Association of age at menarche with adult height and sitting height in young Polish females.

The aim of the present study is to determine the relationship between the age at menarche and adult stature as well as sitting height and Cormic index in adulthood. Analyzed traits included also relative body height, expressed as a percentage of mid parental height, which may be regarded as an indicator of individual target height. Data were collected in a cross-sectional survey among 1257 female university students, aged 19-25 y. Height and sitting height were measured. A survey was used to collect data on the examined females' age at menarche, their socio-economic status and their parents' height. The onset of menstruation before 12 years of age was classified as early, aged 12-14 y. as average, and above 14 years as late. The present study reported statistically significant differences in adult stature in relation to the age at menarche. Women with early menarche reached the shortest stature while women with late menarche - the tallest. The differences were statistically significant also when the analysis considered parents' stature and socio-economic status. No statistically significant differences in sitting height or the Cormic index depending on the age at menarche were found. We may conclude that irrespective of genetic factors (short, medium-height or tall parents) and environmental factors (low, medium or high socio-economic status), women whose first menstruation occurs at a younger age reach shorter stature and lower percentage of mid parental height than women who have their first menstruation at an older age. The absence of differences in sitting height and the Cormic index between individuals of different ages at menarche indicates that the variation in stature results from the length of lower limbs.

The Influence of Age at Menarche on the Menstrual Pattern of Polish University Students.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to examine the relationships between age at menarche and menstrual cycle characteristics in young female subjects. METHODS: Anthropometric measurements were performed, and questionnaire data were collected from 1,323 women, aged 19-25 years. RESULTS: No differences were found in terms of cycle duration or the number of days of bleeding between women with early, average, or late menarche. Each of those groups had a similar percentage of women who declared that their cycles last longer than 35 days, those who declared that their cycles are shorter than 21 days, and those who reported prolonged bleeding. Irregular cycles were associated with late age at menarche. Women with early age at menarche complained about menstrual cramps more frequently. The existence of a relationship between age at menarche and menstrual cycle disorders was confirmed by the results of logistic regression. CONCLUSIONS: Both early and late age at menarche are associated with increased risk of menstrual cycle disorders.

Association between age at menarche and body mass index, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, and waist to height ratio in adult women.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to examine associations between age at menarche and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) in young adult women. METHODS: Anthropometric data and age at menarche information were collected in two cross-sectional surveys conducted in the years 2004-2006 (Cohort 1) and 2016-2018 (Cohort 2). A total of 2419 women, aged 19-24 years., were included. RESULTS: Statistically significant relationships between age at menarche and BMI, WHtR, and WC were observed. The values of the anthropometric parameters decreased with increasing age at menarche. The onset of menstruation before the age of 12 years. was linked to a heightened risk of overweight and obesity (BMI ≥ 25) and abdominal obesity defined as WC > 80 cm and/or WHtR ≥ 0.5. First menstruation after the age of 14 y. was associated with a lower risk of overweight and obesity (BMI ≥ 25, WC > 80 cm and/or WHtR ≥ 0.5), as well as a higher risk of being underweight (BMI < 18.5 and/or WHtR < 0.4). Associations between anthropometry and menarcheal timing were stronger in Cohort 1. CONCLUSION: Both early and late onset of menarche are associated with abnormal body composition: Early menarche is associated with overweight, while later maturing girls have a heightened risk of underweight.

Age at Menarche and Risk of Respiratory Diseases.

Several studies have suggested a relationship between reproductive history and respiratory health. The present study explores the association between the age at menarche and the risk of respiratory diseases during early adulthood. The anthropometrical and questionnaire research was conducted among 1323 female university graduates. In a subsample of 152 non-allergic women spirometry tests were additionally performed. We found that the prevalence of allergic diseases, on average, was slightly higher among females having early menarche than in those with a later onset of menstruation; the difference failed to reach statistical significance. However, the risk of allergic rhinitis was significantly related with early menarche compared with average-time, taken as a reference, or late menarche (OR = 1.61 vs. OR = 1 (Ref.) vs. OR = 1.23, p = 0.020). The difference remained significant after adjusting for adiposity (p = 0.050) and socio-economic status (p = 0.001). There was no significant relationship between the age at menarche and the incidence of respiratory infections. We noticed a tendency for increased spirometry variables with increasing age at menarche. In conclusion, early menarche is a risk factor for allergic rhinitis in early adulthood.

