Young American women are getting their first period earlier and earlier
Younger generations in the United States are getting their first periods earlier and taking longer to become regular, which could indicate later health problems. according to a study relayed by CNN Thursday May 30.
The study’s findings were released Wednesday In JAMA Network Open. Scientists examined data from more than 70,000 participants who completed surveys as part of the Apple Women’s Health Study, long-term research into menstrual cycles using data from the Apple Health mobile app, details the American channel.
Towards an “increase in disparities”?
“Among people born between 1950 and 2005, we found that younger generations had their first periods earlier and the time it took for their periods to become regular also increased”said the study’s lead author, Dr. Zifan Wang, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University’s TH Chan School of Public Health, in an email.
These trends were even more pronounced among people from racial and ethnic minorities and/or lower socioeconomic status, the scientists found.
These developments are important “because (rules) early and (…) irregular habits can signal physical and psychosocial problems later in life”Wang said, “and these trends may contribute to increasing adverse health outcomes and disparities in the United States”.
