Black children are getting their periods earlier than ever

Black children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds start their periods earlier than average age, and it takes longer for their menstrual cycles to become regular, according to a new report.

In a study published Wednesday, researchers from the Apple Women’s Health Study at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health found that younger generations in the United States experience their first period — called “menarche” — before the average age of 12 years. This is the case for racial minorities and children living in lower socioeconomic status, the researchers found.

The research looked at more than 71,000 people born between 1950 and 2005 and found that over time, all groups experienced their first period at a younger age. But this trend was stronger among black, Asian and other non-white ethnicities as well as those with low socioeconomic status.

Racial disparities during puberty in general are well documented. Although children of all races begin puberty at a younger age, research has shown that black girls are twice as likely as white girls to start puberty early. Today, puberty begins on average between the ages of 8 and 13, but some black girls notice its onset as early as 5 years old. It’s called precocious puberty, which is rare and affects 1 percent or less of the nation’s population, the National Institutes of Health noted.

The new research is among the first to examine first periods in the context of race and socioeconomic status, and among the first to explore menstrual cycle regularity.

“This is important because early and irregular periods can signal physical and psychosocial problems later in life, and these trends may contribute to increasing health problems and disparities in the United States,” Zifan said. Wang, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher.

“We also observed that part of the trend toward earlier periods could possibly be explained by high body mass index during childhood,” Wang continued. “This implies that childhood obesity, which is increasing in the United States, could contribute to people getting their periods earlier.”

Early periods have been linked to cardiovascular disease and cancers, while early puberty in general has been linked to depression and anxiety, and can increase the risk of developing eating disorders and even delaying the growth of children.

Wang said that because early periods can lead to several adverse health consequences, it is important that young people receive early counseling, are educated about menstrual health and have individualized health care plans.

In a December NBC News report, several Black mothers detailed their experiences with children who started puberty early. Their little girls developed breasts at age 5 and were about to get their period at age 7. Diet, obesity, genetics, socioeconomic status and potential exposure to certain chemicals are all possible causes of early puberty. Race has long been associated with early puberty, with rates highest among black people.

Racism in the medical field means that black children are not always diagnosed with early puberty and therefore do not receive the help they need. These biases in early puberty care can harm the physical and emotional health of Black children.

“African Americans don’t feel like we have other resources, so we just kind of suck it up,” Patra Rhodes-Wilson previously told NBC News. “I tell people now, ‘If something is wrong with your child and your doctors aren’t taking it seriously, find a new doctor.’ Keep trying to get the help you need.

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