Menarche is the first
menstrual period, or first menstrual bleeding in the females of
human beings. From both social and medical perspectives it is often considered the central event of female
puberty, as it signals the possibility of
fertility. Timing of menarche is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, especially nutritional status. The average age of menarche has declined over the last century but the magnitude of the decline and the factors responsible remain subjects of contention. The average age of menarche in the
United States is about 12 years and 6 months.
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