A large-scale U.S. study of over 71,000 women has provided evidence of this suspected trend.
Does it seem like kids are growing up a lot faster nowadays? According to new research, that may be true.
For many girls, their first period marks an exciting and terrifying beginning to womanhood. When the body begins to transition from childhood to maturity, it’s also a significant transition for parents as their children begin puberty, which is often associated with the teenage years.
However, a recent study shows that girls, on average, are experiencing menarche (their first period) earlier than previous generations.
THE STUDY
A large-scale U.S. study of over 71,000 women has provided evidence of this suspected trend. The research, published earlier this year in JAMA Network Open, shows that the average age of girls’ first periods is decreasing.
Previously, the average age for menarche in the United States was around 12–13 years old. However, this new study suggests that an increasing number of girls are now starting their periods earlier, as young as 8 or 9 years old. This shift is most pronounced among African American and Hispanic girls, with these groups seeing a significant drop in the age of onset compared to other racial groups. The data also suggests that women and girls are experiencing an increase in irregular periods.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
Several theories explain why this might be happening on a collective scale, the most compelling of which are an increase in exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and higher rates of childhood obesity.
Xenoestrogens
Our modern world is heavily saturated with chemicals – they are in food, personal care products, household items and cleaners, environmental toxins, you name it. Many of these toxins significantly impact our hormonal system, but primarily at play are the chemicals that mimic estrogen within the human body (xenoestrogens). This can cause estrogen dominance within our bodies, which in young girls may increase the likelihood of an early period.
Obesity
Higher childhood obesity rates also play a significant role in the balance of hormones within the body, as fat tissue produces and stores estrogen and may compound the effects of xenoestrogens.
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
From a strictly biological standpoint, earlier menarche can be associated with greater risks in the long term, such as heart disease, diabetes, and increased risks of certain cancers. Many of the study participants also showed higher rates of irregular periods, which can indicate long-term potential for the development of uterine fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, headaches/migraines before periods, sore breasts, or heavy and painful periods. Ask any woman who has had issues with her menstrual cycle, and you will hear how greatly this has impacted her daily life and, in many ways, made her life and path to success much more challenging.
For girls to begin facing this challenge so young, with an increased risk of complications, will significantly impact future generations to come on a much deeper level than we can predict. The higher impact within already marginalized communities, where access to health care and healthier lifestyle options is already less accessible, also adds a further barrier of social inequality to those girls’ lives.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
As parents, the best thing we can do for our kids is set them up with a solid foundation.
Focus on feeding kids real, wholefoods (meat, dairy, nuts, beans, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and grains) and as much organic food as possible. Processed foods may be convenient in the short term, but your child will pay the price in the long term.
Switch to natural cleaners and personal care products – in many cases, this will save you money, too!
Make sure kids get enough physical activity, good sleep, and plenty of water. It might sound basic, but this will provide a foundation that will carry them through their lifetime.
Support good gut health with a quality probiotic. The gut carries those xenoestrogens out of the body and plays an important role in hormonal health.
Supplements with key ingredients like diindolylmethane (DIM) and indole-3-carbinol (I3C) are also helpful in supporting the removal of xenoestrogens. EstroSense® is a unique formula that helps maintain a healthy hormone balance. It supports the detoxification of “bad” estrogens and harmful xenoestrogens, preventing estrogen dominance conditions. Calcium-d-glucarate, I3C, and sulforaphane are important substances that all support healthy hormone metabolism by promoting liver detoxification and excretion of harmful xenoestrogens. DIM is a naturally occurring phytonutrient found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, has been shown to promote the formation of 2-hydroxylated estrogen metabolites instead of 16α-hydroxylated estrogen metabolites, thereby shifting the ratio of “good” estrogens and reducing the production of “bad” estrogens. EstroSense is indicated for individuals who have already gone through puberty.
By taking these steps, we can help our girls grow up healthy, strong, and ready to face the world – on their own terms, not dictated by early puberty.
