US girls got their first periods increasingly earlier over the last 50 years, new study finds

New study details potential long-term health risks as American girls reach puberty earlier

A new study adds to the evidence that girls in America are reaching puberty earlier with potentially troubling implications for their long-term health. More girls are getting their first periods sooner than previous generations and experiencing longer periods of menstrual irregularity. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Dr. Shruthi Mahalingaiah of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Girls are starting their periods earlier in life, and that may lead to adverse health issues later

Girls are getting their first periods at younger ages and it is taking longer for their menstrual cycles to regulate, new research confirms. These findings are significant because early menarche – getting your first period before age 11 – is linked to obesity, insulin resistance and high cholesterol in adulthood, and depression and anxiety in adolescence.

Girls are getting their first periods earlier. Here's what parents should know

Girls in the U.S. are getting their first menstrual period about 6 months earlier on average than they did in the 1950s and ‘60s. And the number of girls starting their period before age nine has doubled. Researchers say parents can help prepare their kids for early puberty.

Girls are getting their periods earlier and regularity is changing, according to a new study

Researchers looked at health data which over 71,000 women born between 1950 and 2005 self-reported on their iPhones and Apple watches.

Girls In US Getting Periods Earlier, Taking Longer To Regularize Cycles

The trend toward earlier menarche and longer time for menstrual regularity is more pronounced among Black, Hispanic, Asian, and mixed-race participants.