Age at menarche and the reproductive performance of Saudi women.
BACKGROUND
Saudi Arabia has undergone substantial development in the recent past with concomitant changes in living conditions, and economic and general health status that have affected the age at menarche in Saudi women. We evaluated the current age at menarche and reproductive events among Saudi women.


METHODS
Age, age at menarche, age at marriage, age of first pregnancy, number of children, and number of abortions were collected for Saudi women attending King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) over a 3-month period in 2002.


RESULTS
For 989 Saudi women, the mean age at menarche was 13.05 years. There was a decrease in the age of menarche over the past 20 years, an increase in the age of marriage, age of first pregnancy, and a decrease in the number of children and abortions. Compared with data from two decades, the age at menarche decreased significantly from 13.22 to 13.05 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The decrease in the age of menarche among Saudi women indicates better socioeconomic status and improvements in health.
Babay
Zainab A
ZA
OB/ Gyn Department, King Khaled University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. zbabay@hotmail.com
Addar
Mohammed H
MH
Shahid
Khalida
K
Meriki
Naema
N
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008393:Marriage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008572:Menarche; D008875:Middle Aged; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D043762:Reproductive Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology