I had read a study recently - I don't have it handy, but I used it for an
article - showing that the age at menarche had decreased in recent years.
There was another related study showing that girls who are raised with
stepfathers are also likely to begin menstruation at an earlier age, so
perhaps one factor in earlier menarche had to do with more children being
raised with stepfathers.

Teresa Pitman
Guelph, Ontario

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