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  • Sexual Orientation and Age ...
    Charlton, Brittany M.; Carwile, Jenny L.; Chavarro, Jorge E.; DiVasta, Amy D.; Ziyadeh, Najat J.; Austin, S. Bryn

    Journal of adolescent health, 01/2022, Volume: 70, Issue: 1
    Journal Article

    The aim of this study is to examine age at menarche across sexual orientation groups. Data were obtained from 131,090 female participants, born 1947–2001, in 3 longitudinal studies—the Growing Up Today Study and Nurses’ Health Study 2 and 3. We estimated the association between sexual orientation and age at menarche using regression models adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, birthweight, height, and body mass index. Compared to heterosexual participants, sexual minorities were younger at menarche. Sexual minorities were more likely to have early menarche (≤11 years) and less likely to have late menarche (≥14 years) compared to heterosexual girls. As an example of this pattern, Nurses’ Health Study 3 bisexual participants were >30% more likely than heterosexuals to have early versus average menarche (odds ratio 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.09–1.72). Sexual minority girls have a younger age at menarche than heterosexual girls and may benefit from screening for adverse outcomes associated with early menarche.