Link Between Age at Menses and Bone Density Later In Life

Whether it arrived in the middle of your 7th grade gym class or at a high school dance, every woman remembers the first time she got her period. New research suggests it may be a good idea to revisit that memory, for it provides some important clues about health risks in the later years.

Teresa Binkley, PhD, an assistant professor at South Dakota State University, conducted a study on data from 261 women, ages 20 to 40 years old, and found that those who started menstruating earlier in life had a higher bone density reading when tested as adults. The average age at onset of menstruation for the women in the group was 12.6 years. The findings showed that hip bone density was on average 2% higher for each year earlier than 12.6 years that a woman began menstruating—and conversely, 2% lower for each year later, according to Dr. Binkley.

Early bloomers should not be too quick to toast the results, however. Researchers also found that women who started menstruation between ages nine and 13 had a higher body fat percentage, which Dr. Binkley attributes to the body’s early exposure to estrogen, the hormone that tells the body to start laying down fat deposits. Whether an early or late bloomer, all women should be protective of bone health. Some simple recommendations from Dr. Binkley…

  • Get the recommended allotments of calcium and vitamin D. Fortified dairy products are particularly good sources of both.
  • Get proper exercise. Weight bearing exercise helps maintain bone density and helps to strengthen the body and prevent falls.
  • Get a bone density screening. As you enter menopause, bone density screening may help detect potential problems.

It’s neither bad nor good for overall health that you started menstruating at a particular age, but Dr. Binkley says it is smart to be aware of this association and how it may affect your risk. “As with most health concerns, prevention of the problem is far better than treating it when it’s already there.”