PREMISE: Healthcare professionals need updated information about what is the range of "normal" variation of menstrual cycle features to support young @entity1 and their parents in managing reproductive health, and to detect diseases early. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study aimed to provide an updated picture of age at menarche and main menstrual cycle characteristics and complaints in an Italian population-based sample of 3,783 adolescents attending secondary school. @entity1 filled in a self-administered anonymous questionnaire including questions about demography, anthropometry, smoking and drinking habits, use of contraceptive, socioeconomic status, age at menarche, menstrual pattern, and @entity1866 . Mean age at menarche and prevalence of @entity1866 (cycle length < 21 days), @entity2589 (cycle length > 35 days), irregularity, @entity1834 , and of physical/psychological complaints were computed. Factors associated with age at menarche and menstrual disturbances were explored by using multiple logistic models. RESULTS: The @entity1 ' mean age was 17.1 years (SD 1.4 years) and the mean age at menarche was 12.4 years (SD 1.3 years); menarche occurred with two monthly peaks of frequency in July-September and in December-January (P < 0.0001). Age at menarche was significantly associated with geographic genetics (as expressed by parents' birth area), mother's menarcheal age, BMI, family size, and age at data collection. The prevalence of @entity1866 was about 2.5%, @entity2589 was declared by 3.7%, irregular length by 8.3%, while long @entity548 (>6 days) was shown in 19.6% of @entity1 . Gynecological age was significantly associated with cycle length (P < 0.0001) with long cycles becoming more regular within the fourth year after menarche, while frequency of @entity1866 stabilized after the second gynecological year. @entity2589 and irregularity were both significantly associated with long menstrual @entity548 (adjusted OR = 2.36; 95% CI = 1.55-3.60, and adjusted OR = 2.59; 95% CI = 1.95-3.44, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study support the levelling-off of secular trend in menarche anticipation in Italy and confirm the timing in menstrual cycle regularization. The study provides updated epidemiological data on frequency of @entity1866 to help reproductive health professionals in managing adolescent gynecology.

Onset of menstrual cycle and menses features among secondary school XXXX in Italy: A questionnaire study on 3,783 students.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['girls', 'Girls'] @entity548 :: ('MESH:D006470', 'Disease') :: ['bleeding'] @entity1834 :: ('MESH:D004412', 'Disease') :: ['dysmenorrhea'] @entity1866 :: ('MESH:D008599', 'Disease') :: ['polymenorrhea', 'physical/psychological menstrual complaints', 'menstrual abnormalities'] @entity2589 :: ('MESH:D009839', 'Disease') :: ['oligomenorrhea', 'Oligomenorrhea']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['girls']
