Is it true that girls in the United States, particularly girls of color, are getting their periods earlier than past generations?
A new study of 71,341 women supports the growing concern that the age at which girls start menstruating is getting younger, and the trends are even more pronounced for some racial and ethnic groups. The findings also suggest that many girls and young women are experiencing irregular cycles for years, a risk factor for a variety of health concerns, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases such as diabetes, and certain types of cancers.