A concerning trend is emerging in America – girls are getting their periods earlier than before. And while this shift has been affecting everyone, the data paints a particularly concerning picture for Black girls.
The study, conducted and led by Dr. Shruthi Mahalingaiah from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, found that Black girls are more than twice as likely to experience early puberty compared to their white counterparts. Some Black girls are starting as young as five years old!
For some background, the average age of menarche (a girl’s first menstrual period) has decreased significantly over the years. In the 50s, girls got their first period on average at 12.5.
By the early 2000s, it had dropped to 11.9 years old – more strikingly, the percentage of girls getting their period before age 11 doubled (from 8.5 to 15.5), and those experiencing menarche before age nine more than doubled.
The study, which included over 70,000 women, highlights several health risks associated with early menstruation.
“The results spell a concerning trend due to the negative health effects associated with earlier periods,” Dr. Shruthi said. “For those with very early age at the first period of menarche and persistently irregular periods, those risks include risk of cardiovascular disease, infertility or fertility problems, mood disorders, and cancers, to name a few.”
And what’s the cause of all this?
Dr. Shruthi Mahalingaiah points to environmental factors such as hormone-disrupting chemicals, air pollutants, heavy metals, stress, and childhood trauma as major risk factors.
Particularly alarming is the impact on Black girls.
As mentioned above, research shows that Black girls are twice as likely to experience menarche at an earlier age compared to their peers.
Some even get their first period as young as five years old, a condition Dr. Shruthi refers to as precocious puberty.
This is even worse for Black kids of lower socioeconomic statuses – according to the study, this group is starting periods earlier and taking way longer for their menstrual cycles to become regular.
Related: Another Young Black Inventor! 13-Year-Old Girl Invents Period Panty with a Heating Pad
@prettywithlee Researches also believe that there could be a link between early puberty & irregular periods can be a signal of psychological and physical problems later in life…at what age did you get your first period? #womenshealth #puberty ♬ original sound – Tyiana Lee
In a December NBC News report, several Black moms shared their experiences with early puberty in their kids. They described their daughters developing breasts at age five and being on track to start their periods by age 7.
And while many blamed chemicals in food and medicine for this early development, Zifan Wang, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral research fellow, says genetics, obesity, socioeconomic status, and race are the most probable triggers of precocious puberty, with rates highest among Black kids.
Racism in the medical field further complicates the issues. Like their moms, Black children often face biases that lead to underdiagnosis and inadequate treatment for precocious puberty, thus affecting their physical and emotional health.
So, what’s the solution?
As Patra Rhodes-Wilson told NBC News:
“African Americans don’t feel like we have any other resources, so we just kind of suck it up. I’m telling people now, ‘If something isn’t right with your child and your doctors do not take it seriously, find a new doctor. Keep trying to get the help you need.”
Additionally, if, as a parent or caregiver, you notice early signs of puberty (breast development or early menstruation) in your child, doctors suggest bringing your child to the pediatrician for an evaluation as soon as possible.
Then, in terms of what to do to promote proper health, nutrition, and wellness around your child’s period, include a whole-food diet and limit ultra-processed foods. That means more leafy vegetables, fruits, whole grains, water, and exercise in any form.
By addressing these issues head-on, we can work towards mitigating the long-term health impacts on our children, particularly those most at risk.
