«Despite possible similarities in the relationship
between early menarche and sexual and reproductive health in low -, middle - and high - income countries, the factors associated with early menarche and early marriage may differ across ethnic groups within the same country,» noted Mobolaji Ibitoye, MPH, DrPH candidate in the Department of Sociomedical Sciences at the Mailman School and lead author.
Not exact matches
However, Prof Mishra said: «We expect that the underlying relationship
between these reproductive characteristics across life is still present, but it may be that our definition of
early menarche would be revised.
The researchers also studied the link
between age at
menarche and
early marriage.
Additionally, «Having an
earlier age at
menarche has been associated with elevated blood pressure and glucose intolerance, increased body fat in
early adulthood, or obesity in adulthood, all of which could explain the possible link
between the age at
menarche and risk of mortality outcomes later in life.»
Previous research has investigated the relationship
between pubertal timing and depression in girls, with most results suggesting that
earlier menarche predicts more depression in adolescence.