Did you ever remember how old were you when you got your first period?
Ladies always find it very weird being asked with this question, but take away that seemingly weird thoughts ladies because according to a recent study, the time women got their first period is a crucial piece on their medical profile.
So, why does the age you get your period matters?
Researchers found out that, getting your first period at age 10 or earlier can double your asthma risk. Along with recent studies indicating that girls are getting their periods younger than ever (before age 13 as opposed to 16 or 17 a century ago), there are other health risks associated with getting your period earlier or later than the average girl.
According to Caren Craig, MD, an OB/GYN at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD.
The reason physicians ask about the age of menarche is not because we are looking for a magic or right answer. We are just trying to assess the integrity of a woman’s circuitry — brain to ovary to uterus. We are looking for red flags that could indicate difficulties in future fertility. And we are looking for any clues that could help us answer a woman’s presenting complaint.”
More over, Craig said that the average North American woman gets her first period between ages 10 and 15, with the average being 12.
An age we would consider abnormally young for menses would be less than age 8, and abnormally old would be older than age 16. One ramification of early menses to a woman later in life is that this correlates with an increase in the possibility of breast and endometrial cancer,” said Craig.
It’s also been linked to heart disease, body image issues and risky, sexually related behavior in young girls.
The risk of late menses is that this could imply future fertility obstacles as well as the possibility or metabolic disorders,” Craig added.
So, if you have a young daughter, the best way to slow puberty may be to live green, which means, limiting the amount of estrogen she is exposed to via plastics, chemicals and foods. However, if her puberty is delayed, according to Craig, it may be because she’s undergoing intense, strenuous daily training for a sport. In this case, it is better to sit down for it with the doctor and the coach to make sure her activity level is healthy.
