title: Age at menarche and risky sexual partnerships in adulthood: does a biosocial model explain any associations?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to examine the association between menarcheal age and subsequent sexual partnering in women aged 21-44 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth were used (n=7,962). Menarcheal age was defined as ≤ 11, 12-14, or ≥ 15 years. Sexual partnering was defined as being concurrent, serially monogamous or monogamous in the previous year. Polytomous logistic regression models evaluated the association between age of menarche and sexual partnering.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly 6% reported concurrent partnerships and ∼ 4% serial monogamy. Age of menarche was not associated with subsequent concurrent sexual partnering (adjusted odds ratio relative to ≥ 18 years [aOR ≤ 11]: 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.57-2.09; aOR12-14: 1.13; 95% CI: 0.64-1.99) or serial monogamy (aOR ≤ 11: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.41-1.38; aOR12-14: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.39-1.29).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early menarche is not a risk factor for sexual partnering in adulthood. However, menarche provides an opportunity for education to aid young women to make decisions regarding sexual debut and sexual partnering that are healthy for them.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nield
authors.forename: Brianna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Magnusson
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Kate L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lapane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008572:Menarche; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult