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Primary schoolgirls getting it. Period

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Eleven-year-old Sanvi (name changed), a Std V student at a Kendriya Vidyalaya, started crying when she saw a stain on her dress a year ago. She told her mother about the ‘unusual’ thing.

“My mom was in a state of shock and consulted three gynaecologists in the next three days. I was told about the monthly cycle then but I didn’t understand anything except that I would have to be ready for this ordeal every month. But now I know that it’s normal for a girl to have period. However, it started a bit early for me as compared to my friends,” she said.

Sanvi is not alone. Eight out of 100 girls are attaining menarche (the first occurrence of menstruation) by age 10, when they are still in Std V or VI, said a study conducted by SPN Doshi Women’s college in Ghatkopar. The study conducted among 750 girls studying in seven schools of Mumbai and Pune said 63% girls attain menarche between the ages of 10 and 12.

The study also found that taller and heavier girls with higher body fat composition attained menarche early as compared to shorter and thinner girls.

Mean height of girls who attained menarche was 151 cm and mean height of peri menarcheal (those whose period had not started) girls in the same age group was 145 cm. Mean weight of girls who attained menarche was 44 kg and that of peri menarcheal girls was 38 kg. Over 20% in the study had not got their period even at the age of14.

“The body composition analysis for fat percentage showed that girls attaining menarche had a higher body fat percentage (25%) than the peri menarcheal girls (20%),” said prof Leena Raje, head of food science and nutrition department at the college and the lead researcher who will be continuing the study till next year.

The study, a first in India, is part of a four-year research project ‘Peri-menarcheal weight gain patterns/body composition, dietary intake and its correlation to age of menarche’ sponsored by the University Grants Commission.

Dr Nandita Palshetkar, gynaecologist and infertility expert at Lilavati hospital, said, “A few girls get menarche as early as at age nine. Junk food, which has high fat and calorific content, is believed to trigger the cycle. No gynaecological complications have been reported in such girls. But they need a lot of support due to their mental immaturity. Parents remain clueless as to when should they start educating their child.”

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