National Health Statistics Reports, Number 146, September 10, 2020

National Health Statistics Reports, Number 146, September 10, 2020

Trends and Patterns in Menarche in the United States: 1995 through 2013–2017 

About this report:
This report presents national estimates of age at first menstrual period for women aged 15–44 in the United States in 2013–2017 based on data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). Estimates for 2013–2017 are compared with those from previous NSFG survey periods (1995, 2002, and 2006–2010). The median age at menarche decreased from 1995 (12.1) to 2013–2017 (11.9). The cumulative probability of menarche at young ages was higher in 2013–2017 compared with 1995. Differences in age at menarche exist by Hispanic origin and race, mother’s education, and living arrangement at age 14. A decreasing linear trend in the probability of age at first sexual intercourse by age at menarche was seen.

Keywords:

​age at first menstrual period, first sexual intercourse, coitarche, National Survey of Family Growth

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