A halt in the secular trend towards earlier menarche in Denmark.
BACKGROUND
A halt in the decrease of menarcheal age has been reported in some countries but has not been documented in Denmark.


METHODS
The entire population of schoolgirls, attending grades 5 through 10 (n=979), in a particular region of Denmark was investigated by the status quo method in 1996. Similar investigations had been made in the same region and by the same method in 1966 and 1983. Mean age and standard deviation were estimated by probit analysis.


RESULTS
Mean age was 13.00 years (s.e.=0.080; s.d. = 1.15) and almost identical with the mean age in 1983 (13.03 years), but significantly different from the mean age in 1966 (13.40 years).


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate a halt in the secular trend towards earlier menarche in the region at some time between 1966 and 1983.
Helm
P
P
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Grølund
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche