Menarche is the age where girls have their first period or menstruation. The age of girls having menarche has been getting younger and younger over the past years. Recent research has found that girls who start their menstruation at an early age, approximately age 11 or younger, are 50% more likely to develop gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that develops during pregnancy. It can be a temporary form of diabetes during which the body does not produce enough insulin for the body for this period. 10% of the women in the United States are affected by gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes only starts in the second trimester (3-6 months of conception) of the pregnancy. It can carry serious health risks for both the mother and the baby as it increases the weight and growth of the baby, which may lead to a big baby and complications during delivery.
Researchers in Australia collected data from 4,700 women for 12 years. They found evidence that females who have their first menstruation at the age of 11 or younger were 50% more likely to develop gestational diabetes compared to their older counterparts.
The other risk factors for gestational diabetes are obesity or overweight, family history of diabetes, and increased maternal age (over 35 years old). For women without any risk factors, gestational diabetes may only be detected when there is an increased quantity of amniotic fluid or if the fetus is larger during a routine check-up.
Women at risk of gestational diabetes will need to have their fasting blood sugar tested during the first trimester of their pregnancy. In some countries, all women will have an oral glucose tolerance test at some point in their pregnancy. Women who are overweight or obese are encouraged to lose weight.
The research has recommended that health practitioners to pay more attention to their patients who have an early first menstruation, particularly when they are pregnant to assess the risk of gestational diabetes.
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Study links early period to gestational diabetes risk. Inquirer.net. Accessed 3/9/2017.
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