Et fortsat fald i menarchealderen i Danmark

INTRODUCTION: The aim was to follow the development of the parameters of the distribution of age at menarche in Danish women in recent decades.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study is based on retrospective data from six different samples with a total of 42,784 women, born in the period 1923-1973.

RESULTS: We report a renewed decline in the mean menarcheal age in a large Danish sample after a period with a halt in the trend towards an earlier age at menarche in many North European countries. We find a continuously declining mean menarcheal age in Denmark in women born in the years 1964-1973. In a sample of textile workers born in the years 1939-1968 (n = 12,605) we find a higher mean menarcheal age of one year.

DISCUSSION: The results indicate that menarcheal age is still delayed in certain groups in Denmark. It can therefore be expected that the menarcheal age will fall even more in the future.