---
title: Does the age when girls start their period affect how they feel about menstruation?
description: Yes, girls who started their period before age 11 felt less prepared and had more negative feelings about it compared to girls who started at later ages. They
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/age-at-menarche-reactions-to-menarche-and-attitudes-towards-menstruation-among-2014/
---

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- Does the age when girls start their period affect how they feel about menstruation?

Survey study, 2014

# Does the age when girls start their period affect how they feel about menstruation?

Yes, girls who started their period before age 11 felt less prepared and had more negative feelings about it compared to girls who started at later ages. They felt scared, worried, and sad, and were more likely to keep it secret.

 Moderate study design

Mexican adolescent girls aged 11-16 from 10 public schools

## What they did

Survey study of Mexican girls aged 11-16 years from 10 public schools. All girls answered questionnaires about how they felt when they got their first period and their current attitudes toward menstruation.

## What they found

Girls who started their period before age 11 were more likely than girls who started at 11-12 years or at 13 or older to not know what to do, not feel prepared, want to keep it secret, and feel scared, worried, or sad. They were least likely to feel calm. Girls who started at 13 or older showed more positive attitudes.

## What it means for you

Starting menstruation early, without warning or preparation, leaves girls unprepared and distressed. These girls benefit from special support and preparation before and after menarche. This is a single-country survey, so results may not apply everywhere.

3

age groups at menarche examined

10

public schools

11-16

age range of girls

## About the study

Original title Age at menarche, reactions to menarche and attitudes towards menstruation among Mexican adolescent girls Authors Marván ML, Alcalá-Herrera V Journal Journal of pediatric and adolescent gynecology Year 2014 Study design Survey study What was tested None - survey questionnaire Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2013.06.021](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2013.06.021)

## Topics

[Adolescents and young people](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-adolescents/)[Stigma, attitudes and culture](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-stigma-culture/)

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