The Surprising Trend in Periods

Over the last 150 years, there has been a global decline in the average age of menarche–the first occurrence of a menstrual period. For instance, in the 1840’s, the average age of menarche in Western countries was 16 and by the 2000s, the average reached 12.5. This secular trend has resulted in the age of menarche approaching its biological limit and has been linked to poor health outcomes like breast cancer, diabetes, heart disease and mental illnesses. In this video, we aim to investigate what factors may have led to this downwards trend using biological, environmental and social perspectives.



This video was made by McMaster University students Khushi Shah, Maram Jaber, Tisha Parikh, and Alison Slade, in collaboration with the Demystifying Research McMaster Program. This video is for general and educational purposes. Please contact your healthcare provider for information about your health.



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