Researchers have suggested a potential link between girls who start their menstrual cycle earlier and the development of Type 2 diabetes
A study conducted by researchers from Tulane University in Louisiana found a potential link between the age at which girls start their period and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Health implications of early menstruation
The study, which analysed data from 17,300 women aged 20 to 65 between 1999 and 2018, sheds light on the impact of early menstruation on women’s long-term health.
The researchers categorised the participants based on the age at which they experienced their first menstrual cycle: 10 or younger, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 or older. The findings, indicated that those who started their menstrual cycle at younger ages faced a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes compared to those who started at 13.
Statistical analysis of the data revealed intriguing results, showing a 32% increased risk for those who started their menstrual cycle at the age of 10 or younger.
Heightened risk of Type 2 diabetes
The study also revealed a 14% heightened risk for those starting at 11 and a 29% increased risk for those who start at 12. 1,773 participants (10% of the total) developed Type 2 diabetes during the tracking period, and among them, 205 also reported some form of cardiovascular disease.
While the exact reason behind this link isn’t fully understood, researchers predict that higher estrogen levels may play a crucial role. The hormone is typically elevated in those who experience early-onset menstruation.
As well as the increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, the study further uncovered an association between earlier ages of the first period and the risk of stroke among women with diabetes, however, not overall cardiovascular disease.
Understanding the health issues
The findings highlight the importance of understanding the potential long-term health implications associated with the timing of a woman’s first period.
Researchers highlight that early intervention and targeted health strategies may be crucial for those who menstruate at a younger age to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes and related cardiovascular disease later in life.
This study further explores the intricate relationship between hormonal changes during puberty and the subsequent health outcomes for women. The findings offer valuable insights that could inform public health initiatives aimed at reducing the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and associated cardiovascular diseases in at-risk populations.
