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Age of first period may indicate long-term health risks
Last reviewed: 15.07.2025
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The age at which a woman begins her first period may provide valuable clues about her long-term risk for conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and reproductive problems, according to research presented Sunday at ENDO 2025, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in San Francisco, California.
A Brazilian study found that both early and late menarche — the age when a girl begins her first period — were associated with different health risks. Women who began their first period before age 10 were more likely to be obese, have high blood pressure, have diabetes, have heart problems, and have reproductive complications like preeclampsia later in life. Women who began menarche after age 15 were less likely to be obese, but had a higher risk of menstrual irregularities and some cardiovascular diseases.
"We now have data from a large Brazilian population that confirms that both early and late puberty may have different long-term health consequences," said study author Flavia Rezende Tinano of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
"While early menarche increases the risk of many metabolic and cardiovascular problems, late menarche may protect against obesity but increase the likelihood of certain cardiac and menstrual disorders. Most women remember when they first got their period, but they don't realize that it may be an indicator of future health risks. Understanding these connections can help women and their doctors be more proactive in preventing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease."
Tinanu noted that this is one of the largest studies of its kind in a developing country and provides valuable data on a topic that has previously been studied mainly in wealthier countries.
"It highlights how early and late puberty can impact women's long-term health, particularly in understudied populations such as Latin America," she added.
The study was part of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brazil) and included data from 7,623 women aged 35 to 74 years. Age at first menstruation was classified as early (below 10 years), typical (between 10 and 15 years), and late (over 15 years). Participants’ health was assessed using interviews, physical measurements, laboratory tests, and ultrasound examinations.
The study, titled "Early versus late age at menarche and their different cardiometabolic and reproductive outcomes: Brazilian Adult Health Longitudinal Study," will be presented on Sunday, July 13.
“Our data show that knowing the age of a woman’s first menstruation can help clinicians identify patients at increased risk for certain diseases,” Tinanu said. “This information can guide more personalized screening and prevention. It also highlights the importance of early health and education programs for girls and women, especially in developing countries.”