Ijodr 2 (1) 1-4

Original Research Article
Secular Trend in the Onset of Menarche in Urban Population

Anadha Gujar1,*, Ameet Kini2, M.S Rani3
1Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Orthodontics, K.L.E.’s Institute of Dental Sciences, Bangalore
2Private Practice, Power Smiles Dental Specialty, Bangalore
3Professor, Dept. of Orthodontics, V.S Dental College, Bangalore
*Corresponding Author
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract
Among all the developmental characteristics associated with the adolescence for girls, the onset of menarche is especially
noteworthy and obvious. The onset of menarche in girls is a function of multiple factors and has its importance in relation to
nation, culture and locality. The onset of menarche is an indication of pubertal growth spurts. The most favorable orthodontics
and orthopedic treatment outcomes occur when the treatment begins at a patient’s maturation age. This period helps in carrying
out various treatments required for the interception of developing malocclusions.
Hence, the aim of our survey was to assess the mean age of onset of menarche in school girls from Bangalore city of
Karnataka and compare their age with that of their mothers and their grandmothers to assess the secular trend in the onset of
menarche, if it existed. The sample of 1062 student was considered representative of a major percentage of urban school girls in
Bangalore. The findings are reported.
Keywords: Age at puberty, Girls in Bangalore, Mean age at menarche, Onset of menarche, Secular trend.
Introduction their mothers and their grandmothers to assess the

Among all the developmental characteristics secular trend in the onset of menarche, if it existed.
associated with the adolescence for girls, the onset of
menarche is noteworthy and obvious. The onset of Objectives
menarche in girls is a function of multiple factors and 1. To find mean age of onset of menarche in girls,
has its importance in relation to nation, culture, their mothers and grandmothers.
socioeconomic status and locality.1 The onset of 2. Compare the mean age of onset of menarche in
menarche is an indication of pubertal growth spurt. The girls, their mothers and grandmothers to see if
most favorable orthodontics and orthopedic treatment secular trend exists in the onset of menarche.
outcomes occur during the pubertal growth spurt
period. This period helps in carrying out various Material and Methods
treatments required for the interception of developing 1062 school girls of Bangalore city in the age
malocclusions.2 group of 11 to 16 years were included in the study. At
Menarche occurs earlier than it once did in many our first visit to the schools, the girls were explained
parts of the world especially in Europe and North about the survey and were informed to find out the age
America. In these regions, it declined at the rate of of onset of menarche of their mothers and grandmothers
approximately four months per decade till it stabilized and theirs. After one week, the mean age of onset of
at around 13 years. This was attributed to better menarche in girls, age of onset of menarche of their
socioeconomic status and improved health and mothers and grandmothers, height and weight of the
nutrition. This decline is expected in Indian girls girls were recorded. Data was collected between the
considering the economic development of country in months October to December 2011.
past few decades. As the industrialization progressed From the data obtained, the mean age of onset of
and hence the wealth is concentrated more in urban menarche in girls, their mothers and their grandmothers
areas than the rural ones, its impact on the girls residing of those girls included in the study were calculated and
in urban areas is more prompt.3 compared statistically.
Hence the present survey was undertaken to assess Inclusion criteria: The girls who could get information
the mean age of onset of menarche in school girls from of age of onset of menarche of their mothers and their
Bangalore city of Karnataka and to assess the secular grandmothers were included in the study.
trend in the onset of menarche, if it existed. Exclusion criteria: The girls who could not get
information about the onset of menarche in their
Aims and Objectives mothers or grandmothers were excluded in the study.
The aim of our survey was to assess the mean age
of onset of menarche in school girls from Bangalore Results
city of Karnataka and compare their age with that of Fig. 1 and Table I shows the age distribution of the
school girls included in the study.
Indian Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Research, January-March,2016;2(1): 1-4 1
Anadha Gujar et al. Secular Trend in the Onset of Menarche in Urban Population
Out of 1062 school girls, 2 girls were of 11years, In figure 3, of the 1062 girls, 79.65% attained
57 girls were of 12years, 209 girls were of 13years, 434 menarche between the age 11 years and 13 years. From
girls were of 14years, 294 girls were of 15years, 66 the collected data, the mean age of onset of menarche
girls were of 16years of age. was 11+ years in the girls, 14+ years in mothers, 15+
Table II gives us the descriptive statistics of the years in grandmothers of those girls. There is decrease
onset of menarche in girls, their mothers and their in age on onset of menarche in girls as compared to that
grandmothers. The mean age of onset of menarche in of their mothers and grandmothers. Thus the girls of
the girls was 11+ years with Standard Deviation (S.D) present population showed an early onset of menarche.
of 0.9092. The mean age of onset of menarche in their Comparison of age of onset of menarche of
mothers was 14+ years with the Standard Deviation subjects, their mothers and their shown in table IV. The
(S.D) of 0.9103. The mean age of onset of menarche in comparison of the age of onset of menarche in done
their grandmothers was 15+ years with the Standard using test between the girls and their mothers, between
Deviation (S.D) of 0.8319. the girls and their grandmothers, between their mothers
In figure 2 the girls were classified into three and their grandmothers. There is statistically significant
groups according to the distribution in the onset of difference in the onset of menarche (P value <0.001)
menarche of girls which is shown in Table III. In figure between the girls and their mothers. There is
2, the maximum no. of girls were of 11+ years and 12+ statistically significant difference in the onset of
years for the onset of menarche. Hence 11+ years and menarche (P value <0.001) between the girls and their
12+ years were considered as ideal age of onset of grandmothers. There is statistically significant
menarche. The subjects with onset of menarche in 9+ difference in the onset of menarche (P value <0.001)
years and 10+ years were grouped under early onset of between their mothers and their grandmother.
menarche, 13+ years and 14+ years were grouped under
late onset of menarche.
Table 1: Age distribution of the school girls

Age No. of girls Percentage (%)
11yrs 2 0.18
12yrs 57 5.36
13yrs 209 19.67
14yrs 434 40.86
15yrs 294 27.68
16yrs 66 6.25
Total 1062 100
Table 2: Descriptive statistics of age of onset of menarche of the girls, their mothers and their grandmothers
Mean age of onset of menarche (S.D) Min values Max values
Girls 11 years 0.9092 9 14
Mothers 14 years 0.9103 11 16
Grandmothers 15 years 0.8319 12 16
Table 3: Distribution of the school girls according to early/ideal/late menarche

Age in years Number of girls Percentage
Early menarche 09 18 13%
10 110
Ideal 11 455 76%
12 297
Late menarche 13 94 11%
14 11
Table 4: Comparison of age of onset of menarche between subjects, their mothers and their grandmothers
Age of onset of Age of onset of
Age of onset of
Age in years menarche in their menarche in their
menarche in subjects
mother Grand mother
Mean age of onset
11.38±0.91 14.33±0.91 14.59±0.84
of menarche
P value <0.001** <0.001** <0.001**

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Discussion their mothers and their grandmothers to assess the

The onset of menarche is an indication of pubertal secular trend in the onset of menarche, if it existed.
growth spurt. The most favorable orthodontics and 1062 school girls of Bangalore city in the age
orthopedic treatment outcomes occur during the group 11 to 16 years were included in the study. The
pubertal growth spurt period. This period helps in mean age of onset of menarche in girls, their mothers
carrying out various treatments required for the and their grandmothers, height and weight of the girls
interception of developing malocclusions. Hence the were recorded. Data was collected between the months
present survey was undertaken to assess the mean age of October to December 2011. The data collected was
of onset of menarche in school girls from Bangalore subjected to statistical analysis. Limitations of the study
city of Karnataka and compare their age with that of in that only the age of onset of menarche is considered.
Hence further studies with larger sample size to be
taken and other factors like socioeconomic status,

locality, religion etc. to be considered. The following
conclusions were drawn from the study.
Conclusion
1. The mean age of onset of menarche in girls is 11+
years (49.16%).
2. The mean age of onset of menarche in the mothers
of those girls was 14+ years (41.61%).
3. The mean age of onset of menarche in the
grandmothers of those girls was 15+ years
(44.82%).
4. There is marked decrease in the age of onset of
menarche in girls compared to that of their
mothers, and slight decrease in the age of onset of
menarche in their mothers compared to their
grandmothers.
There is secular trend in the onset of menarche.
Conflict of Interest: None
Source of Support: Nil
References
1. Muhammad Nazmul Haq. Age at menarche and the
related issues: A pilot study on urban school girls. Journal
of Youth and Adolescence 1984;13:559-567.
2. Eddie hsiang- Hu alai et al. Relationship between age at
menarche and skeletal maturation stages in Taiwanese
female orthodontic patients. Journal of Formosan Medical
Association 2008;107:527-532.
3. Srikant A Rokade, Arati Mane. A study of age of
menarche, the secular trend and factors associated with it.
The internet journal of Biological Anthropology
2009;3(2):2.

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Original Research Article

Secular Trend in the Onset of Menarche in Urban Population

Introduction their mothers and their grandmothers to assess the

Table 1: Age distribution of the school girls

Table 3: Distribution of the school girls according to early/ideal/late menarche

Indian Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Research, January-March,2016;2(1): 1-4 2

Discussion their mothers and their grandmothers to assess the

taken and other factors like socioeconomic status,

Conflict of Interest: None

Source of Support: Nil

Indian Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Research, January-March,2016;2(1): 1-4 4

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