Girls Are Starting Their Periods Earlier — And Experts Are Sounding the Alarm
Across the U.S., girls are beginning menstruation at younger ages than ever before — especially among racial minorities and lower-income communities — and scientists are growing increasingly concerned.
Drawing from data on more than 71,000 participants, researchers found a sharp rise in early menarche (before age 11) and very early menarche (before age 9). Even more concerning, many girls are now experiencing longer delays before their menstrual cycles become regular.
The biggest driver behind this trend? Higher childhood BMI. But it’s not the only factor — chronic stress, trauma, poor diet, and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals are all contributing to the shift. Early onset of menstruation is linked to serious long-term health risks, including increased chances of breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancers, heart disease, stroke, and fertility challenges like PCOS, largely due to longer lifetime exposure to estrogen.
What Can Be Done?
While girls and women can take steps to lower their individual risk — by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, managing stress, and minimizing chemical exposure — the real solution requires systemic change.
Governments must step up: regulating harmful chemicals, championing public health initiatives, and funding continued research to confront this growing crisis and safeguard the health of future generations.