Does an early rural life influence selected health-related parameters of female university students?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to define whether in a group of young women the place of residence in their childhood and adolescence, as well as moving from a rural to an urban area, have affected their biological condition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data were obtained from 1,305 unmarried and childless women aged 18-25. The respondents were university students. Each person's height, weight and waist circumference were measured, and the BMI, WHR, and WHtR indices were calculated. A survey was used to collect data on the females' socio-economic status, their health condition and course of menstruation cycle. RESULTS: In the whole sample, apart from WHR, there was no significant difference in anthropometric characteristics depending on the urbanization degree of the place of residence before commencing studies. In comparing the two groups of women, changing place of residence from a village to a city and from a city to another city, more differences were visible. Women of rural origin presented significantly higher values of BMI, waist circumference and WHtR than those from the city. They were also more frequently characterized by overweight and abdominal obesity. The women from other cities were characterized by underweight and too low amount of abdominal adipose tissue. Health problems were found in both groups. Students of rural origin more rarely declared changes in body weight and health condition after beginning studies. Students of urban origin were more often affected by sleeping problems and spine pains. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study do not indicate that a change of place of residence has a stronger effect on the biological condition of rural women than their urban peers.

Fluctuating body asymmetry in young Polish women in relation to childhood socioeconomic status.

The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between childhood socioeconomic conditions and body asymmetry in young Polish women. The study measured fluctuating asymmetry (FA), which refers to small random deviations from perfect symmetry in bilaterally paired body structures. Data were obtained from 620 female students aged from 19 to 25 years recruited from Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland. The research was carried out in the period from January 2016 to May 2017. A composite fluctuating asymmetry (cFA) of the women was calculated using five bilateral body traits. The lengths and widths of the women's ears, lengths of their 2nd and 4th digits and wrist widths of the right and left sides of the body were measured twice using standard methodology. The following data were collected in a questionnaire: degree of urbanization of the woman's place of residence during childhood, number of older siblings, parental education and woman's dominant hand. The results showed a tendency for FA to fall with an increase in parental education, and to rise with an increase in number of older siblings. The level of FA was significantly lower in women from rural areas than in those from cities. The results of the study show that FA in early adulthood is significantly associated with socioeconomic status during childhood, and confirm that the level of FA in adulthood may be a good indicator of stress factors in the early stages of development.

Association of primary dysmenorrhea with anthropometrical and socio-economic factors in Polish university students.

AIMS: To examine the prevalence and factors correlated with primary dysmenorrhea in young female subjects. METHODS: Cross-sectional research was conducted among 1305 female university students aged 19-25 years. The following measurements were taken: height, body mass, waist circumference, hip circumference, the length of index and ring finger. A questionnaire was used to obtain information on menstrual pains, the characteristics of the menstrual cycles (regularity, duration), the number of the days of menstrual bleeding, age at menarche, overall health and socio-economic status of the subjects. RESULTS: The prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea (PD) in the group was 64.85%, of which 69.60% reported mild pain, and 30.40% moderate and severe pain. PD occurs more frequently both in women with excess and insufficient level of abdominal adiposity. PD occurred more frequently in women who experience first menstruation at earlier age than in women with average and late age at menarche. The prevalence of PD grew along with mother's education and fell along with father's education. Painful menstruations occurred most commonly in women from large families. The impact of the age at menarche and the presence of abnormal body mass and abnormal level of abdominal adiposity on the prevalence of painful menstruation was also confirmed by the results of logistic regression analysis. The risk of PD is the highest in women whose finger 4 is longer than finger 2. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that healthy body mass and lack of abdominal obesity may reduce the risk of PD.

Season of birth influences the timing of first menstruation.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the month of birth influences the maturation rate of Polish females from two birth cohorts, namely 1982-1984 and 1992-1994. It was also verified whether socioeconomic status (SES) is capable of altering the above relationship. METHODS: The research material consisted of data collected in two cross-sectional surveys. The first cohort involved 1,008 female secondary-school students, the second, 671 female university students. Information on subjects' date of birth, SES, and the age at menarche was obtained from a questionnaire. The subjects were divided into four groups, according to the month of birth: born in spring (III-V), born in summer (VI-VIII), born in autumn (IX-XI), and born in winter (XII-II). Next, the subjects were divided into two groups: born in summer months (VI-VIII) and born in the other months (IX-V). RESULTS: In the first cohort, subjects born in the summer reach menarche significantly earlier than subjects born in other seasons. The same tendency was noticeable in subjects born in the years 1992-1994; however, the differences were not statistically significant. In both cohorts, girls born in summer months had their first menstruation at a younger age than girls born in other months. The difference in age at menarche between season/months was also seen after dividing the data into uniform groups in terms of SES. CONCLUSION: The present data suggest that the season of birth influences sexual maturation rate in women.