy
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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