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American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 146, No. 7: 572-580
Copyright © 1997 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health

research-article

Ethnic Differences in the Length of the Menstrual Cycle during the Postmenarcheal Period

Sioban D. Harlow1,, Ben Campbell2, Xihong Lin3 and Jonathan Raz3

1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
2Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University Evan-ston, IL
3Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI

Reprint requests to Dr. Sioban D. Harlow, Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, 109 Observatory Street, Ann Arbor, Ml 48109-2029

In 1989,125 African-American and 123 European-American girls aged 12–14 years were enrolled in a 2-year study in which they maintained a menstrual calendar, recording the date and amount of menstrual bleeding. Weight, exercise, and stress during the previous week were recorded at the start of each menstrual cycle. Although only minor ethnic differences were observed in expected cycle length (29.3 vs. 28.8 days for European-American and African-American girls, respectively), more prominent differences were observed in the between-subjects standard deviation of cycle length (2.9 vs. 2.2 days, respectively) and in the odds of having a cycle longer than 45 days (odds ratio=1.86, 95% confidence interval 1.17–2.97) for European-American compared with African-American girls. Low weight for height and high levels of exercise increased the probability of having a cycle longer than 45 days and decreased expected cycle length of 13- to 45-day cycles. Additional investigation of potential ethnic differences in menstrual cycle characteristics is warranted.

body weight; ethnic groups; exertion; menarche; menstrual cycle; menstruation; reproduction; stress, psychological


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