Introduction:

Menarche is an indicator of sexual maturation that occurs between 10-15 years of age. Genetic and environmental factors affect the age of onset of menarche.

Objectives:

To determine the age of menarche and its association with nutritional status and maternal menarche in 6th grade adolescents from selected educational institutions in urban and peri-urban areas of Encarnación.

Materials and methods:

This was an observational, descriptive study with an analytical component in adolescents without underlying endocrine pathology; written consent was obtained. The presence of menarche, age at onset, nutritional status, abdominal circumference (AC), and maternal menarche were evaluated.

Results:

112 adolescents (51 urban, 61 peri-urban) were included, the average age 12 years. 77.7% (n=87) reported menarche, more frequently in urban areas (90.2%, vs 67%, p=0.003). Mean age at menarche was 11.1 ± 0.7 years (urban 11.4 ± 0.5 vs 10.7 ± 0.8, p = 0.0001) and was lower than the maternal age with 12.8 ± 1, 4 years (p=0.0001). 16.1% were obese (23% in peri-urban areas versus 7.8% in urban areas, p=0.002), 0.9% were undernourished and 30.4% were overweight. Adolescents with obesity had menarche at 10.6±0.9 years vs. 11.1±0.7 years in the rest (Student’s T, p=0.03). 13.4% (n=15) had increased AC, and in these, the age of menarche was lower (10.6±0.7 years, p=0.03).

Conclusion:

Two thirds of the adolescents reported menarche, those from the peri-urban area, with obesity or increased abdominal circumference, showed a lower average age of onset.

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