Age at menarche and first pregnancy among psychosocially at-risk adolescents.
We sought to determine which factors influence the association between menarche and conception among adolescent study participants (n = 1030), who demonstrated an earlier age of menarche than did national samples. Age at first sexual intercourse (coitarche) mediated the relationship between age at menarche and first pregnancy among White girls, whereas gynecologic age at coitarche (age at coitarche minus age at menarche) and age at menarche explained the timing of the first pregnancy among Black and Hispanic girls. Pregnancy prevention interventions to delay coitarche should also include reproductive education and contraception.
Dunbar
Jessica
J
Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, University of Colorado, Denver, Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80045, USA.
Sheeder
Jeanelle
J
Lezotte
Dennis
D
Dabelea
Dana
D
Stevens-Simon
Catherine
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D003075:Coitus / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D003120:Colorado; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D020073:Gravidity; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008423:Maternal Age; D008572:Menarche / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011627:Puberty / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics