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Association between the age at first menstruation (menarche) and metabolic, reproductive and sociodemographic factors: an analysis of the population of Geneva, Switzerland

Claire Chevalier, Roxane Dumont, Shannon Mechoullam, Stephanie Schrempft, Idris Guessous, Mayssam Nehme
Association between age at menarche and metabolic, reproductive and sociodemographic factors: a population-based cross-sectional analysis using an outcome-wide framework in Geneva, Switzerland,EuropeanJournal of Public Health, Volume 36, Issue 4, August 2026, ckag118, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag118

Abstract:

Objectives: The age at which girls have their first period (menarche) has been gradually decreasing over several generations. This trend raises important questions about its long-term implications for women’s metabolic, reproductive and social health. This study, conducted among more than 6,400 women in the canton of Geneva, shows that an earlier or later age at menarche is associated with different health profiles. These findings suggest that the age at first menstruation could serve as a useful indicator for better identifying certain health risks throughout life.

Background:Over recent decades, several countries have observed a decrease in the age at which a girl’s first period begins. Whilst this trend is well documented, its long-term implications are not yet fully understood. An earlier or later age at menarche could be associated with significant differences in metabolic and reproductive health, as well as socio-economic conditions.

This study aimed to analyse trends in the age at menarche among women in Geneva born between 1936 and 1989 and to examine its links with a wide range of health factors using an ‘outcome-wide’ approach.

Method:Data from 6,462 women aged between 34 and 75 were analysed. The researchers examined trends in the age at menarche by year of birth, then used statistical regression models to assess the associations between the age at first menstruation and various sociodemographic, metabolic and reproductive health factors.

The analyses were adjusted for, amongst other things, age, year of recruitment and educational attainment.

Results: The mean age at menarche was 13.1 years. It fell from 14.1 years among women born in 1936 to 12.9 years among those born in 1989, confirming a gradual decline across generations.

Early menarche (before the age of 12) was associated with:

  • lower income;
  • a higher risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol;
  • a higher body mass index;
  • slightly shorter height;
  • a higher incidence of hysterectomy;
  • a longer reproductive lifespan.

Late menarche (after the age of 14), on the other hand, was associated with:

  • a shorter reproductive lifespan;
  • a lower level of education;
  • different menstrual patterns;
  • an increased risk of stillbirth and ectopic pregnancy, although these associations should be interpreted with caution as they were no longer statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons.

Conclusions: This study confirms that the age at first menstruation has decreased in Geneva over successive generations and that it is associated with numerous health indicators throughout life. These findings suggest that the age at menarche could be incorporated into clinical assessments to improve the early identification of individuals at increased risk of certain metabolic or reproductive diseases and to strengthen prevention strategies.

Link to the article in English

This text was automatically translated from French using artificial intelligence